Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)
UNC Charlotte is committed to ensuring a college degree is accessible to our students. We know the COVID-19 pandemic presented unexpected financial challenges to many members of Niner Nation.
Through special federal and state grants — including the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) — and the UNC Charlotte Student Emergency Fund, the University has been able to provide approximately $28 million to more than 12,300 students to support their degree completion. These funds are to assist those with the highest financial need and those with unexpected financial emergencies. Additionally, there are guidelines governing the distribution of all federal funds.
The University recently received confirmation of funding for HEERF III, the third phase of federal support that was also previously known as CARES, and has begun distribution of money to qualifying students.
The awarding of HEERF III funds will happen over the course of the next year. If you have received previous funding through CARES, HEERF or the Student Emergency Fund, you may remain eligible to receive additional funding in the future. You do not need to take specific action at this time.
If you have not previously received funding but have had changing financial circumstances that were not reflected in your most recent FAFSA (for example, if you’ve lost a job or experienced a significant drop in income), you may complete a reconsideration request. If you are unable to file a FAFSA but you have experienced significant financial hardship due to COVID-19, you will have an opportunity to submit an application for emergency funding. Details about the application will be shared soon.
What funds are currently being distributed — CARES or HEERF? Are there differences between the two?
The University is in the early stages of distributing HEERF III funds as student aid. The Biden Administration’s American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 allocated additional funds for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) and HEERF III is the third stream of such funds. Previous funding sources were the CARES Act (HEERF I) and CRRSAA (HEERF II). All of the original CARES funding and HEERF II allocated for student aid has been distributed.
How much funding has been distributed to date to students?
More than $60.4 million in emergency grant aid has been distributed to date, including:
- CARES / HEERF I – $12.15M to 9,541 students
- CRSSA / HEERF II – $12.15M to 12,288 students
- CRSSA / HEERF III – $34.76M to 17,538 students
Additional funds have been allocated from Institutional HEERF II and HEERF III funding for emergency grants. They will be distributed through May 2022.
What are the qualifications to receive HEERF III funding?
HEERF student aid can be directed to students who were enrolled on or after March 13, 2020, and institutions are directed to prioritize students with exceptional financial need. The University is primarily directing aid to support students with high financial need as determined by the FAFSA and to assist with degree completion. For example, recipients of the federal Pell grant have received priority in prior distributions of aid.
Do I need to take any action to receive funding?
Students are encouraged to complete a FAFSA for the current and upcoming aid year. The highest grant amounts are provided to eligible students who exhibit the highest financial need as determined by their FAFSA. Additionally, students may apply for grant funds if their financial circumstances have been significantly impacted by COVID.
Do I have to submit a FAFSA to receive funding?
No, you do not have to file a FAFSA. While financial need, and specifically Pell eligibility, is widely determined by the FAFSA, the most recent HEERF funds may be used for all students, including those who are not eligible to file a FAFSA. Students who are not eligible to file a FAFSA are encouraged to submit the Student Emergency Fund application for financial support.
How will I know if I am receiving funding?
Students will be notified through email if they are receiving funding. It will also show up on their student account. In most cases, the HEERF grant is not considered financial aid, so it will not show up in my.charlotte.edu as part of a financial aid package.
Have all funds been distributed by the University or will other rounds of funding be coming?
These special federal grant funds are distributed in phases. Funding will be provided at various times over the next year and a half as student need is assessed.
If I wasn’t enrolled in spring but am returning in fall, do I qualify?
Yes, spring enrollment is not a condition for financial support. Students who are returning to classes in the summer or fall may be awarded a HEERF grant if they have demonstrated high financial need.
Why is the University distributing funds now — after the end of spring classes and spring commencement?
On May 11, the U.S. Department of Education published the funding allocations and guidance for distributing funding from HEERF III. Shortly after, the University received notification that funds were available to spend. To ensure that eligible students enrolled in summer courses had access to financial support in time to pay their bill, we made the first awards to students who did not reach 20-29 hours in fall/spring in an effort to assist them with making progress toward their degree. Grants will be awarded in advance of the fall semester as well.
Did graduating seniors receive funds?
Among the recent 2021 graduates, more than 2,000 students received CARES funding and more than 1,800 students received HEERF funding.
Do I need to be enrolled in summer classes to receive funds?
No. The summer grants are aimed at students who had difficulty reaching 30 hours in the academic year to help them make adequate progress toward degree completion. A specific objective of the funding support is to assist students in degree attainment.
When will I receive my funds?
Funds will be distributed at different times, but we plan to distribute grants in the fall and spring semesters. When funds are made available, students are notified by email and provided with instructions about how to receive the grant.
How much can I expect to receive?
Generally, awards have ranged from $500-$2,000 depending on a student’s financial need. The average grant has been $1,000.