Cares Act – Financial Aid

HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND (HEERF)

Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economy Security Act (CARES)

In compliance with the provisions set forth under Section 4504 in Title II of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, Jackson State University will provide CARES Student Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the amount of $913.00. The intent of the CARES Act is to provide financial support to offset the cost for expenses incurred as a result of the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 crisis.

In accordance with the reporting requirements of Section 18004(e) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Jackson State University, an institution receiving funds under this section, is providing the following information:

JSU acknowledges that the University signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement. The institution further certifies it will use a minimum of 50% of the funds, or $4,223,124 received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
JSU received $4,223,124 from the Department pursuant to the University’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as:

- May 29, 2020 is $2,085,200
- July 22, 2020 is $915,850
- August 21, 2020 is $1,170,884
- October 26, 2020 is $2,709
- March 8, 2021 is $48,481

GRAND TOTAL: $4,223,124 for 4,625 students

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA)

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) is authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. In total, the CRRSAA authorizes $4,223,124 to JSU in support of emergency students grants, in addition to the $4,223,124 expeditiously provided last spring through the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136.

In accordance with the reporting requirements of Section 314(e) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Act, Jackson State University, an institution receiving funds under this section, is providing the following information:

JSU acknowledges that the University signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement. The institution further certifies it will use a minimum of 50% of the funds, or $4,223,124 received under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
JSU received $4,223,124 from the Department pursuant to the University’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA as:

- March 29, 2021 is $2,043,720
- April 5, 2021 is $346,680
- May 6, 2021 is $295,200
- June 18 ,2021 is $1,537,524

GRAND TOTAL: $4,223,124 for 3,688 students

American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) is authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2, signed into law on March 11, 2021, providing $12,084,745 to JSU in support of emergency student grants.

ARP funds for student emergency grants are in addition to funds authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA – $4,223,124), Public Law 116-260 and the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES – $4,223,124) Act, Public Law 116-136.

In accordance with the reporting requirements of Section 2003(e) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Act, Jackson State University, an institution receiving funds under this section, is providing the following information:

JSU acknowledges that the University signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement. The institution further certifies it will use a minimum of $12,084,745 received under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
JSU received $12,084,745 from the Department pursuant to the University’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA as:

- November 15, 2021 is $8,623,021.00
- November 24, 2021 is $567,081.30
- December 13, 2021 is $319,935.40
- February 7, 2022 is $534,918.50
- April 12, 2022 is $125,265.70

GRAND TOTAL: $10,170,221.90 for 6,024 students

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the CARES/Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) provided by the Federal Government?

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) are funds allocated for universities through three separate acts: Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. These acts were passed by Congress and signed into law to provide economic relief from COVID-19. One section of each act established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund and sent money to schools to use for emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the pandemic.

Who is eligible to apply for CARES Act funding?

Degree-seeking students enrolled in Spring 2020 who are eligible to apply for federal Title IV financial aid are eligible to apply for CARES Act funds.

*Students enrolled in fully online programs, international, and undocumented students are not eligible. Excluded are those who

are not currently eligible for financial aid
are not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards, or
withdrew from the university.

Who is eligible to apply for CRRSAA funding?

Degree-seeking students enrolled in Fall 2020 who are eligible to apply for federal Title IV financial aid are eligible to apply for CRRSAA funds.

*Students enrolled as international students are not eligible.

Who is eligible to apply for ARP Act funding?

Degree-seeking students enrolled at Jackson State University during the Fall 2021 semester.

How Do I Apply?

Each round of HEERF fund distribution required a completed questionnaire, emailed to the student.

Funds are no longer available, as of 12/16/2021.

What expenses are eligible to be covered?

CARES Act funds only can be used to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19 such as:

Food
Housing (such as having to move off campus when residence halls close)
Course materials
Health care
Child-care expenses
Technology-related expenses (such as having to buy a computer when the student’s courses are moved online)
Transportation (such as having to fly home because classes were cancelled or having to return from study abroad because of program cancellation)

How will CARES Act funding be distributed?

Funds will be paid via direct deposit.

Those without direct deposit will receive a check, mailed to the address on file with JSU.

How will students be notified if they are approved for funding?

Students will be sent an email notifying them if they are approved for funding.

How will JSU determine the initial amount awarded?

Spring 2020 CARES Act Initial Awarding:
- Students enrolled in face-to-face courses and are Title IV eligible received $913.00.
Fall 2020 CRRSAA Awarding:
- Title IV eligible students enrolled in 12 or more hours received $720.00.
- Title IV eligible students enrolled in less than 12 hours received: $360.00.
Fall 2021 ARP Awarding
- All students enrolled at JSU and demonstrated financial need (through completed questionnaire) received a payment of $1,692.78.