Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Agreement
Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Agreement
Dear Undergraduate and Graduate Students, You may be eligible for federal funds in the form of emergency grants for pandemic relief. UNCSA has received funds from the federal government as part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), which has authorized the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II, or HEERF II. HEERF I was distributed last year through the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act.
Emergency grants from these funds are intended for pandemic relief for expenses incurred in 2021, such as any component of the student’s cost of attendance budget and/or emergency expenses which arise due to coronavirus.
College students who submitted a 2020-21 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) indicating demonstrated need (and eligibility for Title IV federal financial aid) are eligible for HEERF II. UNCSA is using a model designed to distribute funds as quickly as possible to students with the greatest need. Funds received through this process are meant to provide pandemic relief to promote student success for currently enrolled students. Funds will be allocated in a tiered fashion for undergraduates in amounts ranging from $200 to $1,200, with the most in-need Pell Grant-eligible students receiving $1,200. Graduate students demonstrating need will receive $500. These funds will be distributed by the end of March.
Other than ensuring you have direct deposit set up on your UNCSA student account, no action or form will be required for enrolled students who completed a FAFSA and have demonstrated need. College students can still file a 2020-21 FAFSA, which must be received by April 15 to be considered for a distribution, pending availability of funds.
The UNCSA committee tasked with distribution of these funds according to the U.S. Department of Education and UNC System guidelines includes Vice Chancellor for Economic Development and Chief of Staff Jim DeCristo, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Michael Smith, Vice Provost and Dean of Student Affairs Tracey Ford, Clinical Case Manager Laurel Donley, and me. If you did not demonstrate need after submitting a 2020-21 FAFSA, or if you have greater needs than those addressed by HEERF II may be available to you through an additional process. You will need to complete an Emergency Request Form to apply for emergency assistance.