HEERF Emergency Grants Report

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

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

Quarterly Report:  For the period ending June 30, 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. 

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 CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) programs.

Acknowledgement:

HEERF II:

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.

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 II:

Cal Poly Pomona received a total of $15,452,045 under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA, which was provided as Emergency Financial Aid Grants directly to students with expenses related to the COVID-19 crisis.

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.

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

HEERF II:

As of June 30, 2021 Cal Poly Pomona has distributed 100% of the $15,452,045 received under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA in Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. 

Continuing with Cal Poly Pomona’s focus on student success and well-being, an additional $3,075,105 from HEERF II Institutional Funds was also distributed as Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students – for a total combined amount of $18,527,150.  Information on the Institutional Funds is reflected in the Institutional Funds report.

HEERF III:

Cal Poly Pomona received its HEERF III Grant Award Notification on June 23, 2021.  The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants that has been distributed to students under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP as of June 30, 2021 is $0.

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

HEERF II:

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).  Outreach was conducted to these students to encourage them to complete the 2020 – 2021 FAFSA by June 1, 2021 so that their eligibility for a grant could be determined.

HEERF III: 

The estimated total amount of students that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid has yet to be determined.  As of June 30, 2021, the University is developing its strategy for distributing HEERF III funds.

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

HEERF II:

As of June 30, 2021, the total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA is 20,523 students.  This number reflects the total number of recipients of Emergency Financial Aid Grants from the $18,527,150 in combined Student and Institutional portions of funding.

HEERF III:

As of June 30, 2021, 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 0.

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

HEERF II:

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 used the official Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from a student’s 2020 – 2021 FAFSA to identify – and prioritize – students with exceptional need.  The institution 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 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 were sent a communication recommending they complete the 2020-21 FAFSA to determine eligibility for a HEERF II emergency grant. The amount of any HEERF II Emergency Grant awarded was based on Group assignment (1-4) determined by the official Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and enrollment status (full-time or part-time).

* The citizenship requirement was removed on May 12, 2021 after the Department of Education issued their Final Rule (May 11, 2021) – in which the definition of eligible student was expanded to remove Title IV aid eligibility / citizenship status as a requirement.  At that point, eligibility was expanded to include any student at Cal Poly Pomona with a 2020 – 2021 FAFSA on file – who had not already received Emergency Financial Aid Grant funding from alternate Institutional sources.

HEERF III:

As of June 30, 2021, the information about the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP is in the process of being developed.  This includes determining eligibility and the dollar amounts of grants.

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

HEERF II:

The University’s HEERF 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.

All enrolled students received an email alerting them to the HEERF II Emergency Financial Aid Grants, and directing them to the University’s HEERF II website, at CRRSAA: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II).

Additional emails and instructions were sent to students in the various Grant distribution groups:

Timeline

  • March 25, 2021: HEERF Website updated to include information about Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA.
  • April 5, 2021: Email notification sent to students in groups 1 – 3 without Direct Deposit information on file prompting them to set up Direct Deposit in order to expedite receipt of their Emergency Financial Aid Grant funds.
  • April 6, 2021: Email notification sent to all students in HEERF II Distribution Groups – including the student’s distribution group, enrollment status, and grant amount:
    • Students in Groups 1 – 3: Students in Groups 1 – 3 were eligible for automatic payment of the Grant.  The email let them know that no additional application or action was required to receive the funds.
    • Students in Group 4: Students in Group 4 were eligible for the grant but were required to complete a HEERF II Grant Application by June 15, 2021 in order to claim the grant funds.  The email contained a direct link to the Self-Service Portal, where the student could access and complete the application. 
    • Students in Group 5: Students in Group 5 were notified of the possibility of being eligible for the Emergency Financial Aid Grant.  These students did not have a 2020 – 2021 FAFSA on file (or had an unofficial EFC).  The email contained information about filing the FAFSA by June 1st in order to have their eligibility reviewed.   

The email also included a link to a step-by-step Completing the FAFSA tutorial video, as well as promoted the availability of a FAFSA Application Virtual Workshop, regarding the potential availability of Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

  • April 14, 2021: Payments to students eligible for automatic aid payments will be processed.
  • Weekly (April 9 – June 10, 2021): Communications were sent to newly eligible students (Groups 1 – 4). 

HEERF III:

As of June 30, 2021, the information about the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP is in the process of being developed. 

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)