HEERF Grant Quarterly Reporting
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Reporting
During 2021, the University of Charleston (UC) received access to grant funds through the HEERF II under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) & the HEERF III funds as part of the $39.6 billion authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP). CRRSAA and ARP funds were in addition to funds authorized for higher education institutions under the initial CARES Act of 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic that UC disbursed to students or reimbursed to the institution during 2020. Please find 2021, 2022, and 2023 quarterly reports related to the university’s use of the Institutional grant funds and the awarding of Emergency Financial Aid to students for each quarter in the sections to follow. As of December 31, 2023, all funds available to UC under this program were expended.
Current Report
Quarterly Report (HEERF II and III) December 31, 2023
Quarterly Report (HEERF II and III) September 30, 2023
Quarterly Report (HEERF II and III) June 30, 2023
Quarterly Report (HEERF II and III) March 31, 2023
Quarterly Report (HEERF II and III) December 31, 2022
Quarterly Report (HEERF II and III) September 30, 2022
Quarterly Report (HEERF II and III) June 30, 2022
Prior reporting periods in previously required formats follow:
Quarterly Reporting for Institutional Grants
HEERF II & III
UC has received access to $3,502,344 in funds available to assist in recovering institutional costs associated with the coronavirus pandemic. Allowable reimbursements of additional expenses and lost revenue including but not limited to those related to the disruption of campus operations, converting to remote instruction, tuition, housing, room and board, additional technology needs, off-campus housing, campus safety and support for faculty and staff training in online instruction, and in accordance with the categories outlined in the quarterly reports below. Reimbursement of Institutional expenses is conditional and limited to the awarding of Emergency Financial Aid grants to students.”
Quarterly reporting updates are required following the awarding of ARP funds in May 2021. Institutional expenses claimed for the 2022 calendar year quarter ending March 31 were $417,318. Institutional expenses claimed for the for 2021 calendar year quarters ending March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 2021, were $0, $3,098, $7,017, and $15,202 respectively. Expenses will continue to be reported through 2022 in accordance with current federal guidelines for HEERF grants. Individual quarterly reports follow:
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reports (HEERF II and III) March 31, 2022
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reports (HEERF II and III) December 31
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reports (HEERF II and III) September 30
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reports (HEERF II and III) June 30
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reports (HEERF II and III) March 31
Quarterly Reporting for Emergency Financial Aid to Students
2nd Quarter 2023 Ending June 30 –
HEERF III Student Grants – Final Award
In accordance with the guidelines provided with the awarding of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) III under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the University of Charleston issued its final disbursements of direct-to-student aid grants in June 2023. In determining which students would receive assistance through this disbursement, the institution followed the directive given in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) as cited in the Department of Education’s May 11, 2021 publication of Frequently Asked Questions which stated: “institutions are directed with the ARP funds to prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell grants or are undergraduates with extraordinary financial circumstances in awarding emergency financial aid grants to students.” Further in this publication, the Department of Education encouraged institutions to “prioritize domestic students, especially undergraduates, in allocating this funding.”
Therefore, in determining the students who would receive assistance in this final disbursement of funds, the institution selected domestic undergraduate students enrolled at the University of Charleston during the Spring 2023 semester who had an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) less than $11,000. This threshold was selected as it is the eligibility mark for the need-based West Virginia Higher Education Grant aid program. A total of $335,016 in remaining HEERF student grant funds available were disbursed to students in the quarter ending June 30, 2023.
4th Quarter 2022 Ending December 30 –
- Another $33,988 was awarded during the quarter ending December 31, 2022, to complete the distribution of funds resulting from the university’s outreach effort to students the past year
- The remaining $335,016 will be awarded by quarter ending June 30, 2023
1st Quarter 2022 Ending March 31 –
HEERF III (under ARP)
Under the provisions of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund and the American Rescue Plan (ARP), the University of Charleston has been authorized to award emergency funds to assist students who have experienced exceptional need. Students eligible for grant funds under HEERF III are those who are currently enrolled at UC or were enrolled on or after March 13, 2020, during this COVID-19 national emergency. The University of Charleston signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the Department of Education.
- UC received access to $2,121,771 under HEERF III for emergency financial aid grants for students under the student portion of the program.
- As of December 31, 2021, $1,752,767 in student grant funds under HEERF III had been awarded and distributed to students.
- During quarter ending March 31, 2022, no additional student grant funds under the HEERF III student portion were awarded or distributed to students.
- The remaining $369,004 will be awarded during the quarter ending June 30, 2022
4th Quarter Ending December 31 –
HEERF III (under ARP)
Under the provisions of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund and the American Rescue Plan (ARP), the University of Charleston has been authorized to award emergency funds to assist students who have experienced exceptional need. Students eligible for grant funds under HEERF III are those who are currently enrolled at UC or were enrolled on or after March 13, 2020, during this COVID-19 national emergency. The University of Charleston signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the Department of Education.
- UC received access to $2,121,771 under HEERF III for emergency financial aid grants for students under the student portion of the program.
- As of December 31, 2021, $1,752,767 in student grant funds under HEERF III had been awarded and distributed to students.
- On September 17, 2021, the University of Charleston opened an online application for students who were enrolled on or after March 13, 2020 through September 17, 2021. The priority deadline for the application was September 30, 2021. Applications were accepted through 5:00 p.m. on October 11, 2021. A total of 970 application forms were submitted. After removing duplicate submissions, 952 applications were reviewed for grant awards.
- Student EFCs were recorded (when available) with each application. For international students who could not submit a FAFSA, professionals in financial aid, student accounts, student life, and international student programs were consulted for evaluation of student need. Students were grouped into high (EFC = 0), moderate (EFC <10,000), or low (EFC > 10,000) need groups to prioritize the awards based on need.
- Award totals were based on information students provided related to their Covid-related expenses and loss of income.
- Maximum award amounts were established by category of expenditure.
- Minimum award amounts were established for all applicants. Students in the high need group received a minimum award of $1,700. Students in the moderate and low need groups received a minimum award of $1,500.
- Awards were distributed to students via their selected method for institutional refunds (direct deposit or check mailed to primary residence) unless they expressly requested for the funds to be applied to a previous or future account balance. Students no longer enrolled in the university were asked to confirm their current mailing address for successful delivery of their check. Some international students who were no longer enrolled elected for a wire transfer of funds.
- A total of $1,752,767 was awarded to the 952 applicants. The remaining $369,004 will be awarded through a second round of applications during the Spring 2022 semester.
- Student communications related to the university’s outreach to students this quarter can be found here.
3rd Quarter Ending September 30 –
HEERF III (under ARP)
Under the provisions of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund and the American Rescue Plan (ARP), the University of Charleston has been authorized to award emergency funds to assist students who have experienced exceptional need. Students eligible for grant funds under HEERF III are those who are currently enrolled at UC or were enrolled on or after March 13, 2020, during this COVID-19 national emergency. The University of Charleston signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the Department of Education.
- UC was authorized to award $2,121,771 in student grants under the HEERF III student portion.
- As of September 30, 2021, no student grant funds under the HEERF III student portion had been awarded or distributed to students.
2nd Quarter Ending June 30 –
HEERF II (under CRRSAA)
Under the provisions of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 2021 (CRRSAA) the received emergency funds to immediately assist students experiencing exceptional need. The University of Charleston signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the Department of Education.
- UC received $611,494 under HEERF II for emergency financial aid grants for students under the student portion of the program.
- As of June 30, 2021, all $611,494 in student grant funds received by UC had been awarded and distributed to students.
- Estimated number of eligible students was 2,800.
- Total number of students who received emergency grants under HEERF II (CRRSAA) was 2,803.
- The university stratified the eligible student population based on financial need. A full description of methodology and student communications are available in the 4.30.21 interim web report. The 4.30.21 Student Grant Update, as well as all other student grant updates, can be found here.
HEERF III (under ARP)
Under the provisions of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund and the American Rescue Plan (ARP), the University of Charleston has been authorized to award emergency funds to assist students experiencing exceptional need. Students eligible for grant funds under HEERF III are those who are currently or were enrolled during the COVID-19 national emergency. The University of Charleston signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the Department of Education.
- UC received authorization to award $2,121,771 in student grants under the HEERF III.
- As of June 30, 2021, no student grant funds under the HEERF III student portion had been awarded or distributed to students.
1st Quarter Ending March 31 –
HEERF II (CRRSAA funds)
Under the provisions of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 2021 (CRRSAA) the university received emergency funds to assist students. The University of Charleston signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the Department of Education.
- UC received authorization to award $611,494 in student grants under HEERF II.
- As of March 31, 2021, no student grant funds under the HEERF II student portion had been awarded or distributed to students.
2020 HEERF I (CARES Act) Reporting
Institutional Grant Expenditure Report –
1st and Final Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report (HEERF I and CARES Act) October 30, 2020
Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students –