HEERF III Required Website Posting Information – Q1 2022
University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias
American Rescue Plan, 2021 (ARP) –
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund for Student Aid
Report #2
REVISED January 27, 20223
QUARTERLY REPORT – AS OF March 31, 2022
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Education
Award Number: P425E203082
Award Amount: $11,231,376
Report Period: January 14, 2021 – March 31, 2022
Report Date: April 5, 2022
Source and Purpose of Funds
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) was authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) when signed into law on March 11, 2021. Included in the bill is additional student emergency relief funds for colleges and universities to distribute directly to students.
According to the Department of Education, “institutions must expend their HEERF grant funds within one year from the date when the Department processed the most recent obligation of funds for each specific grant”. UMaine and UMM’s date of most recent obligation of funds for ARP supplemental award: 4/28/2020
Eligibility Requirements
Consistent with the guidance from the U.S. DOE, eligible students include:
- Any student who is or was enrolled at the University of Maine and University ofMaine at Machias on or after the date of the national emergency was declared forCOVID-19. Title IV regulations define enrolled as a student who has completed the registration requirements. For the University of Maine and the University of Maine at Machias, Current Enrollment will be defined as official registration in courses (as reflected in MaineStreet) for any available semesters of enrollment at the given time.Detailed in each methodology is the date that eligibility (including a student’s Current Enrollment status) will be evaluated.
- International students, undocumented students, students exclusively enrolled in distance education, and graduate students are eligible to be considered for HEERF III funds.
- Students receiving the employee tuition waiver and early college students are not eligible for HEERF III funds.
Distribution Plan
Under the guidance of the definition of exceptional need by the Department of Education, the University of Maine and the University of Maine at Machias define exceptional need as students who are eligible for Federal Pell Grant, based on the 2021-2022 FAFSA. The following distribution methodologies also include an additional level of need using a Unmet need calculation.
The first round of automatic payments will specifically target students with exceptional need and unmet need. Students selected for automatic payments include:
- Undergraduate and Graduate Students
- Current Enrollment
- Filed a 2021-2022 FAFSA (Filing date – before or after March 1, 2021)
- Unmet Need
Based on Pell eligibility, unmet need calculated, EFC, FAFSA filing date, and campus of enrollment, the award amounts range from $250 to $2,000.
UMaine and UMM will then provide an application round to a specific pool of eligible students (Based on FAFSA status, EFC, unmet need, and current enrollment).
Every eligible student chose the method of disbursement: either electronically consenting to have the funds applied directly to their student bill or to receive a direct payment of these funds.
Disbursements To-Date
|
Distribution Type |
Number of Eligible Students |
Number of Students To Whom Aid Has Been Distributed |
Total Amount of Aid That Has Been Distributed |
Amount of Funds Remaining for Disbursement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Orono Automatic |
3,727 |
3,707 |
$8,644,400 |
$0 |
|
Orono Application |
4,150 |
1,417 |
$2,169,169 |
$0 |
|
Machias Automatic |
230 |
230 |
$314,450 |
$2,382 |
|
Machias Application |
185 |
86 |
$100,975 |
$0 |
|
Total |
$11,228,994 |
$2,382 |
||
Communications to Students
Below are all communications from the University of Maine System or UMaine to students concerning the emergency financial aid grants provided through the ARP