COVID-19 Response

CRRSA and ARP Acts Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF II and HEERF III) Report

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Coronavirus, Response, and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act allocated funding to the University of Wisconsin–Madison under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to be used for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. Similar to the CARES Act reporting requirements, UW–Madison is providing the following information to comply with the reporting requirements of the CRRSA and ARP Acts.

  1. An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
    UW–Madison received the initial HEERF Grant funds under the CARES Act and was not required to submit an additional application for HEERF II or HEERF III funding. The initial Certification and Agreement was signed by UW–Madison and returned to the U.S. Department of Education on April 10, 2020. UW–Madison received official Grant Award Notifications from the U.S. Department of Education on 1/17/2021 for the HEERF II funds and 5/24/2021 for the HEERF III funds. Per the Certification and Agreement, UW–Madison has spent no less than $9,891,501 for HEERF II Emergency Financial Aid Grants directly to students. UW–Madison will use the full allocation from the student portion of HEERF III funds to provide Financial Aid Grants to students
  2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.
    Under the CRRSA Act, UW–Madison received $9,891,501 of HEERF II to be provided directly to students. Under the ARP Act, UW–Madison received $26,727,493 for the student portion known as HEERF III.
  3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the initial report and every calendar quarter thereafter).

    • As of 3/25/2021, UW–Madison has disbursed all the HEERF II Emergency Financial Aid Grants ($9,891,501) to students.
    • As of 6/30/2021, HEERF III Emergency Financial Aid Grants were disbursed in the amount of $77,166.
    • As of 9/30/2021, UW–Madison disbursed $12,972,397.26 in HEERF III Financial Aid Grants to students.
    • As of 12/31/2021, UW–Madison disbursed $22,149,603.76 in HEERF III Financial Aid Grants to students.
    • As of 3/31/2022, UW–Madison disbursed $24,186.740.26 in HEERF III Financial Aid Grants to students.
    • As of 6/30/2022, UW-Madison disbursed $26,519,716.21 in HEERF III Financial Aid Grants to students.
    • As of 9/30/22, UW-Madison disbursed the full $26,727,493.00 in HEERF III Financial Aid Grants to students.
  4. The estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.
    Based on additional guidance from the U.S. Department of Education on 5/14/2021, any student enrolled at UW–Madison may be eligible to receive HEERF funding under CRRSAA and ARP. Per the University’s 2020-21 Data Digest, UW–Madison had a total enrollment of 45,540 students.
  5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.

    • The HEERF II Emergency Financial Aid Grant was disbursed to 9,097 individual students.
    • HEERF III Emergency Financial Aid Grants were disbursed to 155 students between 5/26/2021 and 6/30/2021.
    • As of 9/30/2021, 9,340 individual students received some portion of HEERF III Financial Aid Grants.
    • As of 12/31/2021, 10,828 individual students received some portion of HEERF III Financial Aid Grants.
    • As of 3/31/2022, 11,574 individual students received some portion of HEERF III Financial Aid Grants.
    • As of 6/30/2022, 11,871 individual students received some portion of HEERF III Financial Aid Grants.
    • As of 9/30/22, 11,896 individual students received some portion of HEERF III Financial Aid Grants.
  6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.
    The Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) disbursed HEERF II Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students in two categories:

    • Any enrolled student in the Spring 2021 term who completed a 2020–2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and was deemed eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant received a $1,000 Emergency Financial Aid Grant. The automatic grant expedited assistance to students most in need.
    • Any enrolled student who requested assistance because they were experiencing emergency financial hardship that rendered them unable to meet immediate, essential expenses. Students could submit an Emergency Support Request using an online form in their MyUW Student Center.

    Although the overwhelming majority of requests were met prior to the funds being exhausted on 3/25/2021, priority was provided to students who are economically disadvantaged either historically or due to COVID-19 disruptions with their (or their family’s) ability to financially cover the cost of attending UW–Madison.

    Similarly, HEERF III Financial Aid Grants were disbursed to students in two categories:

    • Any enrolled student in the Fall 2021 term who completed a 2021-22 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and was deemed eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant and/or had an expected family contribution (EFC) of 12,500 or less.
    • Students who requested assistance because they were experiencing emergency financial hardship. Student applications are submitted via an Emergency Support Request using an online form in their MyUW Student Center and reviewed by the Office of Student Financial Aid.
  7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
    Undergraduate students with the highest demonstrated financial need (i.e., Federal Pell Grant recipients) received an email notification on 2/15/2021 from the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) notifying them of an emergency grant automatically provided to them. A campus-wide news article was also published by OSFA on 2/15/2021 detailing the steps to apply and receive HEERF II funding as well as offering additional resources including basic needs, food assistance, and virtual appointments with OSFA and/or the Dean of Students Office. Campus-wide communications continue to refer students to the resources available on the University’s COVID response website and highlight emergency funds.

Quarterly Reports

Institutional Portion

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