HEERF Emergency Grants Report

CRRSAA/HEERF II Funding Section 314(a)(1) - Student Portion

Quarterly Report:  For the period ending March 31, 2021

Report Posting Date:  07/08/2021

On 12/27/2020, the President of the United States signed the Coronavirus, Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021. This Act provides emergency relief funds to organizations and individuals affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II), found in Section 314(1)(a) of the CRRSAA, allows higher education institutions to use certain funds allocated by the Department of Education to support students and higher education institutions with expenses and financial needs related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  The following information is provided by Cal Poly Pomona as required by the Department of Education (“ED”) in order to comply with the reporting requirements under the CRRSAA.

Acknowledgement:

Institutions who received HEERF I Grant funds under the CARES Act were not required to submit an application for the HEERF II Grant.  California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) received its HEERF II Grant Award Notification on March 15, 2021. In keeping with the terms of acceptance of these funds, Cal Poly Pomona will use no less than $15,452,045, as stated under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA, to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants directly to students.

Totals:

  1. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

Cal Poly Pomona received a total of $15,452,045 under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA on March 15, 2021, which will be provided directly to students with expenses related to the COVID-19 crisis.

  1. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students as of the date of submission.

Cal Poly Pomona received its HEERF II Grant Award Notification on March 15, 2021.  As of March 31, 2021 no funds have been distributed to students.  The institution anticipates beginning distribution of grants to students the week of April 15, 2021.

  1. The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

As of March 31, 2021, the estimated total number of students at Cal Poly Pomona eligible to receive an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA was estimated to be 21,191.

An additional 4,502 students were identified who may be eligible to receive an Emergency Financial Aid Grant, but who had not completed a 2020 – 2021 FAFSA (without a FAFSA on file, the student’s citizenship status was unable to be confirmed and their need unable to be determined).

  1. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid.

    Cal Poly Pomona received its HEERF II Grant Award Notification on March 15, 2021. As of March 31, 2021 no funds have been distributed to students.  The institution anticipates beginning distribution of grants to students the week of April 15, 2021.

Method(s) used by the institution to determine who receives Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive.

To be eligible for an Emergency Financial Aid Grant, each student must have been:

  • Enrolled in at least one unit for the Spring 2021 semester (as of March 30, 2021) in a degree or credential program.
  • A U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen eligible for federal benefits, as defined by 8 U.S. Code § 1641 
  • Have a 2020 – 2021 FAFSA on file with Cal Poly Pomona

The CRRSAA requires institutions prioritize students with exceptional need when awarding these Grants, such as students who receive a Federal Pell Grant.  However, students do not need to be only Pell recipients or students who are eligible for Pell grants.

Cal Poly Pomona is using the official Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from a student’s 2020 – 2021 FAFSA to identify – and prioritize – students with exceptional need.  The institution has selected a four-tiered approach to more equitably help as many eligible students as possible, prioritizing need based on the calculated EFC.  Students with the lowest EFC (highest financial need) received the highest grant amount. Students enrolled less than full-time received prorated grant payments.

 screenshot of HEERF groups table.

As mentioned above, a group of potentially eligible students was identified who did not file or had an incomplete 2020-21 FAFSA.  These students are identified as “Group 5” and will be sent a communication recommending they complete the 2020-21 FAFSA to determine eligibility for a HEERF II emergency grant. The amount of the HEERF II Emergency Grant awarded will be based on Group assignment (1-4) determined by the official Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and enrollment status (full-time or part-time).

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

The University’s HEERF II website was updated on March 25, 2021 to include information on the Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA. This website includes eligibility requirements for the grant, deadlines, timelines, and FAQS.

The HEERF II website is at: CRRSAA: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II)

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting

HEERF I, II, and III (a)(1) Institutional Portion and (a)(2) Minority Serving Institutions

IHEs must post the Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting Form no later than 10 days after the end of each calendar quarter, (January 10, April 10, July 10, October 10) apart from the first report for the period ending September 30, 2020, that is due to be publicly posted on an institutions’ website by October 30, 2020.  Once an institution has expended all of their funds, the latest iteration of their quarterly reporting must be marked with a “Final” designation on their webpage.

Quarterly Reporting for California State Polytechnic University, Pomona’s Sections (a)(1) Institutional Portion and (a)(2) Minority Serving Institutions of HEERF I, II, and III are provided below:

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report as of June 30, 2021 (posted 7/7/2021)

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report as of March 31, 2021 (posted 4/5/2021)

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report as of December 31, 2020 (revised) (posted 1/20/2021)

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report as of December 31, 2020 (posted 1/4/2021)

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report as of September 30, 2020 (posted 10/28/2020)