HEERF III Student Emergency Grants
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) passed an additional round of emergency funding to assist college students with the financial impact related to the pandemic.
SUNY Upstate Medical University will receive $653,653 through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) to be disbursed in the form of emergency grants to students.
SUNY Upstate received Student Aid funding under section 2003(7) of the ARP. This program, with some changes, provides supplemental funds to the CARES Act section 18004(a)(1) program. SUNY Upstate signed and returned to the Education Department a Certification and Agreement as required under the CARES Act section 18004(a)(1) program. We acknowledge that by drawing down the ARP Student Aid Funds, our institution agrees to be bound by the conditions set forth in the ARP Student Aid Supplemental Agreement including using 100 percent of these Student Aid Funds to provide emergency aid grants to students.
Eligibility
Student Eligibility for ARP Block Grant funds: Student must be enrolled for the Fall 2021 semester and have a 2021/2022 FAFSA on file with a calculated Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)
Block grants will be disbursed based on student EFC and enrollment status. The chart below shows the amounts eligible students will receive:
Student Award Chart| Award Amount Per EFC Range and FT/PT Status | |||||
|
125% |
100% |
75% |
50% |
25% |
|
|
EFC Range 0 - 2,923 |
EFC Range 2,924 - 5,846 |
EFC Range 5,847 - 8,769 |
EFC Range 8,770 - 11,692 |
EFC Range 11,693 - 14,615 |
|
|
FT Student Awards |
$814.50 |
$724.00 |
$633.50 |
$543.00 |
$452.50 |
|
PT Student Awards |
$633.50 |
$543.00 |
$ 452.50 |
$362.00 |
$271.50 |
Direct Emergency Grants
18% of ARP Funding and the remaining CRRSAA student funding will be used for emergency grants for students that do not meet the block grant criteria due to a high EFC, no FAFSA on file, international, DACA students, and students whose eligibility may have changed due to the Financial Aid Office processing a professional judgment recalculation of the student eligibility.
SUNY Upstate is currently drafting the application process for the Direct Emergency Grants. Once the process and award amount for the Direct Emergency Grants, our required HEERF Reporting disclosures will be updated.
This criterion meets US Department of Education guidance that ARO funds are to be directed at the neediest students. SUNY Upstate recognizes that eligibility requirements for these funds are evolving and this is based on the latest guidance given by the US Department of Education. Should these requirements change, we will notify students. Funds will be disbursed directly to students unless the student opts in to have all or a portion of the funds applied to their SUNY Upstate bill.
How to Apply
The college will work with eligible students to provide them with any necessary information and steps they may need to complete once we have received guidance from SUNY.
Distribution of Funds
SUNY System Administration and the Board of Trustees, in consultation with the state’s Division of Budget and within the framework established by the federal government, provided direction for the distribution and use of these funds.
The entire amount was refunded to the student, regardless of the account balance. As of December 30th, 2021, 878 recipients were awarded a total distribution of $523,377.50.