HEERF Reporting
The following information is posted to comply with guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education regarding an institution’s reporting requirements for funds received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).
The following information is posted to comply with guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education regarding an institution’s reporting requirement for funds received under the CRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.
1.Certification and Agreement Acknowledgement
Nova Southeastern University (NSU) acknowledges signing and returning to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students in order to access funds under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund on April 22, 2020. The institution is using the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.
2. Total Amount of Funds Received
Pursuant to NSU’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students, the institution received $10,697,093 under the ARP program to be made available to students in federal grants.
3. Total Amount of Funds Distributed
As of June 30, 2022, NSU has distributed the following amount to students under Section 18004(a)(4) of the ARP: $10,697,093.
4. Estimated Total Number of Students
The estimated total number of NSU students eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants to students under ARP (a)(4) is 11,574.
5. Total Number of Students Who Received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant
The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 18004(a)(4) of the ARP as of June 30, 2022: 9,654
6. Method Used to Determine Eligibility and Amounts
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Fund Committee uses the following process to determine which students receive emergency financial aid grants and how much they receive under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) and American Rescue Plan Act, 2021 (ARP) section (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.
The administration implemented a tiered approach to awarding the ARP funds to ensure that students with exceptional need were prioritized as required by the Department of Education. This tiered approach was also used to support the Department of Education’s recommendation that undergraduate domestic students be prioritized.
Tier 1
- The 2021-2022 Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) was used to determine exceptional need. Undergraduate students with a Pell Grant eligible EFC who were registered for the Fall 2021 semester/term were awarded the ARP Fund.
- Electronic communications were distributed to all eligible students notifying them that they have been identified as a student with exceptional need and that they were awarded the Financial Aid Emergency Grant in the amount of $1,700. These communications included a link to the form they would use to indicate whether they wanted any portion of their grant paid directly to their NSU student account.
- It was decided by administration that all Tier 1 recipients meeting the eligibility requirements would be awarded $1,700.
- A report was extracted daily from the Tier 1 platform capturing students who completed the form to process disbursements according to the student’s instruction.
Tier 2
- The 2021-2022 Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) was used to determine exceptional need. Graduate students with a zero EFC who were registered for the Fall 2021 semester/term were awarded the ARP Fund.
- Electronic communications were distributed to all eligible students notifying them that they have been identified as a student with exceptional need and that they were awarded the Financial Aid Emergency Grant in the amount of $1,000. These communications included a link to the form they would use to indicate whether they wanted any portion of their grant paid directly to their NSU student account.
- It was decided by administration that all Tier 2 recipients meeting the eligibility requirements would be awarded $1,000.
- A report was extracted daily from the Tier 2 platform capturing students who completed the form to process disbursements according to the student’s instruction.
Tier 3
- Subsequent to Tiers 1 and 2 being awarded, a report was generated to identify eligible undergraduate domestic students.
- Electronic and paper communications were distributed to all students on the report with the link to the application inviting them to apply for a $500 grant. The notices advised students to apply for the ARP Fund if they faced significant unexpected expenses either for themselves or that would affect their financial circumstances (such as the loss of employment, reduced income, or food or housing insecurity). The application was open for a select period and closed on September 30, 2021. To allow students more time to apply, the application was reopened from October 14, 2021, through November 19, 2021.
Tier 4
- The 2021-2022 Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) was used to determine exceptional need. Undergraduate students with a Pell Grant eligible EFC who were registered for the Fall 2021 semester/term and who were not included in Tier 1 were awarded the ARP Fund.
- Electronic communications were distributed to active eligible students and paper communications were distributed to non-active eligible students. These notifications advised the recipients that they were identified as a student with exceptional need and that they were awarded the Financial Aid Emergency Grant in the amount of $789. The electronic communications included a link to the form they would use to indicate whether they wanted any portion of their grant paid directly to their NSU student account.
- It was decided by administration that all Tier 4 recipients meeting the eligibility requirements would be awarded $789.
- A report was extracted from the Tier 4 platform capturing active students who completed the form by the designated date. The completed form was used to process disbursements according to the student’s instruction. Students not completing the form by the designated date were issued a direct refund. Non-active eligible students were also issued a direct refund.
7. Instructions, Directions, or Guidance Provided to Students
The following information was posted on the financial aid website at nova.edu/financialaid beginning August 17, 2021:
NSU to Begin Distribution of Third Round of Emergency Financial Aid Grants under HEERF (posted August 17, 2021)
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 appropriating approximately $39.6 billion in new funding for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). This appropriation represents the third stream of federal funding for higher education institutions and students in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Each of the three appropriations (the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act—CARES Act/ HEERF I; the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act—CRRSAA/HEERF II; and the American Rescue Plan Act—ARP/HEERF III) have differed in amounts and guidelines that regulate distribution of funds to students. HEERF III funds are to be distributed to students enrolled during the COVID-19 national emergency who have exceptional need. Students who have faced significant unexpected expenses either for themselves or that would affect their financial circumstances (such as the loss of employment, reduced income, or food or housing insecurity), regardless of whether they completed a FAFSA or are recipients of Title IV aid, may be eligible. Furthermore, the Department of Education encourages institutions to prioritize domestic students, especially undergraduates, in allocating this funding.
Accordingly, NSU’s HEERF III process is outlined below:
PRIORITY I:
Undergraduate students enrolled in the Fall 2021 semester with exceptional need demonstrated through a Pell-Grant eligible Expected Family Contribution (EFC) are awarded $1,700 in financial aid emergency grant funding. Students in this group are awarded automatically and do not need to apply. However, students are asked to complete a form to indicate how they wish for their funds to be disbursed no later than 5 p.m. on September 27, 2021.
Student population: Undergraduate students with a Pell Grant-eligible EFC (2021-22 FAFSA)
Eligible EFC: $0 to $5,846
Application: Not required but must complete form indicating how funds are to be disbursed
Notification: Via NSU email
Award Amount: $1,700
PRIORITY II:
Graduate and professional students enrolled in the Fall 2021 semester with exceptional need demonstrated through a $0 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) are awarded $1,000 in financial aid emergency grant funding. Students in this group are awarded automatically and do not need to apply. However, students are asked to complete a form to indicate how they wish for their funds to be disbursed no later than 5 p.m. on September 27, 2021. Students who do not submit the form by this deadline will have their awards canceled.
Student population: Graduate and professional students with a $0 EFC (2021-22 FAFSA)
Eligible EFC: $0
Application: Not required but must complete form indicating how funds are to be disbursed
Notification: Via NSU email
Award Amount: $1,000
PRIORITY III:
Undergraduate domestic students enrolled in the Fall 2021 semester who have faced significant unexpected expenses either for themselves or that would affect their financial circumstances (such as the loss of employment, reduced income, or food or housing insecurity), regardless of whether they completed a FAFSA or are eligible for Title IV aid, may be awarded up to $500 in financial aid emergency grant funding. As funding is limited, students must apply. Emergency financial aid grants will be awarded on a first-come, first served basis until funding has been depleted.
Student population: Undergraduate domestic students who have faced significant unexpected expenses due to COVID-19, regardless of EFC or FAFSA, who have not already received a HEERF III disbursement
Eligible EFC: no EFC requirement
Application: Scheduled to be open from Monday, September 20, 2021, to Thursday, September 30, 2021. To allow students more time to apply, the application was reopened on October 14, 2021, and is scheduled to close November 19, 2021.
Notification: Via NSU Email
Award Amount: $500
Limited Funding, awarded on a first-come, first served basis.
PRIORITY IV:
Undergraduate students enrolled in the Fall 2021 semester with exceptional need demonstrated through a Pell-Grant eligible Expected Family Contribution (EFC) are awarded $789 in financial aid emergency grant funding. Students in this group are awarded automatically and do not need to apply. However, students are asked to complete a form to indicate how they wish for their funds to be disbursed by June 2, 2022. Students who do not complete the form by the deadline will receive a refund in the amount of $789.
Student population: Undergraduate students with a Pell Grant-eligible EFC (2021-22 FAFSA)
Eligible EFC: $0 to $5,846
Application: Not required but must complete form indicating how funds are to be disbursed
Notification: Via NSU email. Students who are no longer active will receive a letter in the mail.
Award Amount: $789