HEERF III - ARP Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (updated 7/11/22)
Binghamton University received Student Aid funding under section 2003(7) of the ARP. This program, with some changes, provides supplemental funds to the CARES Act section 18004(a)(1) program.
Binghamton University signed and returned to the Education Department (ED) a Certification and Agreement as required under the CARES Act section 18004(a)(1) program. We acknowledge that by drawing down the ARP funds, our institution agrees to be bound by the conditions set forth in the ARP Supplemental Agreement including using 100 percent of these funds to provide emergency aid grants to students.
Binghamton University will receive $17,975,461 in Student Aid funding for 2021-22. HEERF III funds will be split between fall 2021 and spring 2022 semesters. In addition, the remaining HEERF II amount of $172,156 was rolled into HEERF III funding, as well as $626.02 from CARES.
The total amount of emergency grants distributed to students for fall 2021 is $9,073,150.50.
The total number of students who received an emergency grant for fall 2021 is 8,242.
The total amount of emergency grants distributed to students for spring 2022 is $9,075,092.52.
The total number of students who received an emergency grant for spring 2022 is 8,163.
Note: The reported disbursements may include redistributions of unclaimed emergency grants previously reported.
Award Methodology
Under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) programs, student portion funds must be used to provide financial aid grants to students (including students exclusively enrolled in distance education) which may be used for any component of the student's cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care. In making financial aid grants to students, an institution of higher education must prioritize grants to students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants.
The data chosen to select the recipients in all methods is a combination of FAFSA information, Institutional student records, and enrollment data.
The first method used to determine which students will receive emergency grants and how much funding they will receive is based on standard block grant approach similar to HEERF II, and takes into consideration a student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC) determined by the 2021-22 FAFSA.
The EFC range used for awarding HEERF III funds includes EFCs = 0 - 14,615.
Binghamton University will award HEERF III funding to eligible, matriculated undergraduate and graduate students (enrolled or were enrolled) in fall 2021 and spring 2022 according to SUNY Guidance and SUNY EFC range template, dated 7/27/21 (spring 2022 only template amended, dated 2/25/22).
The second method will provide funding to students such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAMers), international students, refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented students.
· If a student filed a FAFSA, the first method above will be used, based on EFC range.
· If the student did not file a FAFSA, the following examples (provided by SUNY) will be used to calculate the award:
The campus is able to determine an EFC equivalent to provide an award equivalent to a Pell eligible category of the SUNY template.
· An example of a student who may be slotted into the EFC range of 0 -2923 is a non-FAFSA filer who is a recipient of a maximum NYS TAP award of:
o $5665 for a dependent student;
o $3525 for Independent students who are married with no other tax dependents;
o $3025 for Independent students who are single with no tax dependents.
· An example of a student who may be slotted into the EFC range of 2924-5846 is a non-FAFSA filer who is a recipient of a NYS TAP award between:
o $500 - $5,664 for a dependent student
o $500 - $3,524 for independent students who are married with no other tax dependents
o $500 - $3,024 for independent students who are single with no tax dependents.
· If a student does not have a NYS TAP award, they will receive an amount equal to the lowest grant award, depending on enrollment.*
*Note: Emergency Grants provided to students outside the SUNY awarding methodology cannot be greater than the lowest grant award for full-time and part-time students.
Awarding Timeline:
Binghamton University will begin awarding and disbursing fall 2021 emergency grants
in early December 2021. For spring 2022, Binghamton will begin awarding and disbursing
emergency grants in March 2022.
Students eligible for funding are notified via email to their BU email account. The communication is as follows:
Dear <student>:
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, funds have been made available through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act to award emergency grants to students for expenses related to any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus. Eligible expenses include tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or childcare.
Binghamton University has deemed you eligible to receive an emergency grant in the amount of <award amount>. This is not a loan, will not need to be paid back and will not affect your financial aid award amounts for academic year 2021-2022.
Students must understand it is their responsibility to notify Financial Aid and Student Records by sending an email to finaid@binghamton.edu immediately if they will not incur expenses that meet or exceed the amount of this emergency grant.
No action is needed on your part to collect these funds. Direct deposit payments will be deposited into your bank account within 3-5 business day. If you are not registered for direct deposit, paper check payments will be available for pickup at the Office of Student Accounts. You will receive an email from Student Accounts when the check is available to be picked up.
Not sure if you have direct deposit? Contact the Office of Student Accounts at 607-777-2702 to review your direct deposit record.
Financial Aid & Student Records
HEERF Institutional Funds
Below is the required quarterly reporting for HEERF Institutional Funds made available through CARES, CRRSAA, and the ARP:
9/30/2020 Quarterly HEERF Institutional Report (HEERF I - CARES) - Final
3/31/2021 Quarterly HEERF Institutional Report (HEERF I - CARES, HEERF II - CRRSAA)
6/30/2021 Quarterly HEERF Institutional Report (HEERF I - CARES, HEERF II - CRRSAA)
