Public Disclosure Regarding ARPA, the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III, and Previous Awards Made Under the CARES Act and CRRSAA

Southern Connecticut State University (“Southern” or “the University”) has received funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA” or “Act”) which created the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (“HEERF III”). Previously funding was received under CRRSAA (HEERF II) and CARES Act (HEERF I). Part of the University’s responsibility under each of these funding streams was to provide certain information to the public about the University’s funding for students, and how it has been used.

Southern has signed and returned to the Department of Education, the Certification and Agreement as required. The University has used or will be using the applicable amount of funds designated under the HEERF programs to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.
The University received $11,960,119 from the Department of Education, under section 2003 of the Act, for distribution to students. Previously, under CRRSAA and the CARES Act, the University received and distributed $8,390,168 to students.

2020, Four Quarters

Under the CARES Act the university received and distributed $4,195,084. As of May 22, 2020, Southern had distributed $3,090,740 to 6,476 students. As of July 1, 2020, the number had increased slightly to $3,098,877 and 6,495 students. As of August 12, the aided counts and amounts were 6,497 and $3,099,753. On September 30, the count was 6,630 with total awards to date, $3,150,947. By the end of October, the final count was 6,650 with total awards to date of $3,158,575. In November the final funds were distributed as an increase in award to those of the 6,650 who were still enrolled in the University.
Under the original program which was limited to those who had filed FAFSA’s by June 30, 2020, Southern reached 6,497 students with awards. To reach the 1224 additional students, enrolled for fall 2020, and preliminarily determined to be eligible according to the information below, Southern implemented a program allowing students to attest to Title IV eligibility in lieu of filing the 19-20 FAFSA. Under this program, the University was able to provide awards to an additional 133 students by September 30. Ultimately 153 students were reached through this program. After the attestation program closed, to expend the remaining funds, Southern then distributed the money as a 44% increase on the original award, to those students still enrolled at the University.
The University allocated funds based on the number of credits for which the student was enrolled in spring 2020. The baseline amount for full time, eligible students is $438. Up to 40% of the baseline was added for Pell recipients based on the percentage of the full-time Pell award received. Therefore, an eligible, full-time student receiving a full Pell grant received $613. In the final round of awards (October 2020) a second award, equal to approximately 44% of the original award, was sent to those students enrolled in fall 2020.

2021, First Quarter

In the first quarter of 2021 The University distributed $4,195,084 received through CRRSAA (HEERF II), plus $3,531.18 in returned CARES funds, and $15,978 in HEERF II institutional funds. 6,827 students received awards (all students eligible) and the average award was $618.
Award amounts were determined based on course load and Pell eligibility with Pell students receiving up to 40% more than non-Pell students. The actual amount of the Pell increment was based on the level of Pell eligibility (full Pell award students receiving the 40% increment on their basic award, with the amount tapering down as the Pell award amounts decreased). The baseline full time student award was $590 and the full Pell increment was $238 for a maximum award of $828. Graduate and undergraduate students were included. Eligibility was determined based on FAFSA status or response to a citizenship questionnaire sent to all potentially eligible students who had not filed a FAFSA. Non-matriculated students, non-USA citizens, and students with certain waivers were excluded from eligibility.

2021, Second and Third Quarters

There were no new awards made during this time.

2021, Fourth Quarter

In the final quarter of 2021, $5,906,130 of HEERF III funds were distributed to students (total awards net returns for students later determined to be ineligible).
8179 students were initially determined to be eligible for the emergency grants. Subsequently, 10 were determined, later in the quarter, to be ineligible.
8169 students received HEERF III emergency grants during the final quarter of 2021.
Award amounts were determined using the federal determination of Expected Family Contribution (EFC) for those students filing FAFSAs, a manual calculation of EFC for students filing a Connecticut AACTUS application, matriculation status, and the percentage of full time. The EFC amount was used to weigh awards toward those with higher needs. The resulting awards were cross-checked against Pell records to ensure that Pell recipients received the higher award amounts. The baseline grant for students with no weighting for high need was $643. The maximum grant for full time students with an EFC=0 was $900.

2022, First Quarter

In the first quarter of 2022, $6,013,065.30 of HEERF III funds were distributed to students.
7,627 students were determined to be eligible for the distribution (total distribution headcount less returns for students later determined to be ineligible).
All 7,627 students received HEERF III emergency grants in the first quarter of 2022.
Award amounts were determined using the federal determination of Expected Family Contribution (EFC) for those students filing FAFSAs, a manual calculation of EFC for students filing a Connecticut AACTUS application, matriculation status, and the percentage of full time. The EFC amount was used to weigh awards toward those with higher needs. The resulting awards were cross-checked against Pell records to ensure that Pell recipients received the higher award amounts. The baseline grant for students with no weighting for high need was $704.46. The maximum grant for full time students with an EFC=0 was $986.24.

2022, Second through Fourth Quarters

During these quarters, no new awards were made. Minor adjustments were made to the previous award totals as students became ineligible for the awards they had already received.

2023

In the first quarter of 2023, $3,980.14 in COVID emergency grants were charged to the HEERF student fund. They were transferred from a fund that included significant COVID professional judgment grants funded by the University as they were excess of the federal HEERF funding. Altogether, awards for 3 students were transferred in the amounts of $2,000, $1,000, and $980.01 for an average award of $1,326.71.
In the second quarter of 2023, $1,103 in COVID emergency grants were charged to the HEERF student fund. They were transferred from a fund that included significant COVID professional judgment grants funded by the University as they were in excess of the federal HEERF funding. The award went to a single student for a total and average award of $1,103.

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Across the distributions, students were notified about the program. In 2020 students were notified of the award program in an email dated May 6, 2020. Additional guidance was posted in a Q&A on the Student One Stop webpage and cross-lined to the Financial Aid and Student Accounts sites. Additional emails were sent to students notifying them of the attestation program and the final award under the CARES Act. For awards made under CRRSAA and ARPA, guidance to students was provided via email at the time of the distributions. With CRRSAA there were also reminder emails sent to students who were otherwise eligible but needed to complete the citizenship certification. The emails with the awards included the following information about the grant (disbursed as a refund).
Please note: This refund is because you received a federal emergency student grant under the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act / HEERF III). Your award amount was determined by your FAFSA or AACTUS (awards vary by documented need), the number of credits you are taking, and your student level. These funds are provided to assist you with paying for your educational expenses and education-related expenses caused by the disruption of the pandemic. Specifically: “Emergency financial aid grants may be used by students for any component of their cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care. Students determine how they may use their emergency financial aid grant within the allowable uses."

Quarterly Reports

View the quarterly reporting on the institutional portion of the HEERF grants.

Posted: March 31, 2023

One Stop