Dear Students,
Last week Santa Clara University began accepting requests from eligible students who have a self-identified hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic, to receive a grant from the ARP/HEERF III Fund. Please note that the deadline to submit these requests has been extended until January 21, 2022. Funds will be disbursed to students in the last week of February 2022.
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The federal government established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to provide relief to institutes of higher education and students experiencing unexpected costs and financial needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2021, Santa Clara University received a third notice of an allocation of federal HEERF funds to disburse directly to students who have experienced exceptional financial needs due to the coronavirus pandemic. These funds, totaling $4,603,451 are made available through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to be disbursed to students in the form of grants.
These funds are being disbursed to students two different ways:
Eligible students who are pre-designated as having exceptional need based on information available to the Office of Financial aid have already received grants from the ARP/HEERF IIII Fund. In July, 811 students from this group received grants of up to $3,000 each; and in November, 848 additional students received grants of $2,000 each, totaling $4,129,000.
Beginning Monday, November 29, at 9 a.m. PST, students who did not receive a grant from the ARP/HEERF III Fund can apply for assistance if they have a self-identified hardship need due to the coronavirus pandemic. The deadline to submit forms has been extended and request forms will be accepted through eCampus until Friday, January 21, 2022 at 5 p.m. PST. Such requests will be reviewed, and SCU will divide the remaining amount of ARP/HEERF III funds equally among eligible students who have submitted a valid application. Additional information about this program can be found in the SCU ARP/HEERF III Fund FAQ page.
To date, Santa Clara University has distributed federal HEERF funds to students from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), and the ARP/HEERF III Fund totaling $7,671,678.
Jeanne Rosenberger
Vice Provost for Student Life