The American Rescue Plan: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III)
Standard Healthcare Services College of Nursing (Standard College) signed and returned a Certification & Agreement with the Department of Education to accept allocated funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2. The ARP established and funded the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) to provide emergency financial aid grants to students. Standard College gave the Department of Education the assurance that the applicable amount of funds designated under the ARP would be used to ensure learning continues for students during the COVID-19 pandemic by helping eligible Standard College students cover expenses related to cost of living, unanticipated travel, additional technology requirements, or other needs related to an emergency situation, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care.
Federal Emergency Aid Grant Reporting
Standard College received $200,903.00 for students to fund the American Rescue Plan Federal Emergency Financial Aid Grants. The estimated total number of students potentially eligible to be considered to receive ARP Emergency Financial Aid Grants in quarter 3 was 412. As of September 17, 2021, $200,903.00 in HEERF funds had been disbursed to 412 unduplicated students.
Federal Emergency Aid Grant Criteria and Eligibility:
Standard College initially made the federal HEERF III ARP funds available to Pell grant recipient students, who were currently enrolled in the Practical Nursing Program or the LPN to RN Transition Program as of August 23, 2021. Standard College identified a Pell grant recipient student on the basis of information contained in the FAFSA the student submitted. By September 3, 2021, the Pell grant recipient student received an ARP fund in the amount of $518.70. By Sept. 17, 2021, the ARP funds were disbursed to all other Standard College students currently enrolled, actively taking courses in the Practical Nursing Program or the LPN to RN Transition Program as of August 23, 2021. This included students who received federal financial aid loans, students who do not receive financial aid, and students are not qualified to receive financial aid. Students in this second category received an ARP fund in the amount of $418.69.
Students received an email informing them of the ARP grant, when and how they would receive the grant, and the amount of the grant they would be receiving. There was no form or application for the student to complete. The student was informed that they would receive the grant by check or through a Bill.com account. Students were informed they did not need to provide documentation to the School on how the grant would be used.
