HEERF II Federal Funding for Students
A message from Xenia Markowitt, Interim Vice Provost for Student Success
Dear Students,
As I shared in my March 29 email, the federal government has allocated additional COVID-19 relief funding to colleges and universities. I’m pleased to inform you that The New School has received funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II), of which $2.5 million will be used this spring to directly support students who have faced significant financial hardship as a result of the pandemic.
To help determine the distribution of the HEERF II funds, the university convened an advisory group of staff representatives from Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Student Advocacy, Student Success, and the Provost’s Office. Four students also participated in the advisory group, including members of the University Student Senate, Black Student Union, Diverse Abilities Coalition and a student representing Student Advocacy.
The advisory group recommended that of the total amount allocated to students, $2 million will be distributed through direct grants and $500,000 will be added to the university’s Student Emergency Assistance Program to address urgent needs. We are grateful to the University Student Senate who generously donated $100,000 to augment the Emergency Assistance Program.
The cross-university advisory group was also charged with identifying the criteria for distributing these relief funds to students. Please continue reading for more information about how this process will work.
Allocation of Funds
The advisory group prioritized one-time grants for students nearing the end of their degree programs who experienced the greatest interruption over the past year. Eligible students will receive the funds directly; no application is required.
There are two levels of eligibility requirements to receive federal HEERF II funding.
(1) Students must fall into one of the following categories:
- Current seniors who have applied to graduate in May 2021
- Current juniors who have completed 80+ credits as of May 2021
- Current second-year graduate students
(2) In addition, students must meet all of the criteria below:
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen**
- Have a completed, verified FAFSA form on file for Financial Aid
- Meet an EFC (Expected Family Contribution) below $15,000
Those students who meet these criteria will receive $1,200 awards.
Pell Grant recipients will receive an additional $800 for a maximum of $2,000 in funding.
**International and undocumented students who are ineligible for HEERF II funding and experiencing a severe lack of basic needs should review the Student Emergency Assistance Program section below to learn more about applying for one-time financial assistance.
How Grants Will Be Distributed
Students who meet the criteria for these grants will receive an email from the Financial Aid office on May 6 with additional information about how to access their grant. We understand that students are facing time-sensitive needs and are working hard to get these funds to you as quickly as possible.
Student Emergency Assistance Program
A total of $500,000 of HEERF II funds have also been allocated to the university’s Student Emergency Assistance Program to assist students facing acute financial distress or severe lack of basic needs. Currently enrolled students can apply for one-time financial assistance through this form. Those experiencing extreme hardship are prioritized for support and applications are processed on a rolling basis. Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee funding.
In the coming months, the university will work to replenish the Student Emergency Assistance Program to continue supporting our students with urgent need. This spring, university funds, donations from the Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation Emergency Fund, and funding from the University Student Senate will be reserved for international and undocumented students, who are ineligible for federal HEERF II funds.
Looking ahead, we expect that the university will receive additional federal funding through the American Rescue Plan in the fall. We will share details about how this funding will be used when we receive guidance from the U.S. Department of Education. In the meantime, if you have questions about the current funding, please review the FAQ on the Financial Assistance webpage.
We hope that this additional funding will help ease some of the financial challenges you may be facing.