Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA)
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) is authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. In total, the CRRSAA authorizes $81.88 billion in support for education, in addition to the $30.75 billion expeditiously provided last spring through the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136.
HEERF II Emergency Funding for Students
CRRSAA includes emergency grants for students facing expenses due to COVID-19. CRRSAA grants must be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus, such as tuition & fees, food, housing, book & supplies, transportation, technology, personal education expenses, health care (mental or physical) or child care.
UH West Oʻahu has been granted $697,500 (the same amount as the CARES Act) from the U.S. Department of Education for emergency grants for students.
Current Distribution of Emergency Grants to Students
UH West Oʻahu has distributed $697,500 to 1,727 students as of May 4, 2021.
Funding Methodology
UH West Oʻahu determined CRRSAA student eligibility based on the following criteria:
- Current enrolled students at the time of disbursement,
- FAFSA on file to determine eligible U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizenship status, and
- Using the FAFSA data to determine the need of students.
While UH West Oʻahu feels that all students have a need for additional student grant funds during this pandemic due to the changes in class modality and unexpected hardships in their lives due to COVID-19, UH West O’ahu has tried to give all known eligible students some funds while recognizing the federal guidance to prioritize the neediest students. UH West O’ahu has used the EFC from the FAFSA to identify the neediest students. To prioritize the neediest students while also understanding the needs of all eligible students, we have determined that the highest grant amounts per student and the majority of funding will go to the neediest students. UH West O’ahu has designated roughly 86% of its funding to students who have a primary EFC below 10,000. All other eligible students who have a primary EFC of 10,000 and above will be distributed the remaining 14% of funds in substantially equal amounts.
While UH West Oʻahu feels that many students have much higher financial needs than the amounts given, we hope that these grants will help alleviate some of the financial burdens brought on by COVID-19 to help provide toward a student’s cost of attendance. We will be awarding larger grants to the needier students based on a student’s EFC, as provided by the FAFSA, and smaller amounts tiered down accordingly. The funding model is outlined below:
| EFC Range | Amount per Student |
|---|---|
| 0 to 5,999 | $500 |
| 6,000 to 9,999 | $400 |
| 10,000 to 35,200 | $202 |
| 35,201 and above | $201 |
Eligibility
The general eligibility criteria for the CRRSAA emergency grants for students are that, according to the U.S. Department of Education, recipients must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen; and priority must be given to the neediest students (as defined by the institution).
Students who are ineligible include:
- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students.
- International students.
- Undocumented students.
Due to the shortened time frame to disburse funds to enrolled students and learning from our experiences with the HEERF I (CARES Act) student funds, we will not require an application to award the HEERF II (CRRSAA) student grant funds. A FAFSA will be required. All eligible students will be identified on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, which is the day after the requested FAFSA deadline for CRRSAA funding. All eligible students will be given a student grant fund but at varying amounts based on the student’s need.
Method of Payment of Grant Funds
The CRRSAA emergency grant funds will be disbursed directly to students via their student account. The funds will simply pass through the student account and will not be applied to any student account charges. Students who have set up ACH (Automated Clearing House) refunds with the University of Hawaiʻi (on MyUH Services) to their bank account will be sent their grant funds directly to their associated bank account. It is recommended that all students sign up for ACH refunds to expedite the refund process. All other students without ACH will be mailed a check for the grant funds awarded.
HEERF II Institutional Portion and Minority Serving Institutions
UH West Oʻahu has been awarded $2,218,948 (Institutional Portion) and $2,213,850 (Minority Serving Institutions) from the U.S. Department of Education authorized by Sections 314(a)(1) and 314(a)(2), respectfully of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, signed into law on December 27, 2020. Pursuant to Section 314(c) of the CRRSAA, these grant funds may be used to defray expenses associated with coronavirus (including lost revenue, reimbursement for expenses already incurred, technology costs associated with the transition to distance education, faculty and staff trainings, and payroll); carry out student support activities authorized by the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) that address needs related to coronavirus; and make additional financial grants to students, which may be used for any component of the student’s 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.