Office of Student Financial Services

HEERF Grant III (ARP) Reporting

ARP Act – Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) III Grants to Students Required Report (posted 7/8/2021; updated 10/8/2021; updated 1/6/22)

On March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2). The ARP appropriated funds for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) and represents the third stream of funding appropriated for HEERF to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. HEERF III allows higher education institutions to use these appropriated funds to support students, and the institution itself, with expenses and financial needs related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The following information is provided by Brandeis University University as required by the Department of Education (ED) in order to comply with the reporting requirements under the ARP Act. The first report is required to be posted no more than 10 days after the end of the quarter, with subsequent updates required no more than 10n days after each quarter thereafter, ending with the date on which all funds are expended.

  1. An acknowledgement that the institution has used, or intends to use, the same amount of HEERF II funds for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students as offered to students for HEERF III under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2).

Institutions who received HEERF I and II Grant funds under the CARES and CRRSAA Acts were not required to submit an application for the HEERF III Grant.  Brandeis University received its HEERF III Grant award notification on 5/11/2021. In keeping with the terms of acceptance of these funds, Brandeis University will use no less than $4,090,530, as stated under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2), to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants directly to students.

  1. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2). 

Brandeis University is slated to receive a total of $8,181,060 under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2), of which $4,090,530 will be provided directly to students with expenses related to the COVID-19 crisis. As of 6/30/2021, the University received $0 of the student portion of this award and $0 of the institutional portion of this award. As of 10/8/2021, the University received $4,090,530 of the student portion of this award and $4,090,530 of the institutional portion of this award.

  1. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2), as of the date of submission.
As of 6/30/2021, Brandeis University distributed $0 in HEERF III emergency financial aid grants under the American Rescue Plan.  Grant disbursement began on 7/1/2021 to eligible students. As of 12/31/2021, Brandeis University distributed $4,111,529 in HEERF III emergency financial aid grants under the American Rescue Plan.  Brandeis University distributed $20,999 of its own funds above the federal allotment.  All HEERF III funds have been expended.
  1. The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2).

Brandeis University determined that 4,759 students were eligible for the HEERF III Grant as of 6/30/2021 and 10/8/2021.

  1. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2).

As of 6/30/2021, no student had received an Emergency Financial Aid grant under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pb. L. 117-2).  As of 10/8/2021, 3,840 students received an Emergency Financial Aid grant under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pb. L. 117-2)  As of 12/31/2021, 3,845 students received an Emergency Financial Aid grant under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pb. L. 117-2)

  1. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2).

The eligibility criteria for the HEERF III Grant was as follows:

  • Active student (or May 2021 graduate) who was enrolled in a full-time degree program at Brandeis University during the entirety of the spring 2021 semester; students enrolled for the spring 2021 semester in a degree program offered exclusively online (e.g., GPS programs) must have been enrolled in a full-time courseload, as defined by the program.
  • Student must have experienced a financial hardship related to any component of the student's cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care.
  • Students must certify that eligible expenses were incurred when requesting disbursement of the grant.  The expenses incurred must be equal to, or in excess of, the amount of the HEERF III Grant awarded, plus any HEERF Grant I and II and Brandeis Emergency Fund Grant payments received since March 13, 2020.

The Department of Education did not place any restrictions on these funds, as they did with HEERF I and II, in regards to citizenship or eligibility for Title IV aid except to require that Brandeis prioritize its distribution of HEERF III funds to students with exceptional financial need. Thus, the amount of funds for which each student was eligible was based on the SAI (Student Aid Index, formerly EFC) as determined by the 20-21 FAFSA or, for students not eligible to file the FAFSA, other financial aid applications currently on file. Grants were offered to eligible students, regardless of citizenship status, as follows:

Student Aid Index                                                  HEERF III Grant Amount

$0 – $10,000                                                                                 $2,850

$10,001 – $25,000                                                                        $1,400

$25,001 – $50,000                                                                        $ 700

> $50,000                                                                                     $ 250

No FAFSA/No application on file                                               $  75

  1. Any instructions, directions or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants. 

An e-mail was sent to all active students, including those that recently graduated, on 6/2/2021, explaining the eligibility requirements and indicating the 6/30/2021 deadline to request the funds via Sage. The e-mail also directed students to the University's HEERF III website. This website includes eligibility requirements for the grant, deadlines and timelines, and FAQS. 

Eligible students who had not yet requested the funds were sent regular reminder e-mails with instructions, weekly during the first couple of weeks and more frequently as the deadline came closer. The deadline was extended beyond June 30th to allow students more time to certify. On 7/20/2021, an e-mail was sent to students with a $0 SAI (Student Aid Index, formerly EFC) notifying them that they could apply for an additional $500 supplemental grant until funds were expended.