CARES Act emergency grants for students

App State is distributing federal emergency grants — in the form of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the 2021 Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) — to students to help cover expenses due to the coronavirus. 

The federal CARES Act provided grant assistance to the university and direct aid to students. As part of CARES, the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) grants were distributed in 2020 to students with financial need who met the minimum U.S. Department of Education criteria to be eligible. HEERF I distribution was completed in January 2021. The HEERF II grants, which App State distributed in spring 2021 to all eligible enrolled students who are U.S. citizens, were part of the CRRSA passed Dec. 27, 2020.

The first HEERF allocation (HEERF I) was $15,927,932. Of that amount:

• $7,963,966 (50%) was provided directly to students;
• $7,963,966 (50%) was provided to App State, and was issued as housing and dining refunds to students.

App State’s HEERF I distribution was completed in January 2021. 

The second round of HEERF funding (HEERF II) included approximately $8 million for direct payments to students. It was distributed by March 31, 2021, to approximately 18,000 eligible students as follows:

• Undergraduate students receiving the Pell Grant in the 2020-21 academic year received $525.
• Eligible graduate students and undergraduate students NOT receiving the Pell Grant during the 2020-21 academic year received $400.

Students eligible for the second round of HEERF assistance had to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who were enrolled in classes at App State for the spring 2021 semester.

The legislation specifies HEERF grant allocations must be used to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus and a student’s cost of attendance, such as:

• Food
• Housing
• Course materials
• Technology
• Relocation expenses
• Health care
• Child care
• Transportation

Are CARES and CRRSA funding part of my financial aid package?

No. This is not Financial Aid and will not count toward or be included in any financial aid package or college loans you receive.

Do I need to pay CARES or CRRSA funds back?

No. This is an emergency relief grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help enrolled students cover expenses they experienced due to the campus disruption caused by COVID-19.

Who can I contact with additional questions?

General questions:
enrollment-mgmt@appstate.edu
828-262-7244

Questions about eligibility:
Office of Student Financial Aid
financialaid@appstate.edu
828-262-2190

Questions about disbursements and student accounts:
Student Accounts
studentaccounts@appstate.edu
828-262-2113

Questions about available aid and emergency assistance:
Office of the Dean of Students
dos@appstate.edu
828-262-8284