Student Aid
Report on Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriates Act, 2021 (CRRSAA)
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III)
April-June 2022
On May 21, 2021, the University of Bridgeport received notification that it was awarded $4,866,240 for emergency financial aid grants to eligible students, made possible by CRRSAA’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III).
HEERF III required UB to prioritize grants to students with exceptional financial needs. UB adopted a plan to distribute the HEERF - Student Aid funds to all eligible UB students, prioritizing those with the highest need. Student FAFSA information on Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) was used to prioritize student need and the size of each eligible student’s grant.
For spring 2022, a total of $1,917,702 was distributed to 2,954 eligible UB students. Recipients were notified via email and were provided the option to authorize their award towards their outstanding balance.
As of June 30, 2022, all funds have been disbursed, please see report 0141600_HEERF_Q22022_071122.
Report on Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriates Act, 2021 (CRRSAA)
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III)
October-December 2021
On May 21, 2021, the University of Bridgeport received notification that it was awarded $4,866,240 for emergency financial aid grants to eligible students, made possible by CRRSAA’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III).
HEERF III required UB to prioritize grants to students with exceptional financial needs. UB adopted a plan to distribute the HEERF - Student Aid funds to all eligible UB students, prioritizing those with the highest need. Student FAFSA information on Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) was used to prioritize student need and the size of each eligible student’s grant was determined as illustrated in the following table:
| Student EFC | Allocation per student |
|---|---|
| $0 to $1,000 | $1,100 |
| $1,001 to $15,000 | $800 |
| $15,001 to $100,000 | $550 |
| over $100,000 | $250 |
In addition, students who did not complete a FASFA were awarded a flat rate of $250 per student.
For fall 2021 $2,338,300 was distributed to 3,174 eligible UB students and in aggregate $2,948,550 was distributed out of $4,866,240 to 3,441 eligible UB students. Recipients were notified via email and were provided the option to authorize their award towards their outstanding balance.
Report on Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriates Act, 2021 (CRRSAA)
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III)
July-September, 2021
On May 21, 2021, the University of Bridgeport received notification that it was awarded $4,866,240 for emergency financial aid grants to eligible students, made possible by CRRSAA’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III).
HEERF III required UB to prioritize grants to students with exceptional financial need. UB adopted a plan to distribute the HEERF - Student Aid funds to all eligible UB students, prioritizing those with highest need. Student FAFSA information on Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) was used to prioritize student need and the size of each eligible student’s grant was determined as illustrated in the following table:
| Student EFC | Allocation per student |
|---|---|
| $0 to $1,000 | $700 |
| $1,001 to $15,000 | $500 |
| $15,001 to $100,000 | $350 |
| over $100,000 | $200 |
Using these allocated amounts, a total of $610,250 was distributed to all 1,493 eligible UB students. Recipients were notified via email and were provided the option to authorize their award towards their outstanding balance.
Report on Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriates Act, 2021 (CRRSAA)
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II)
January-March, 2021
On January 16, 2021, the University of Bridgeport received notification that it was awarded $1,635,969 for emergency financial aid grants to eligible students, made possible by CRRSAA’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II).
HEERF II required UB to prioritize grants to students with exceptional financial need. UB adopted a plan to distribute the majority of the HEERF - Student Aid funds to all eligible UB students, prioritizing those with highest need. Student FAFSA information on Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) was used to prioritize student need and the size of each eligible student’s grant was determined as illustrated in the following table:
| Student EFC | Allocation per student |
|---|---|
| $0 to $1,000 | $700 |
| $1,001 to $15,000 | $500 |
| $15,001 to $100,000 | $350 |
| over $100,000 | $200 |
Using these allocated amounts, a total of $1,531,450 was distributed to all 2,747 eligible UB students from March 9-31, 2021. Recipients were notified via email and were provided the option to authorize their award towards their outstanding balance.
Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriates Act, 2021 (CRRSAA)
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II)
spring 2021
The University of Bridgeport has been allocated $1.6 million for a second round of emergency financial aid grants to eligible students through CRRSAA’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II).
HEERF II requires UB to prioritize grants to students with exception financial need. FAFSA information on Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is used for this purpose.
| Student EFC | Allocation per student |
|---|---|
| $0 to $1,000 | $700 |
| $1,001 to $15,000 | $500 |
| $15,001 to $100,000 | $350 |
| over $100,000 | $200 |
Unlike the CARES Act funds of spring 2020 (see below), distance education students are now eligible for these funds. Another difference is that students can now chose to have their allocation go directly to a balance owed to the University. Students must first give authorization for the funds to be applied to their outstanding balance.
Additional, but limited funds are available for students to apply for because COVID has caused additional financial hardship. Information on this application process will be distributed within the next few weeks..
If you haven’t completed a 2020-2021 FAFSA application for this current academic year, do so now at www.studentaid.gov to ensure your eligibility and funds distribution. UB’s federal school code is 001416.
Please direct questions to UBCARES@bigimar.com.
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, 2020 (CARES)
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF - Student Aid)
spring 2020
The CARES Act has allocated funds to higher education institutions for emergency relief grants to be used for student aid to eligible students. The US Department of Education is administering the funds and has apportioned $1,635,969 to the University of Bridgeport to be used solely for this purpose. UB signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the US Department of Education on April 14, 2020 with the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
The CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund - Student Aid (HEERF - Student Aid) recognizes that students have incurred expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.
UB adopted a plan to distribute the majority of the HEERF - Student Aid funds equally to all eligible UB students, with the opportunity for eligible students to apply for additional support, if needed.
From May 15, 2020 to the end of the month, a total of $1,334,000 was equally distributed to all 2,668 eligible UB students at $500 per student. In addition, 306 of the recipients applied for and were awarded extra CARES Act emergency student funds at amounts ranging from $100 to $3,000, for a total of $302,469, comprised of the remaining $301,969 plus the $500 accrued as interest income. These remaining funds were distributed at the end of June 2020. So the complete distribution of UB’s CARES Act emergency financial aid grants to UB eligible students totaled $1,636,469 ($1,635,969 plus $500).
Frequently asked questions
The US Department of Education has established the requirements that UB must follow. Students must have been enrolled in six credit hours or more in the spring 2020 semester. All recipients must be Title IV eligible students. Students who were exclusively distance learning students prior to March 13, 2020 are not eligible to receive CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief.
Any student who is not Title IV eligible cannot receive the grant. This includes international students and DACA students. In addition, Title IV eligible students who were exclusively distance learning students prior to March 13, 2020 are not eligible.
For the spring 2020 semester, 2,668 students were determined to be eligible for CARES Act student grants, based on having using FAFSA to determine Title IV eligibility, excluding students enrolled exclusively in distance learning prior to March 13, 2020, and enrolled in at least 6 credits.
Based on the number of Title IV eligible students enrolled in 6 credits or more at UB for the spring 2020 semester, we disbursed $500 to each eligible student and disbursed the remaining $301,969 plus the $546.91 accrued as interest income in varying amounts to 306 eligible applicants.
UB used the 2019-2020 FAFSA to determine eligibility.
Students enrolled in a program that was offered exclusively online prior to March 13, 2020 are considered distance learning students.
UB used FAFSA to determine Title IV eligibility. A description of Title IV eligibility for students can be found at http://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements.
Quarterly budget and expenditure reporting
under CARES Act Sections 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion, 18004(a)(2), and 18004(a)(3)
2020 Q3 Report - As of October 26, 2020
2020 Q3 Report - Modified on March 23, 2021
2021 Q3 Report - 00141600_HEERF_Q32021_100821
Contact
For additional questions, email UBCARES@bigimar.com.