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HEERF Awards (Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds) Impact

HEERF Awards (Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds)

COVID-19 Supplemental Aid Program

Fairmont State University is committed to providing additional assistance to our students who continue to experience financial difficulties due to COVID-19.  Based on available funding, Fairmont State University will be offering the COVID-19 Supplemental Aid Program for Spring 2022 to financially assist our students for the 2021-2022 Academic Year. Awards of $1,500 for full-time students and $1,000 for part-time students will be made beginning February 1. This program is available through federal funding and as a result, funding is limited. Applications are required to be considered for the program and funding is not guaranteed.

You can access the application for funding by clicking here

Spring 2022

Students attending Fairmont State University for the Spring  2022 semester can apply to receive the funding based on the following criteria.

  • $1,500 for full-time students (12+ credit hours for undergraduate students, 9+ credit hours for graduate students)
  • $1,000 for part-time students (6 - 11 credit hours for undergraduate students, 5 - 8 credit hours for graduate students) · Must complete the application. You can access the application for funding by clicking here.
  • Be enrolled at least half-time (defined as 6 credit hours for undergraduate students and 4 hours for graduate students or more) at the time the award is made
  • Be admitted as a regular, degree-seeking student
  • Students with exceptional need will be considered first. Should funds remain after exceptional need awards are made, other applications will be considered.
  • Awards will be posted to student’s account beginning the week of February 14.

The application review process will begin on February 1, 2022.

*This information is based on the latest guidance available from the Department of Education and may not be the final update to how the government requires the University to distribute the funds. Fairmont State continues to seek guidance from the federal government and will notify students and families as soon as possible of any further changes.

If you have not completed your FAFSA for the 2021-2022 Academic Year we encourage you to do so in order to maximize on all available federal and state financial aid. You may complete your FAFSA online. If your financial circumstances have changed since you have initially filed your FAFSA, please contact the Financial aid Office for guidance on how to file a special circumstance.

Fairmont State is committed to working with you to complete this process. If you have any questions about the FAFSA or you need assistance with a portion of the FAFSA process please contact Financial Aid Services at financialaid@fairmontstate.edu or 304-367-4141.

Fall 2021

Students attending Fairmont State University for the fall 2021 semester can apply to receive the funding based on the following criteria.

  • $1,500 for full-time students (12+ credit hours for undergraduate students, 9+ credit hours for graduate students)
  • $1,000 for part-time students (6-11 credit hours for undergraduate students, 5-8 credit hours for graduate students) · Must complete the application.
  • Be an eligible citizen or eligible non-citizen
  • Be enrolled at least half-time (defined as 6 credit hours for undergraduate students and 4 hours for graduate students or more) at the time the award is made
  • Be admitted as a regular, degree-seeking student
  • Students with exceptional need will be considered first. Should funds remain after exceptional need awards are made, other applications will be considered.
  • Awards will be posted to student’s account beginning the week of September 13th.

The application review process will begin on September 1, 2021.

*This information is based on the latest guidance available from the Department of Education and may not be the final update to how the government requires the University to distribute the funds. Fairmont State continues to seek guidance from the federal government and will notify students and families as soon as possible of any further changes.

If you have not completed your FAFSA for the 2021-2022 academic year we encourage you to do so in order to maximize on all available federal and state financial aid. You may complete your FAFSA online. If your financial circumstances have changed since you have initially filed your FAFSA, please contact the financial aid office for guidance on how to file a special circumstance.

Fairmont State is committed to working with you to complete this process. If you have any questions about the FAFSA or you need assistance with a portion of the FAFSA process please contact Financial Aid Services at financialaid@fairmontstate.edu or 304-367-4141.

Summer 2021

Fairmont State University will assist students enrolled in the summer 2021 term with an award of up to $500. Summer 2021 recipients have been identified through summer enrollment and are being processed based on the following criteria. No application is necessary to be considered for this supplemental summer 2021 financial aid funding.

  • Be an eligible citizen or eligible non-citizen
  • Be enrolled at least half-time (defined as 6 credit hours for undergraduate students and 4 hours for graduate students or more) at the time the award is made
  • Be admitted as a regular, degree-seeking student
  • Students with exceptional need will be considered first. Should funds remain after exceptional need awards are made, other enrolled students will be considered.
  • Please refer to your student account in FELiX to see if you received a disbursement. Checks for disbursement can be expected 5-7 days beyond date in FELiX.

Prior Award Documentation

If you are a current Fairmont State student facing financial hardships as a result of COVID-19 you may qualify to receive CARES Act funding. Fairmont State University has received additional funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to assist students facing financial hardships as a result of COVID-19.

Based on the latest guidance available from the Department of Education, in order to be eligible to receive a CARES Act grant, you must be Title IV eligible and among the neediest students based on financial need. For the University to determine your eligibility, you must: *

  • Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2020-2021 academic year.
  • Be eligible for Title IV aid (e.g. Pell, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Work Study, etc.) for the 2020-2021 award year

  • Be an eligible citizen or eligible non-citizen

  • Be registered with the Selective Service (if born male)

  • Not be in default on a prior student loan or owe a grant overpayment

  • Be making Satisfactory Academic Progress

  • Be enrolled at least half-time (defined as 6 credit hours or more)

  • Be admitted as a regular, degree-seeking student

*This information is based on the latest guidance available from the Department of Education and may not be the final update to how the government requires the University to distribute the funds. Fairmont State continues to seek guidance from the federal government and will notify students and families as soon as possible of any further changes.

If you have not completed your FAFSA for the 2020-2021 academic year and you wish to apply, you may do so now. You may complete your FAFSA online.

Fairmont State is committed to working with you to complete this process. If you have any questions about the FAFSA or you need assistance with a portion of the FAFSA process please contact Financial Aid Services at financialaid@fairmontstate.edu or 304-367-4141.

Fairmont State signed the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CARES Act on April 9, 2020, submitted it to the U.S. Department of Education on April 11, 2020, received approval on April 27, 2020 and intends to use $1,713,280 to provide emergency grants to assist students. These funds are to be distributed to eligible students who complete an application and have experienced a COVID-19 related expense due to the disruption of campus operations, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, child care, medical and travel expense. Students who meet the eligibility requirements provided by the U.S. Department of Education may be awarded a one-time emergency grant of $750 for full-time students (enrolled in at least 12 credit hours) and $500 for part-time (enrolled in 6-11 credit hours). It was estimated that 2,693 students were eligible for the first allocation of CARES Act funds.  The chart below shows statistics regarding actual disbursements.  As of December 31, 2020, Fairmont State had awarded 100% of the first allocation of funds under the CARES Act. 

*In July 2021, returns were processed for uncashed award checks for two students and funds were re-awarded to one student by the end of the September 30, 2021 reporting period.

Number of CARES Act Grants awarded per reporting date:

Total Number of Students Awarded Total Number of Awards Total Amount of Awards Reporting Date Reporting Period
504 504 $367,250 May 27, 2020 May 27, 2020
800 800 $583,500 July 13, 2020 July 13, 2020    
942 942 $687,250 August 27, 2020 August 27, 2020    
1584 2250 $1,645,500 October 10, 2020 September 30, 2020
1656 2342 $1,713,280 January 10, 2021 December 31, 2020
*1654 *2341 *$1,713,280 *October 8, 2021 *September 30, 2021

Fairmont State received notice of an additional allocation of funding under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) on January 19, 2021.  The amount of additional funding received was $1,713,280. Students who meet the eligibility requirements provided by the U.S. Department of Education may be awarded a one-time emergency grant of $800 for students with an EFC between 0-5,711 and $600 for students with an EFC between 5,712-12,000.  An estimated 2,516 students will be eligible to apply for the emergency grant. The deadline to apply for the CRRSAA Emergency Grant was March 15, 2021. Should there be sufficient funds in the future, additional opportunities may be available and will be subject to the eligibility requirements of the most recent award.

*In July 2021, returns were processed for uncashed award checks for two students, and funds were re-awarded to two students by the end of the September 30, 2021 reporting period.

Number of CRRSAA Grants awarded per reporting date:

Total Number of Students Awarded Total Number of Awards Total Amount of Awards Reporting Date Reporting Period
925 925 $699,800 April 9, 2021 March 31, 2021
1058 1058 $806,200 July 9, 2021 June 30, 2021
*1381 *1662 *$1,713,280 *October 8, 2021 *September 30, 2021
      January 10, 2022 December 31, 2021

Fairmont State received notice of an additional allocation of funding under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) on May 17, 2021.  The amount of additional funding received was $5,154,975. Students who meet the eligibility requirements provided by the U.S. Department of Education may be awarded a one-time Summer 2021 Term emergency grant of $500 based on eligibility; however, an application was not required for receipt of the summer award. For the Fall 2021 Term, students who meet the eligibility requirements provided by the U.S. Department of Education may be awarded a one-time emergency grant of $1,000 or  $1,500 based on eligibility criteria.  An estimated 2,919 students will be eligible to apply for the emergency grant. Should there be sufficient funds in the future, additional opportunities may be available. The deadline to apply for the ARPA Emergency Grant was September 1, 2021.

Number of ARPA Grants awarded per reporting date:

Total Number of Students Awarded Total Number of Awards Total Number of Awards Reporting Date Reporting Period
1946 2090 $2,608,320 October 8, 2021 September 30, 2021
1946 2090 $2,608,320 January 10, 2022 December 31, 2021
2571 3904 $5,154,975 April 8, 2022 March 31, 2022
         

After submitting this request form, the Office of Financial Aid will review your information, contact you with next steps (if necessary), and make a final determination of your eligibility to receive HEERF emergency funds.

While the University will make every effort to accommodate all students facing financial hardships, due to the limited availability of HEERF funds and the evolving nature of guidance from the Department of Education, submitting this request form does not guarantee approval for a HEERF Grant. If the Office of Financial Aid cannot provide you with this type of grant though, we will make every effort to assist you through further guidance and support.

Fairmont State University is required to report to the U.S. Department of Education the number of students awarded 30 days from the day of receiving notification of the award and then every 45 days thereafter until the funds are depleted. Fairmont State received updated reporting requirements on September 23, 2020, requiring a report be submitted on the 10th of the month following the end of the quarter (April 10th, July 10, September 10th, and January 10th).

On September 23, 2020, Fairmont State was advised of reporting requirements regarding the institutional portion of the HEERF funding it received. Please find the link(s) below to the required reporting:

HEERF I Institutional Reporting for Quarter ended September 30, 2020

HEERF I Institutional Reporting for Quarter ended December 31, 2020

HEERF I & II Institutional Reporting for Quarter ended March 31, 2021

HEERF I, II, & III Institutional Reporting for Quarter ended June 30, 2021

HEERF I, II, & III Institutional Reporting for Quarter ended September 30, 2021

HEERF I, II, & III Institutional Reporting for Quarter ending December 31, 2021

HEERF I, II, & III Institutional Reporting for Quarter ending March 31, 2022

HEERF I, II, & III Institutional Reporting for Quarter ending June 30, 2022

HEERF I, II, & III Institutional Reporting for Quarter ending September 30, 2022

HEERF I, II, & III Institutional Reporting for Quarter ending December 31, 2022

HEERF I, II, & III Institutional Reporting for Quarter ending March 31, 2023

HEERF I, II, & III Institutional Reporting for Quarter ending June 30, 2023

*The information provided regarding HEERF funding is based on the latest guidance available from the Department of Education. However, the Department of Education sets the criteria for distribution of HEERF funding, and the University will update and follow this guidance as the information becomes available.​