Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

HEERF I (CARES) Student Aid

CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Statement

(Final Report: last updated on January 8, 2021)

View All CARES Act Student Aid Reports

At Saint Francis University, we know many of our students have endured significant hardship because of the ongoing pandemic. To assist students who have been impacted financially, the University is distributing emergency government grant funding via the CARES Act. The CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-IHE/Student Aid supplies funding for institutions to provide emergency financial aid grants to on-campus students who have been impacted by disrupted campus operations due to coronavirus, many of whom are facing financial challenges and struggling to make ends meet.

The CARES Act requires all colleges and universities participating in the program to provide access to the following information:

• Saint Francis University has signed and returned to the Department of Education the CARES Act Certification and Agreement. This document is an assurance that the University has used, or intends to use, no less than 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
• The total amount of funds that  Saint Francis University will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $704,805.
• The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed by Saint Francis University to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter) is $704,805.
• The estimated total number of students at Saint Francis University eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 1,836.
• The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 758.

Saint Francis University's method of evaluating the eligibility of students and determining how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act was based on 2019 -2020 FAFSA data. The three tiers were established from this information while the award amounts are based on a needs analysis of 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 FAFSA awards and actual expenses (up to the tier caps) reported by students via the online application.

*The three tiers were established from this information while the award amounts are based on a needs analysis of 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 FAFSA awards and actual expenses (up to the tier caps) reported by students via the online application.

Tier 1

Students that are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.  Within Tier 1, sub-tiers were established with award amounts based on Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Tier 2

Students that are not eligible for the Federal Pell Grant but who would otherwise qualify for the PA State Grant based on needs analysis only.  Non-PA Residents were considered for this tier based on the needs analysis in the PA State Grant Guidelines.

Tier 3

Students not eligible for Federal Pell Grant or PA State Grant, based on needs analysis:  

View Student Email

HEERF II (CRRSAA) Student Aid

Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students

(Final Report: last updated on October 10, 2021)

View all CRRSAA Student Aid Reports

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) provides funding for institutions to award emergency financial aid grants to students impacted by pandemic-related disruptions to campus operations and facing significant financial challenges.

The Certification and Agreement for the CRRSAA (a)(1) and (a)(4) funds requires that each institution applying for HEERF funds provide a detailed accounting of the use and expenditure of the funds. Institutions must post the following information on their website and update it no later than 10 days after the end of each calendar quarter.

1: An acknowledgment that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

• Saint Francis University signed and returned the Federal Funding Certification and Agreement to the Department on April 14, 2020. The University is in the process of using the applicable amount of funds under CRRSAA (a)(1) to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. The Department issued a Supplemental Agreement for CRRSAA/HEERF II

2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution's Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.

• Saint Francis University has received $704,805 in funds under the student aid portion and $1,509,414 in funds under the institutional portion of CRRSAA (a)(1). The University received the Grant Award Notification on January 17, 2021.

3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CRRSAA (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the initial report and every calendar quarter thereafter).

• As of September 30, 2021, Saint Francis University had distributed $704,805 to students as Emergency Financial Aid Grants under CRRSAA (a)(1).

4. The estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.

• As of September 30, 2021, the estimated total number of Saint Francis University students eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 was 1,939.

5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the CRRSAA (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.

• As of September 30, 2021, a total of 919 students have been awarded an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under CRRSAA (a)(1).

6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the CRRSAA (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.

• The U.S. Department of Education and the CRRSAA have provided higher education institutions with discretion on how to award emergency assistance to students. The Secretary of Education encouraged institutions to prioritize funding for those students with the greatest need, while also distributing grants as widely as possible for maximum impact.

• Saint Francis University's method of evaluating the eligibility of students and determining how much they would receive under CRRSAA (a)(1) was based on their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from their 2020 -2021 FAFSA information, the amount of federal Pell grants and/or state grants received, and the number of credits enrolled during the spring 2020-2021 academic year.  For graduate students, the University assumed an equal amount of need for this group and assigned an award of $300 per individual.

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

• The University notified students who received awards via their Saint Francis University email account.

HEERF III (ARP) Student Aid

Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students

(Final Report: April 7, 2022)

At Saint Francis University, we know many of our students continue to endure significant hardship because of the pandemic. To assist students who have been financially impacted, the University is distributing emergency government grant funding via the American Rescue Plan Act, 2021 (ARP). The ARP provides funding for institutions to award emergency financial aid grants to students impacted by pandemic-related disruptions to campus operations and facing significant financial challenges.

The Certification and Agreement for the ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) funds requires that each institution applying for HEERF funds provide a detailed accounting of the use and expenditure of the funds. Institutions must post the following information on their website and update it no later than 10 days after the end of each calendar quarter.

1: An acknowledgment that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

• Saint Francis University signed and returned the Federal Funding Certification and Agreement to the Department on April 14, 2020. The University is in the process of using the applicable amount of funds under ARP (a)(1) to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. The Department issued a Supplemental Agreement for ARP/HEERF III

2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution's Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.

• Saint Francis University will receive $2,004,086 in funds under the student aid portion and $1,952,361 in funds under the institutional portion of ARP (a)(1). The University received the Grant Award Notification on June 8, 2021.

3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the initial report and every calendar quarter thereafter).

• As of March 31, 2022 Saint Francis University had distributed $2,004,086 to students as Emergency Financial Aid Grants under the ARP (a)(1).

4. The estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.

• As of March 31, 2022, the estimated total number of Saint Francis University students eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 was 2,005.

5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.

• As of March 31, 2022, a total of 949 students have been awarded an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under the ARP (a)(1).

6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.

• The U.S. Department of Education and the ARP have provided higher education institutions with discretion on how to award emergency assistance to students. The Secretary of Education encouraged institutions to prioritize funding for those students with the greatest need, while also distributing grants as widely as possible for maximum impact.

• Saint Francis University's method of evaluating the eligibility of students and determining how much they would receive under ARP (a)(1) was based on the results of an online financial needs questionnaire and 2021-2022 FAFSA data. The tiers were established from this information, and the award amounts were based on the scoring of the questionnaire results and a needs analysis of the FAFSA information. Regarding graduate students, they were treated the same as undergraduates during the normal academic year. For the summer session, the university assumed an equal amount of need for this group and assigned an award amount of $300 per individual.

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

• The University notified students of the online questionnaire and subsequent awards via their Saint Francis University email accounts.

View Student Email

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