HEERF Reporting Requirements

The following information is provided based on guidance from the Department of Education.  This applies to Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF II) only.

This is the final quarterly posting for HEERF II Funds, as all HEERF II student funds have been distributed.

The Certification and Agreement form was signed by President Alisa White on May 1, 2020.    Austin Peay State University has used, or intends to use, no less than the required amount of funds received to provide HEERF grants to students.  Eligibility is based on guidance provided by the Department of Education.

• Austin Peay was allocated and received $4,843,933 in HEERF II funding.
• A total amount of $4,843,933 of HEERF II grant funds were distributed to students.
• A total of 8,343 students have received HEERF II grant funds.
• The methodology used by Austin Peay to determine which students received HEERF II grants, and how much, is described below:

• Financial Aid identified the base population (Spring, Spring I and Part A)
• Total Eligible = 8,194 (graduate and undergraduate enrolled and degree seeking)
• Category I - Exceptional Need* = 4,066
• Category II - Other (no need) = 4,128
• Recommended Award Amount
• Category I – 54% of $4,843,933
• 54% = $2,615,723.82/4,065 students = $643.47 per student
• Category II – 46% of $4,843,933
• 46% = 2,228,209.18/4,129 students = $539.65 per student

*Note:  Need eligibility determined by Pell eligible EFC range for all students.  Graduate students not eligible for Pell, but their FAFSA still calculates an EFC for them.

Correspondence Sent to Students

May 13, 2020

The CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act included funding allocated for students whose lives have been disrupted due to the COVID-19 virus.   Austin Peay is following the guidance provided to us by the Department of Education.

It has been determined you are eligible to receive a portion of this funding referred to as the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) in the amount of $                    .  These funds will be applied directly to your student account and the full amount will be paid to you.  If you owe a balance to the university, you are still responsible for paying the balance.  You will receive these funds by direct deposit (if you have signed up) or by check, which will be mailed to you. 

The Department of Education has specifically instructed these funds are “for the sole and exclusive purpose of providing emergency financial aid grants to students for their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses”.

We consider students who were not previously attending all online classes to have experienced some disruption and expense due to the unexpected move to an all online format for their coursework.  Your acceptance of these funds is considered confirmation you have a qualifying expense.

We hope this finds you well and we look forward to seeing our students back on campus! 

Office of Financial Aid, Scholarships and Veterans Education Benefits

Quarterly reporting not required, as all HEERF II funds were distributed as of the June 30, 2021 reporting.

Quarterly reporting not required, as all HEERF II funds were distributed as of the June 30, 2021 reporting.

Not applicable, as we had not drawn in HEERF III funds at this time.

Not applicable, as we had not drawn in HEERF III funds at this time.

• The Certification and Agreement form was signed by President White on May 14, 2020.  Austin Peay State University intends to use the mandated amount for at least 50% of the funding provided for emergency financial aid grants to students.  Eligibility is based on guidance provided by the Department of Education.  The institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.
• Austin Peay was allocated $16.2 million in HEERF III student funding.
• It is estimated 8,500 students will be awarded emergency grant funds. 
• $9,716,789.80 in HEERF III emergency financial aid grants has been distributed to 8,472 eligible students.
• The following methods were used to determine which students receive(d) emergency financial aid grants.
  • Awardee Selection
    • Undergraduate
    • Graduate
    • Degree Seeking
    • Non-Degree Seeking
    • U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA recipients, asylum/refugee, International.
    • Dual enrollment students will not be awarded.
    • Audit only will not be awarded.
    • No restriction on enrollment status.
    • Must be enrolled with confirmation; however, may be full-time or part-time.
    • No restriction on class modality
  • Awarding Schedule
    • Fall 2021 -  Award 60% of the $16.2 million allocation
      • $9,720,000
    • Spring 2022 -  Award 40% of the $16.2 million allocation
      • $6,480,000
  • Fall 2021
    • Category I – Exceptional Need (60%)
      • Undergraduate – Pell Eligible
      • Graduate – Not eligible for Pell; however, we can ascertain their financial need from the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) from the 21-22 FAFSA.
      • Approximately 4,065 students
      • $9,720,000 x 60% = $5,832,000/4,065 students = $1,434.68 per student
    • Category II – Need (Non-Pell Recipients) (40%)
      • Undergraduate – Not Pell eligible and not included in Category I
      • Graduate – Not included in Category I
      • Approximately 4,129 students
      • $9,720,000 x 40% = $3,888,000/4,129 students = $941.63 per student
  • Spring 2022
    • Category I – Exceptional Need (60%)
      • Undergraduate – Pell Eligible
      • Graduate – Not eligible for Pell; however, we can ascertain their financial need from the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) from the 21-22 FAFSA.
      • Approximately 4,065 students
      • $6,480,000 x 60% = $3,888,000/4,065 students = $956.46 per student
    • Category II – Need (Non-Pell Recipients) (40%)
      • Undergraduate – Not Pell eligible and not included in Category I
      • Graduate – Not included in Category I
      • Approximately 4,129 students
      • $6,480,000 x 40% = $2,592,000/4,129 students = $627.75 per student
  • Instructions, directions or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the emergency financial aid grants.  An email containing the following language was sent to all recipients.  In addition, a campus-wide notification was distributed via our TheGovsSays publication.

    • The Department of Education (DOE) has released additional emergency relief funds allocated for students whose lives have been disrupted due to the COVID-19 virus. This portion of the funding is referred to as HEERF III (Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds). Austin Peay is following the guidance provided to us by the DOE.

      We have determined you are eligible to receive a portion of this funding in the amount of [specific amount inserted]. These funds will be issued directly to you via direct deposit or check after September 20. By accepting these funds, you are indicating you have experienced a financial need or emergency cost due to the COVID-19 virus.

      The DOE indicates these funds may be used for any part of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to the COVID-19 virus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care. The guidelines require the university prioritize these funds to students demonstrating exceptional financial need.

      We hope this finds you well. If you have questions, please contact our office.

• The Certification and Agreement form was signed by President White on May 14, 2020.  Austin Peay State University intends to use the mandated amount for at least 50% of the funding provided for emergency financial aid grants to students.  Eligibility is based on guidance provided by the Department of Education.  The institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.
• Austin Peay was allocated $16.2 million in HEERF III student funding.
• It is estimated 8,500 students will be awarded emergency grant funds. 
• $16,567,255.09 in HEERF III emergency financial aid grants has been distributed to 9,556 eligible students.
• The following methods were used to determine which students receive(d) emergency financial aid grants.
  • Awardee Selection
    • Undergraduate
    • Graduate
    • Degree Seeking
    • Non-Degree Seeking
    • U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA recipients, asylum/refugee, International.
    • Dual enrollment students will not be awarded.
    • Audit only will not be awarded.
    • No restriction on enrollment status.
    • Must be enrolled with confirmation; however, may be full-time or part-time.
    • No restriction on class modality
  • Awarding Schedule
    • Fall 2021 -  Award 60% of the $16.2 million allocation
      • $9,720,000
    • Spring 2022 -  Award 40% of the $16.2 million allocation
      • $6,480,000
  • Fall 2021
    • Category I – Exceptional Need (60%)
      • Undergraduate – Pell Eligible
      • Graduate – Not eligible for Pell; however, we can ascertain their financial need from the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) from the 21-22 FAFSA.
      • Approximately 4,065 students
      • $9,720,000 x 60% = $5,832,000/4,065 students = $1,434.68 per student
    • Category II – Need (Non-Pell Recipients) (40%)
      • Undergraduate – Not Pell eligible and not included in Category I
      • Graduate – Not included in Category I
      • Approximately 4,129 students
      • $9,720,000 x 40% = $3,888,000/4,129 students = $941.63 per student
  • Spring 2022
    • Category I – Exceptional Need (60%)
      • Undergraduate – Pell Eligible
      • Graduate – Not eligible for Pell; however, we can ascertain their financial need from the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) from the 21-22 FAFSA.
      • Approximately 4,065 students
      • $6,480,000 x 60% = $3,888,000/4,065 students = $956.46 per student
    • Category II – Need (Non-Pell Recipients) (40%)
      • Undergraduate – Not Pell eligible and not included in Category I
      • Graduate – Not included in Category I
      • Approximately 4,129 students
      • $6,480,000 x 40% = $2,592,000/4,129 students = $627.75 per student
  • Instructions, directions or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the emergency financial aid grants.  An email containing the following language was sent to all recipients.  In addition, a campus-wide notification was distributed via our TheGovsSays publication.

    • The Department of Education (DOE) has released additional emergency relief funds allocated for students whose lives have been disrupted due to the COVID-19 virus. This portion of the funding is referred to as HEERF III (Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds). Austin Peay is following the guidance provided to us by the DOE.

      We have determined you are eligible to receive a portion of this funding in the amount of [specific amount inserted]. These funds will be issued directly to you via direct deposit or check after September 20. By accepting these funds, you are indicating you have experienced a financial need or emergency cost due to the COVID-19 virus.

      The DOE indicates these funds may be used for any part of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to the COVID-19 virus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care. The guidelines require the university prioritize these funds to students demonstrating exceptional financial need.

      We hope this finds you well. If you have questions, please contact our office.