Archived: University of the Sciences - CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)

This information was created prior to University of the Sciences' merger with and into Saint Joseph's University and does not reflect the current, combined institution. References to programs, offices, colleges, employees, etc., may be historical information.

USciences has been the recipient of federal COVID-19 relief funding. This funding is provided by the US Department of Education as a result of legislation passed into law during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

CARES Act HEERF Grant: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or CARES Act, was passed by Congress on March 27th, 2020. This bill allotted $2.2 trillion to provide fast and direct economic aid to the American people negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Of that money, approximately $14 billion was given to the Office of Postsecondary Education as the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, or HEERF.

CRRSAA Act HEERF Grants: The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) is authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. In total, the CRRSAA authorizes $81.88 billion in support for education.

ARP Act HEERF Grants: The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) is authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2, signed into law on March 11, 2021, providing $39.6 billion in support to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. Department of Education Required Information

Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the emergency financial aid grants.

USciences students who completed a FAFSA and have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations were encouraged to apply for CARES Act HEERF funding using a link to an online application. Note that applicants were required to submit documentation of their expenses to be considered for funding.

Acknowledgment that the institution signed and returned the certification and agreement form and that the institution has used, or intends to use the funds to provide the mandated amount of at least 50% of the emergency financial aid grants to students.

USciences has signed and returned the certification and agreement form, and intends to use the CARES Act HEERF Funding for emergency financial aid grants to students.

CARES Act HEERF Grant: Student Portion

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive, or has received under the HEERF student portion.

USciences has been allocated $737,957 in CARES Act HEERF funding to award to students. Of those funds, the total amount that has been distributed to students as of the date of reporting (i.e. the first 30-day deadline, and then every 45 days thereafter).

• $291,835 was awarded to students as of June 17, 2020.
• $708,835 was awarded to students as of June 22, 2020.
• $733,481 was awarded to students as of August 17, 2020.
• $737,957 was awarded to students as of August 18, 2020.

The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and therefore eligible to receive an emergency financial aid grant.

The application was emailed to 1,685 eligible USciences students on May 15, 2020.  

The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant.

• 219 students were awarded CARES Act HEERF Grants as of June 17, 2020.
• 737 students were awarded CARES Act HEERF Grants as of June 22, 2020.
• 776 students were awarded CARES Act HEERF Grants as of August 17, 2020.
• 778 students were awarded CARES Act HEERF Grants as of August 18, 2020.

How the institution determined which students did, or will receive emergency financial aid grants and how much funding they did, or will receive.

USciences requested that students who had eligible expenses apply for funding and submit documentation of the expenses through the online application (link previously on this page). The preferred filing date was May 31, 2020.  Documentation was validated, and preference was given to students with the highest financial need.  Funding was not guaranteed to all applicants. Applications were accepted after May 31, and funds continued to be awarded as funds were still available. Cares Act HEERF Grant funding was exhausted on August 18, 2020.

In addition, USciences will award a limited number of grants to the neediest eligible undergraduate students who have not applied but are eligible based on the 2019-20 FAFSA. By accepting this funding, students agree to use the HEERF Grant to defray the costs of expenses incurred due to the disruption of campus operations due to Covid-19.

Students who were scheduled for clinical education classes during Summer 2020 but were unable to attend due to the pandemic were identified. The eligible students in this group who were unable to enroll in scheduled clinical coursework were awarded $500/each to assist with costs related to the disruption.

The maximum total CARES Act HEERF Grant is $4,500. 

The maximum amounts for each category of allowable funding are:

• Housing: $3,000
• Technology: $1,200
• Internet Service: $200
• Transportation: $1,000
• Child Care:  $1,000
• Health Care: $1,000

CARES Act HEERF Grant: Institutional Portion

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive, or has received under the HEERF institutional portion.

USciences has been allocated $737,957 in CARES Act HEERF funding to reimburse the University for COVID-19 related expenditures.

Of those funds, the total amount that has been reported by the University as of the date of reporting (i.e. the first 30-day deadline, and then every 45 days thereafter).

$693,745 has been reimbursed to the University as of September 30, 2020.  The expenditure report can be viewed here. 

$44,212 has been reimbursed to the University between October 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020.  The expenditure report can be viewed here.

$0 has been reimbursed to the University between January 1, 2021 and March 31, 2021.  The expenditure report can be viewed here.

U.S. Department of Education Required Information

Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the emergency financial aid grants.

USciences students who completed a 2020-21 FAFSA were evaluated for eligibility for CRRSAA Act HEERF funding based on their 2020-21 EFC. Some additional funding was awarded to students who demonstrated additional exceptional need.

Acknowledgment that the institution signed and returned the certification and agreement form and that the institution has used, or intends to use the funds to provide the mandated amount of at least 50% of the emergency financial aid grants to students.

USciences has signed and returned the certification and agreement form, and intends to use the CRRSAA Act HEERF Funding for emergency financial aid grants to students.

CRRSAA Act HEERF Grant: Student Portion

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive, or has received under the HEERF student portion.

USciences has been allocated $737,957 in CRRSAA Act HEERF funding to award to students. Of those funds, the total amount that has been distributed to students as of the date of reporting (i.e. the first 30-day deadline, and then every 45 days thereafter).

• $735,910 was awarded to students as of March 9, 2021.
• $736,530 was awarded to students as of April 21, 2021.
• $737,957 was awarded to students as of May 26, 2021.

The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and therefore eligible to receive an emergency financial aid grant.

Approximately 1,500 students completed a 2020-21 FAFSA and were eligible to be evaluated for CRRSAA Act HEERF Grant funding.

The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant.

• 1,311 students were awarded CRRSAA Act HEERF Grants as of March 9, 2021.
• 1,312 students were awarded CRRSAA Act HEERF Grants as of April 21, 2021.
• 1,314 students were awarded CRRSAA Act HEERF Grants as of May 25, 2021

How the institution determined which students did, or will receive emergency financial aid grants and how much funding they did, or will receive.

• $620 CRRSAA Act HEERF Grants were awarded to students with EFC 0 - 9999
• $450 CRRSAA Act HEERF Grants were awarded to students with EFC 10000 - 19999 
• $250 CRRSAA Act HEERF Grants were awarded to students with EFC 20000 - 27500  

CRRSAA Act HEERF Grant: Institutional Portion

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive, or has received under the HEERF institutional portion.

USciences has been allocated $1,321,213 CRRSAA Act HEERF funding to reimburse the University for COVID-19 related expenditures.

Of those funds, the total amount that has been reported by the University as of the date of reporting (i.e. the first 30-day deadline, and then every 45 days thereafter).

$1,255,152 has been reimbursed to the University between April 1, 2021 and June 30,2021.  The expenditure report can be viewed here.

$66,061 has been reimbursed to the University between July 1, 2021 and September 30,2021. The expenditure report can be viewed here. 

U.S. Department of Education Required Information

Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the emergency financial aid grants.

USciences students who completed a 2021-22 FAFSA were evaluated for eligibility for ARP Act HEERF funding based on their 2021-22 EFC in conjunction with their other financial aid. Some additional funding may be awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional financial need.

Acknowledgment that the institution signed and returned the certification and agreement form and that the institution has used, or intends to use the funds to provide the mandated amount of at least 50% of the emergency financial aid grants to students.

USciences has signed and returned the certification and agreement form, and intends to use the ARP Act HEERF Funding for emergency financial aid grants to students.

University of the Sciences HEERF Quarterly Report for quarter ending 6/30/22.

ARP Act HEERF Grant: Student Portion

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive, or has received under the HEERF student portion.

USciences has been allocated $1,974,697 in ARP Act HEERF funding to award to students. Of those funds, the total amount that has been distributed to students as of the date of reporting (i.e. the first 30-day deadline, and then every 45 days thereafter).

• $745,812 has been awarded to students as of November 22, 2021.
• $982,102 has been awarded to students as of December 31, 2021.
• $1,055,707 has been awarded to students as of January 30, 2022.
• $1,151,707 has been awarded to students as of February 28, 2022.
• $1,900,000 has been awarded to students as of March 23, 2022.
• $1,974,697 has been awarded to students as of March 31, 2022.

The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and therefore eligible to receive an emergency financial aid grant.

Approximately 1900 students have completed a 2021-22 FAFSA and were evaluated for eligibility.

The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant.

• 900 USciences students have been awarded ARP Act HEERF Grant funding as of November 22, 2021.
• 979 USciences students have been awarded ARP Act HEERF Grant funding as of December 31, 2021.
• 998 USciences students have been awarded ARP Act HEERF Grant funding as of January 30, 2022.
• 1012 USciences students have been awarded ARP Act HEERF Grant funding as of February 28, 2022.
• 1092 USciences students have been awarded ARP Act HEERF Grant funding as of March 23, 2022.
• 1106 USciences students have been awarded ARP Act HEERF Grant funding as of March 31, 2022.

How the institution determined which students did, or will receive emergency financial aid grants and how much funding they did, or will receive.

Students' eligibility for fall awards was evaluated and awards were made based on the following formula:

(Direct tuition and fee costs) minus (EFC + gift aid + subsidized direct loan eligibility) = ARP HEERF Grant eligibility. 

HEERF Grants for undergraduate students are capped at $1500/semester. HEERF Grants for graduate students are capped at $500/semester.

Additionally, undergraduate students who were assessed charges for Student Health Insurance, and whose full tuition and fees were not covered by gift aid, were awarded ARP HEERF Grants in the amount of $2232 to assist with the cost of health insurance.

Students' eligibility for spring awards was evaluated and awards were made based on the following formula:

(Direct tuition and fee costs) minus (EFC + gift aid + subsidized direct loan eligibility) = ARP HEERF Grant eligibility. 

HEERF Grants for undergraduate students are capped at $1500/semester.

Eligible Graduate Professional students who were not awarded additional scholarship funding were awarded up to $537 ARP HEERF Grant.

Eligible Graduate students who were not awarded additional scholarship funding were awarded up to $800 ARP HEERF Grant.

ARP Act HEERF Grant: Institutional Portion

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive, or has received under the HEERF institutional portion.

USciences has been allocated $1,974,697 ARP Act HEERF funding to reimburse the University for COVID-19 related expenditures

Of those funds, the total amount that has been reported by the University as of the date of reporting (i.e. the first 30-day deadline, and then every 45 days thereafter).

$860,543 has been reimbursed to the University between October 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021. The expenditure report can be viewed here.