HEERF III & The American Rescue Plan (ARP)

Update: All HEERF funding has been exhausted and no future disbursements will be made.

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III) is authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) 2021, signed into law on March 11, 2021. This fund allows Oswego to provide 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.

By drawing down the funds, Oswego acknowledges that the institution has used, or intends to use, 100 percent of the supplemental funds received under Section 2003 (a)(1) of the American Rescue Plan to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. The Grant Award Notice was approved on June 8, 2021.

Oswego has received $11,281,137 from the Department of Education pursuant to the Supplemental Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under the American Rescue Plan.

SUNY Oswego will disburse ARP Student Emergency Grants described below:

Block Grants

Update: The ARP block grant eligibility has been expanded to students with an EFC up to 20,000. Students with an EFC of 14,616-20,000 will be eligible for a block grant of $1,300 full time enrollment and $650 part time enrollment. Eligible students will be notified.

Student Eligibility for ARP Block Grant funds: Student must be enrolled for the Fall 2021 semester and have a 2021/2022 FAFSA on file with a calculated Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)

Block grants will be disbursed based on student EFC and enrollment status. The chart below shows the amounts eligible students will receive:

Student Award Chart

Award amount per EFC range and full-time/part-time status:

ARP Grants Update-Spring 2022

There will be a disbursement of the remaining ARP funding that was not exhausted during the Fall 2021.  Block grants will be disbursed based on student EFC and Spring 2022 enrollment status. The chart below shows the amounts eligible students will receive:

Direct Emergency Grants

18% of ARP Funding and the remaining CRRSAA student funding will be used for emergency grants for students that do not meet the block grant criteria due to a high EFC, no FAFSA on file, international, DACA students, and students whose eligibility may have changed due to the Financial Aid Office processing a professional judgment recalculation of the student eligibility.

SUNY Oswego is currently drafting the application process for the Direct Emergency Grants. Once the process and award amount for the Direct Emergency Grants, our required HEERF Reporting disclosures will be updated.

This criterion meets US Department of Education guidance that ARP funds are to be directed at the neediest students. SUNY Oswego recognizes that eligibility requirements for these funds are evolving and this is based on the latest guidance given by the US Department of Education. Should these requirements change, we will notify students. Funds will be disbursed directly to students unless the student opts in to have all or a portion of the funds applied to their SUNY Oswego bill.

If you are not eligible for a block grant, you can apply for the emergency grant electronically via your myOswego. Eligible students will receive an email notification. If you are unable to apply electronically, please email [email protected] and we will email you an application. Please be sure to include any supporting documentation for your expenses. The funding is limited and priority will be given to students based on their need and expenses stated.

If you are a student that received a block grant, you can not apply for ARP emergency grant funding via this application process. International and DACA students are eligible to apply for the ARP Emergency Grant.

ARP Reporting