CARES Act Emergency Grants
Institutional Aid Reporting
Quarterly Budget & Expenditure Reporting
- CARES Act Quarterly Report Ending June 30, 2022
- CARES Act Quarterly Report Ending March 31, 2022
- CARES Act Quarterly Report Ending December 31, 2021
- CARES Act Quarterly Report Ending September 30, 2021
- CARES Act Quarterly Report Ending June 30, 2021
- CARES Act Quarterly Report Ending March 31, 2021
- CARES Act Quarterly Report Ending December 31, 2020
- CARES Act Quarterly Report Ending September 30, 2020
Student Aid Reporting
Apply for Financial Help
CARES Act Emergency Grants
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President of the United States on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act included a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) that provided more than $14 billion in emergency funding to higher education.
As of Friday, April 23, 2021, the Sacred Heart University CARES Act HEERF I Higher Education Emergency Funds to students ended as we reached our funding limit.
On April 9, 2020, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education provided allocations to colleges and universities and instructed colleges and universities to provide no less than fifty percent of their allocation in emergency cash financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, including, but not limited to, expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care.
Sacred Heart University acknowledges the following:
- On May 27, 2020, the Secretary of Education authorized Sacred Heart University as a recipient under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to receive up to $4,305,177. Under the agreement Sacred Heart University intends to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received to provide Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) to students.
- The total amount of funds Sacred Heart University received from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to the institution’s signed Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Cash Grants to Students is $2,152,589.
- The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of April 23, 2021 is $2,552,589.
- At Sacred Heart University, it is estimated 7,424 students are potentially eligible to participate under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- As of April 23, 2021, 5,317 students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
Sacred Heart University provided a $400 emergency grant to qualified full-time undergraduate students for unanticipated costs of attendance due to the campus disruption and their return to home. Qualified students were sent an email notification from the office of the senior vice president of finance.
The University also set aside additional funds to assist students who have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. We realize that some of you are experiencing greater financial distress than others. Therefore, all currently enrolled students were able to apply for emergency funds for COVID-19-related expenses. Detailed information and guidance is available to the Sacred Heart University community via this webpage. The information is updated regularly and includes clear instructions on how students who are eligible for Title IV federal financial aid can receive and request the grants to help with their expenses related to COVID-19 campus disruptions. SHU students who are not eligible for Title IV federal financial aid may apply for emergency grants supported by the SHU Emergency Funds.
Emergency CASH Grant Eligibility & Information
Eligible students met the following qualifications for additional money from the HEERF:
- Enrolled at Sacred Heart University for spring 2020 beyond March 13, 2020
- Incurred an eligible expense related to COVID-19 campus disruptions
- Eligible for federal financial aid, also known as Title IV
- Have a 2019-2020 FAFSA on file with SHU
- If you have not completed the FAFSA for 2019-2020, you can still do so online.
Please note, international and undocumented students, as well as those SHU students enrolled exclusively in the SHU online programs as of March 13, 2020, were not eligible for HEERF funds.
It is important for you to read through all the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) before submitting an application. The FAQs provide essential information and instructions. If you have questions on any part of this application process, please submit those questions to CaresActContactUs@sacredheart.edu.
Student Financial Assistance
Students who have not yet applied for financial assistance for the 2020-2021 academic year are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Refer Sacred Heart University’s Financial Assistance website for more detailed information on financial assistance.
Our office understands students and their families may have recently experienced layoffs, furloughs, a reduction in pay or have small business concerns as a result of the coronavirus. We realize a change in circumstance may require the updating of your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year 2020-2021 to reflect your family’s current financial situation. If you would like to submit a Request for Re-evaluation to the Office of Student Financial Assistance for financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 contact sfa@sacredheart.edu for information and advisement.
HEERF I (CARES Act) Student Aid Report
Total CARES Act Funds Awarded to Sacred Heart University for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students: $2,152,589*
The estimated number of Sacred Heart University students who were eligible to receive CRRSAA: 7,424
Number of students who received CARES Act Funds as of June 30, 2021: 5317 (unduplicated)
| As of June 30, 2020 | As of September 30, 2020 | As of December 31, 2020 | As of March 31, 2021 | As of June 30, 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total CARES Act Funds Distributed to Students | $2,179,287 | $150,097 | $13,350 | $138,279 | $71,576 |
| Number of Students Who Received CARES Act Funds | 5,067 | 233 | 20 | 230 | 131 |
*Sacred Heart University designated $400,000 from the CARES Act Institutional Portion in additional to the $2,152,589 CARES Act Student Aid to support Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students resulting in Sacred Heart University providing $2,552,589 or 59.29% of the CARES Act funds received for emergency aid to students.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The emergency grant is not considered financial aid or a loan. You will not need to repay the funds. This will be included as grant or scholarship aid in Box 5 on the 2020 1098-T.
This has no bearing on the amount of your emergency grant. No fees or other balances on your student account will be deducted from the grant.
Your relief funding will be sent to your direct deposit refund preference as defined with Bank Mobile (review your preference online at www.refundselection.com).
No. However, you must certify that the reported expenses are true and accurate. The committee reserves the right to request documentation on a case-by-case basis to substantiate a request.
Eligible expenses for CARES Act funding include unexpected expenses for medical, food, housing, utilities, technology expenses, relocation costs to return home, unexpected childcare, course materials and other unanticipated expenses included in the student’s cost of attendance.
Please note this funding opportunity is not intended to replace lost income due to job furloughs or layoffs.
- All Title IV eligible full-time undergraduate students who were enrolled and completed the spring 2020 semester will receive $400. No further action or application required.
- Additional funds will be available to Title IV eligible students through an application process. Awards may vary based on expected family contribution (EFC), amount requested, demonstrated financial need and available funds.
No, because you are not eligible for federal Title IV financial aid. However, by completing the application you will be considered for Sacred Heart University’s donor-sponsored Emergency Fund.
As of September 1, 2020, the fund that was set aside to assist students with expenses related to the COVID-19 crisis has been depleted. Should more funds become available, we will update this website and re-open the application process.
The U. S. Department of Education did not include students enrolled exclusively in online programs on or before March 13, 2020, in its determination of the allocation to universities and colleges. Therefore, according to the U.S. Department of Education, those students are not eligible for CARES Act emergency grants. However, by completing the application you will be considered for Sacred Heart University’s donor-sponsored Emergency Fund.
As of September 1, 2020, the fund that was set aside to assist students with expenses related to the COVID-19 crisis has been depleted. Should more funds become available, we will update this website and re-open the application process.
Those students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 are eligible to receive an emergency financial aid grant. The primary requirement is U.S. citizenship. Those students who have filed a 2019-2020 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) approved by the U.S. Department of Education also meet the requirement for eligibility.
Yes, provided they meet the eligibility criteria as stated in the above question.
Any enrolled student as of March 13, 2020, who completed the spring 2020 semester and who has experienced expenses related to the disruption of campus operation from COVID-19 is eligible. CARES Act Education Emergency Grants, per guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, are based on a student’s Title IV eligibility under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. Students’ eligibility for Title IV federal aid is determined through filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Therefore only those students with a valid 2019-2020 FAFSA are eligible to apply. Students who have not yet filed the 2019-2020 FAFSA can still do so online. Please note: International, DACA or undocumented students, as well as students enrolled exclusively in SHU online programs are not eligible for CARES Act Emergency Grants.