HEERF Emergency Grants Report

ARP/HEERF III Funding Section 2003(a)(1) - Student Portion

Quarterly Report:  For the period ending March 31, 2022

Report Posting Date:  4/07/2022

On March 11, 2021, the President of the Unites States signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2). The ARP appropriated approximately $39.6 billion 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.

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 ARP (a)(1) programs.

Acknowledgement:

HEERF III:

Institutions who received HEERF I Grant funds under the CARES Act were not required to submit an application for the HEERF III Grant. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) received its HEERF III Grant Award Notification on June 23, 2021. In keeping with the terms of acceptance of these funds, Cal Poly Pomona will use no less than $42,594,664, as stated under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP, 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.

HEERF III:

Cal Poly Pomona received a total of $42,594,664 under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP on June 23, 2021, which will be provided as Emergency Financial Aid Grants directly to students with expenses related to the COVID-19 crisis.

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

HEERF III:

Cal Poly Pomona received its HEERF III Grant Award Notification on June 23, 2021. The university has developed a three phased approach to distributing the funds. 

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants that has been distributed to students under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP as of March 31, 2022, is $40,188,631

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

HEERF III: 

Phase 1: Eligibility for the HEERF Emergency Financial Aid Grant was determined by the EFC from the 2020 – 2021 FAFSA or CA Dream Application. As such, the total number of students that were eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants during Phase I of distributions was 3,175.

Phase 2: Eligibility for the HEERF Emergency Financial Aid Grant was determined by the EFC from the 2021 – 2022 FAFSA or CA Dream Application. As such, the total number of students that were eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants during Phase II of distributions was 17,582.

Phase 3: Eligibility for the HEERF Emergency Financial Aid Grant during Phase 3 was based off completion of a Grant Request Form, and evaluation of Financial Need as determined by either the FAFSA/Dream Application or an EFC estimator. Since the application was open to all students in the Phase, the total number of students that were eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants during Phase III of distributions was 29,025.

Phase 4: The remaining balance of HEERF III Student funds will be distributed to specific student populations with exceptional need, like foster youth, first generation and single parents determined by the EFC from the 2021 – 2022 FAFSA or CA Dream Application.

The university has developed a four phased approach to distributing the funds; Phase I of distribution occurred in August 2021, Phase II of the distribution occurred in October 2021, Phase III of distribution began during November 2021 and concluded in January 2022. Phase IV will be distributed in April 2022.

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

HEERF III:

As of March 31, 2022, the total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP at Cal Poly Pomona is 19,929 (this number is unduplicated students - and includes Phase I, II, and the beginning of Phase III of our distribution plan).

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

HEERF III:

The university has developed a three phased approach to distributing the funds. Under Phase I, Cal Poly Pomona distributed automatic grants to students with exceptional need enrolled in a least one unit during the Summer 2021 term. The ARP 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. Grant amounts were $1,391, which is the equivalent of one month’s off-campus room & board from the Summer 2020 – 2021 Cost of Attendance budget at Cal Poly Pomona.

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

  • A degree or credential seeking student
  • Enrolled during Summer 2021 in at least one unit (as of July 28, 2021)
  • Have exceptional need – as demonstrated by the EFC of 0 – 5,711 on 2020 – 2021 FAFSA or Dream Application.

Under Phase II, Cal Poly Pomona distributed automatic grants to students with exceptional need and high need who were enrolled in a least one unit during the Fall 2021 term.  The ARP 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. Students with exceptional need grant amounts were $1,515, which is the equivalent of one month’s off-campus room & board from the Fall 2021 – 2022 Cost of Attendance budget at Cal Poly Pomona. Students with high need grant amounts were $1,136, which is the equivalent of 75% of a month’s off-campus room & board from the Fall 2021 – 2022 Cost of Attendance budget at Cal Poly Pomona.

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

  • A degree or credential seeking student
  • Enrolled during Fall 2021 in at least one unit (as of September 2, 2021)
  • Have exceptional need – as demonstrated by the EFC of 0 – 5,846 on 2021 – 2022 FAFSA or Dream Application.
  • Have high need – as demonstrated by the EFC of 5,847 – 12,744, on 2021 – 2022 FAFSA or Dream Application.

Under Phase III, Cal Poly Pomona opened an application process to allow all students to submit a request for HEERF III Emergency Grant funding, including international students, DACA students, and others who may not have submitted a financial aid application. Students who previously received a HEERF Emergency Grant, were also eligible to apply for a HEERF III Emergency Grant through the application process.

HEERF III Emergency Grants ranged from $500 - $3,000 depending on a student’s individual circumstances.

For students to be considered for a HEERF Emergency Grant, they were required to fill out a HEERF Emergency Grant Request online application, which was open from October 18th to December 17th, 2021 (the application closed at 11:59 p.m. on December 17th).

To be eligible to apply for the ARP Emergency Financial Aid Grant, each student must have been:

  • A degree or credential seeking student
  • Enrolled during Fall 2021 in at least one unit
  • Have expenses related to the pandemic such as medical, and technology expenses, unexpected childcare, course materials, and other unexpected expenses included in the student’s cost of college attendance.
  • Have demonstrated need, as determined by the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or CADAA (California Dream Act Application) or through use of an EFC Estimator (the results of which were to be included with the student’s grant application).

Under Phase IV, Cal Poly Pomona distributed automatic grants to foster youth, first generation and single parent students with high need who were enrolled in a least one unit during the Spring 2022 term. 

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

  • A degree or credential seeking student
  • Enrolled during Spring 2022 in at least one unit
  • Priority will be given to Foster Youth, Single Parent, First Generation or Exceptional Need based on Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or CADAA (California Dream Act Application).
  • Have demonstrated need as determined by the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or CADAA (California Dream Act Application).

Phase IV will be distributed in April 2022.

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

HEERF III:

The University’s HEERF III website was first published on August 2, 2021, to include information on the Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP. This website includes eligibility requirements for the grant, deadlines, timelines, and FAQS.

For Phases I and II, all students enrolled in the Summer 2021 and Fall 2021 terms received an email alerting them to the HEERF III Emergency Financial Aid Grants, and directing them to the University’s HEERF III website, at American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III). Since grants were only being provided to those students with exceptional need and high need (as demonstrated on the FAFSA or CA Dream Application) during Phases I and II, there was no action required by students in order to receive the grants. Students who did receive a Grant in Phases I and II were sent an email informing them of the grant – and how the school had determined their eligibility.

For grant recipients in Phase II (whose EFC was greater than $0), the grant email notification also included information about the availability of a Professional Judgement Appeal - for a financial aid adjustment due to the recent unemployment of a direct family member (mother or father) of a dependent student or the recent unemployment of an independent student, or other circumstance related to changes in income/resources.

For Phase III, all students enrolled in Fall 2021 received an email alerting them to the HEERF Emergency Grant Request online application, and directing them to the University’s HEERF III HEERF Emergency Grant Request application, at https://csupomona.academicworks.com/opportunities/14793. The HEERF Emergency Grant Request online application period was from October 18th to December 17th, 2021.  HEERF III Emergency Grants ranged from $500 - $3,000 depending on a student’s individual circumstances. The application process allowed all students to submit a request for HEERF III Emergency Grant funding, including international students, DACA students, and others who may not have submitted a financial aid application. Students who previously received a HEERF Emergency Grant, were also eligible to apply for a HEERF III Emergency Grant.

  • The Grant Application Notification email also included information about the availability of a Professional Judgement Appeal - for a financial aid adjustment due to the recent unemployment of a direct family member (mother or father) of a dependent student or the recent unemployment of an independent student, or other circumstance related to changes in income/resources.

For Phase IV, the remaining funds will be provided as emergency grants to spring term students who have exceptional need. Priority will be given to student populations of foster youth, single parent or first generation with exceptional need (as demonstrated on the FAFSA or CA Dream Application). There is no action required by students in order to receive the grants. Students will receive an email informing them of the grant – and how the school had determined their eligibility.

Phase IV will be distributed in April 2022.

Timeline

  • Phase I:
    • August 2, 2021: HEERF Website updated to include information about Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP.
    • August 2, 2021: Email notification sent to all eligible students enrolled in the Summer 2021 term.  The email contained information on the grant and the grant amount.  The email also provided information about additional forms of support available through CPP.
    • August 2, 2021: Payments to students eligible for automatic aid payments were processed.
  • Phase II:
    • October 5, 2021: HEERF Website updated to include information about Phase II Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP.
    • October 6, 2021: Payments to students eligible for automatic aid payments were processed.
    • October 7, 2021: Email notification sent to all eligible students enrolled in the Fall 2021 term.  The email contained information on the grant and the grant amount.  The email also provided information about additional forms of support available through CPP.
  • Phase III:
    • October 18, 2021: HEERF Website updated to include information about Phase III Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP.
    • October 18, 2021: Email notification sent to all students enrolled in the Fall 2021 term informing them of the HEERF Emergency Grant Request online application.  The email encouraged all students who have faced financial challenges due to the pandemic to apply for a HEERF grant. The email contained information about how to access/apply for a HEERF grant. It also provided information on the range of the grant amounts depending on individual circumstances.  The email also encouraged students to complete the FAFSA or CA Dream application.
    • October 18, 2021: HEERF Emergency Grant Request online application opened for all students to apply.
    • November 15, 2021: HEERF Emergency Grants began being processed and distributed to students whose Grant Request was approved.
    • December 17, 2021: HEERF Emergency Grant Request online application closed.
    • January 31, 2022:  Finalized reviews of applications submitted prior to Winter Break and posted remaining eligible student awards.
  • Phase IV:
    • March 2022: Identify population of need students enrolled in spring term who had not received HEERF III funds as part of the automatic award population in Fall term 2021.
    • April 2022: Any remaining HEERF III funds will be disseminated to the highest need population enrolled, with official 2022 FAFSA or CADAA. Highest needs population to prioritize selection of exceptional need was identified in partnership with Basic Needs as foster youth, single parents, and first-generation students.

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 March 31, 2022 (posted 4/7/2022)

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report as of December 31, 2021 (posted 1/4/2022)

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report as of September 30, 2021 (posted 10/5/2021)

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)