HEERF I: Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Emergency Funds
The Federal Government has established the Higher Education Relief Fund (HEERF) under the CARES Act which was signed by President Trump on March 27, 2020.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) makes two types of funding available to institutions to provide emergency aid to students as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak—campus-based Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) funds and Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) grants to students.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
SUNY Downstate will award eligible students only under one program. SUNY Downstate will use available SEOG COV19 funds to award undergraduate and graduate pell eligible students who are affected by the campus interruption with priority given to graduating students.
The Higher Education Relief Fund (HEERF I)
Higher Education Relief Fund (HEERF I) will be used to support students and institutions with expenses and financial needs related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. SUNY Downstate has received, reviewed and returned the Certification and Agreement, which mandates, among other things, that at least 50% of the funds received will be awarded as emergency grants to students who have incurred expenses as a result of the SUNY Downstate’s move to remote instruction.
The timeline for distribution of funds is not yet finalized, as we are still awaiting approval from SUNY and New York State to move forward with its plan for distribution.
- SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University has recieved $329,014 of HEERF I funds for student Aid from the Department of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
- SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University has determined 720 students at the institution are 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.
- Under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, students received awards of $500 and $514
30-Day Report: July 10, 2020
- As of July 10, 2020, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University has distributed $0 to students. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant as of July 10, 2020 is 0.
45-Day Report: August 25, 2020
- The Campus disbursed $78,000 in awards and to 156 students
Quarterly Report: September 30, 2020
- From August 25, 2020 (our last reporting date), to September 30, 2020, 435 students have received Emergency Financial Aid Grants totaling $217,500.
- As of September 30, 2020, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University has distributed $295,500 to 591 students.
Quarterly Report: December, 31, 2020
- From September 30, 2020 (our last reporting date), to December 31, 2020, 37 students have received Emergency Financial Aid Grants totaling $33,514.
- As of December 22, 2020 , SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University has distributed $329,014 to 658 students.
- This is SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Final Quarterly Report posting which covers all HEERF I fund expenditures for Section 18004(a)(1) Student Portion funds.
All students are asked to sign up for E-refund via Bursar.
- A matriculated undergraduate, graduate or professional degree program student enrolled during the spring 2020 semester on or after March 13, 2020.
- Students who withdrew from the SUNY Downstate prior to March 13th are not eligible for a CARES Grant since they had withdrawn prior to the conversion to online learning.
- Filed a 2019-20 FAFSA
Due to current USDOE guidance and restrictions, students are NOT eligible to receive CARES Act emergency grants if they are:
- Enrolled in distance-only degree programs prior to March 13, 2020
- Not current in repaying a debt on payments owed through a federal student assistance program or are in default on such payments
In order to receive CARES Act emergency grants, students must also have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as:
- Food
- Housing
- Course materials (books and supplies)
- Technology needs (such as having to purchase a computer or Internet access when courses moved to remote instruction)
- Healthcare
- Childcare
- Transportation
- Other eligible expenses
Students who are not Title IV eligible and cannot file a FAFSA, cannot apply.
ED's final rule published June 17 states that students must meet Title IV eligibility requirements in order to receive HEERF I emergency grants.
Once funds are received, Spring 2020 full-time enrolled students with a 2019-20 FAFSA on file, who meet basic eligibility criteria for Title IV federal aid, and who have the greatest financial need (based on your calculated EFC via the FAFSA), will be considered first for these funds. Students will be notified, and will need to certify that they incurred related expenses due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Phase 1 EFC under 5576
Phase 2 EFC >5576 and <10,000
All eligible students who did not recieve the SEOGCOV19 funds will be notified via email with instructions on how to submit a CARES fund application.
This website will be also updated with additional details on the process by which students can request funds once SUNY Downstate receives approval from SUNY to move forward with distribution of CARES Act funds to students.
It is therefore extremely important that students check their downstate email and this website regularly, even after the end of the Spring 2020 semester, so that you can request and receive your emergency grant funds as soon as we are able to begin distributing them.
Funds Allocated to Institution (HEERF I)
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University acknowledges an authorized representative of the institution has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement for the Institutional Portion of the CARES Act funding. The institution has used, or intends to use, no more than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to cover institutional costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus.
SUNY Downstate received $329,014 from the Department of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for the Institutional Portion.
Quarterly Reports:
- As of September 30, 2020, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University has spent $0. Read the quarterly report for September which provides a breakdown of the use of funds.
- As of December 31, 2020, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University has spent $44.634. 37. Read the quarterly report for December which provides a breakdown of the use of funds.
- As of February 1st, 2021 SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University has spent $329,014. Read the quarterly report for February which provides a breakdown of the use of funds.
- As of July 10th, 2021 SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University has spent $329,014. Read the June 30, 2021 Quarterly Report which provides a breakdown of the use of funds.