Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds

Since then, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) have also allocated money to HEERF which provides funding to colleges and universities for student grants.

The college is eligible to receive $4,959,888 in Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds to go to students in the form of financial grants for expenses students incurred related to the disruption of campus operations or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus. Expenses and costs include things like tuition, technology, health care, course materials, rent/housing, food, child care, or moving fees.

Allocating FundsHow is Hope College allocating the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds?

Student Data

Hope College signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement for HEERF funds.

Hope College has received and distributed $1,081,939 of Emergency Financial Aid Grants to 2,165 students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act (HEERF I) as of September 30, 2021.

Hope College has received and distributed $1,081,939 of Emergency Financial Aid Grants to 2,727 students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA – HEERF II) as of September 30, 2021.

Hope College has received and distributed $354,501.01 of Emergency Financial Aid Grants to 184 students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the American Rescue Plan (ARP – HEERF III) as of September 30, 2021.

Hope College used FAFSA data to determine which students received the grants and Estimated Family Contribution data to determine the amount of the grants. An institutional application is also available for additional requests. There are 2,955 students who are eligible for grants under HEERF guidelines.

Institutional Data

Hope College was granted, as a part of the Department of Education HEERF $5,942,693 in funding for institutional relief. Through June 30, 2021, the college has recovered $5,942,693 in refunds processed for room, board, activity fee and parking registrations ($4,066,421) and in coronavirus testing expenses ($1,876,272).

Download the HEERF Institutional Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report for June 30, 2021

Previous Reports

• December 31, 2020
• September 30, 2020

Grant EligibilityWho is eligible for a Hope HEERF Grant?

The U.S. Department of Education determined that only students who met basic federal student aid eligibility criteria could be considered for CARES-HEERF funds. To ensure this, only students who have filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) were eligible. We estimate that approximately 2,165 Hope students were eligible to receive CARES-HEERF funds. Recipients were notified of their grant amount via email on Friday, May 15, 2020.

The Department of Education removed the requirement that a student meet basic federal student aid eligibility criteria for the CRRSAA and ARP-HEERF funds.  However, FAFSA data was used to determine the amount of the CRRSAA-HEERF Grants.  We estimate that approximately 2,700 students were eligible for CRRSAA-HEERF funds.  Recipients were notified of their grant amount via email on March 23, 2021.

ARP-HEERF Grants have been given to students who applied for assistance for summer term expenses.  Remaining grants will be distributed throughout the one-year period of grant eligibility.  FAFSA data will be used to identify students with exceptional financial need and an institutional application will be available to assist students with extraordinary financial circumstances.  We estimate that approximately 2,900 students will be eligible for ARP-HEERF funds.

Applying for FundsI didn’t receive a Hope HEERF Grant, or I already did but I have incurred additional expenses or have extraordinary financial circumstances. How do I apply for funds?

There are limited HEERF funds remaining for students who have extraordinary financial circumstances or incurred eligible expenses. Submit the Hope HEERF Grant Request Form or contact Business Services at busofc@hope.edu for additional information.