Federal Emergency Funds

Learn more about the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), and the American Rescue Plan (ARP).

Updated Jan. 10, 2023

Jump to information about:

HEERF III: The American Rescue Plan (ARP)
HEERF II: The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA)
HEERF I: UWEC CARES Emergency Fund

HEERF III: The American Rescue Plan (ARP)

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) includes additional COVID-19 relief for institutions of higher education. This new COVID stimulus bill included $40 billion, available through September 30, 2023, for higher education institutions and students, using the same Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) model established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. UW Eau Claire’s allocation of Emergency Grants for Students is $10,077,284.

Emergency Grants will not be applied to student accounts. The funds will be refunded directly to students and may be used for any component of the cost of attendance or emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus such as: tuition; food; housing; health care (including mental health); child care.

Federal guidance requires that domestic students with exceptional need must be prioritized when disbursing the Emergency Grants for Students. To be eligible for Emergency Grants for Students, UW-Eau Claire students are required to be active students in a degree-seeking program after the 10^th day of classes during the Fall 2021 semester (including programs offered exclusively online).

Below is UW-Eau Claire’s plan for spending HEERF III Emergency funds for students:

• August 2021 – awarded 15 students $1,000 each. Students were Pell grant eligible, enrolled half-time for summer 2021, and enrolled in an internship course.
• October 6th, 2021 – awarded 4,938 students block grants totaling $9,096,350 to students with a FAFSA on file and an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) of less than 30,000.
• October 6^th, 2021 – awarded 994 students who were registered in a course designated as a High Impact Practice (but did not receive a block grant) $500 each.
• October 18^th – invited students who did not receive HEERF III Emergency Funds based on their FAFSA or being enrolled in a course designated as a High Impact Practice to submit an e-form requesting HEERF III Emergency Funds. The link to the e-form was emailed to students' campus email. The Financial Aid Staff will review e-forms and notify students of the outcome.
• October 20^th, 2021 – awarded 30 students block grants totaling $56,250. These were students whose FAFSA came in right after the first block grant awarding and fell into the awarding parameters from October 6^th
• October 28^th – The Financial Aid Staff approved 1,100 eforms and awarded students a total of $412,684.
• December 2022 - $3,250 in HEERF III funds were recouped due to two students not cashing their refund checks. Financial aid staff identified four students who filed their FAFSA after the block grant funds were awarded, were Pell Grant eligible, and only received a $375 HEERF III award due to filing an e-form.  The $3,250 was split between these four students.
• As of December 22, 2022, we have exhausted our Higher Ed Emergency Funds III student allocation of $10,077,284

Student Funds Quarterly Reporting

For the Quarter Ending June 30, 2021

• The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire signed and returned the Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students and will use no less than the required amount of funds received to provide HEERF grants to students.
• UW-Eau Claire was allocated $10,077,284 in Emergency Funds to distribute to students.
• $0 in Emergency Grants has been distributed to students.
• UW Eau Claire is reviewing data to estimate the total number of students that may be eligible to receive an emergency grant.
• 0 students have received an Emergency Grant.
• The method by which UW Eau Claire will determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants, and how much students will receive under Section 2003(a)(1) and (a)(4) of the ARP (HEERF III) is under development to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.

For the Quarter Ending September 30, 2021

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire signed and returned the Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students and will use no less than the required amount of funds received to provide HEERF grants to students.

• UW-Eau Claire was allocated $10,077,284 in Emergency Funds to distribute to students.
• $15,000 in Emergency Grants have been distributed to students.
• 15 students have received an Emergency Grant.
• To meet Federal requirements to draw down funds by August 21, 2021, UW Eau Claire identified 15 Pell Eligible students who were enrolled in a summer internship course and awarded each student $1,000 on August 17^th, 2021.
• The university has instructed students to file a FAFSA in order to be considered for HEERF III funds via information on the Federal Emergency Funds website. In addition, the university sent postcards to all students encouraging them to file a FAFSA, request a Professional Judgement consideration if their circumstances have changed, and directed them to the Emergency Funds website for updated information. Last, the university created bookmarks and dispersed them across campus which explained the process by which students can request a Professional Judgement.

For the Quarter Ending December 31, 2021

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire signed and returned the Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students and will use no less than the required amount of funds received to provide HEERF grants to students.

• UW-Eau Claire was allocated $10,077,284 in Emergency Funds to distribute to students.
• $10,077,284 in Emergency Grants have been distributed to students.
• 7,077 students have received an Emergency Grant.
• To be eligible for Emergency Grants for Students under Section 2003(a)(1) and (a)(4) of the ARP (HEERF III), UW-Eau Claire students are required to be:
  • Active students in a degree-seeking program after the 10^th day of classes during the Fall 2021 semester (including programs offered exclusively online)
  • No application was required for students with a completed 2021-22 FAFSA on file and an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) of 30,000 or less. Tiered block grants were awarded to students on October 6^th, 2021. Pell grant recipients received the highest dollar amount.

• • No application or FAFSA was required for students enrolled in a course designated as a High Impact Practice. The list of eligible students was provided by Institutional Research. 994 students enrolled in course(s) designated as High Impact Practices that did not receive a block grant were awarded $500.
• October 18th - invited students who did not receive HEERF III Emergency Funds based on their FAFSA or being enrolled in a course designated as a High Impact Practice to submit an e-form requesting HEERF III Emergency Funds. The link to the e-form was be emailed to student’s campus email. The Financial Aid Staff reviewed e-forms and notified students of the outcome on October 28^th, 2021.
• October 20th – awarded 30 students block grants totaling $56,250. These were students whose FAFSA came in right after the first block grant awarding and fell into the awarding parameters from October 6th.
• October 25th – eform was turned off and the Financial Aid Staff began reviewing eforms.
• 1,100 eforms were approved and the remaining allocation of $412,684 was spent.
• The university instructed students to file a FAFSA in order to be considered for HEERF III funds via information on the Federal Emergency Funds website. In addition, the university sent postcards to all students encouraging them to file a FAFSA, request a Professional Judgement consideration if their circumstances have changed, and directed them to the Emergency Funds website for updated information. Last, the university created bookmarks and dispersed them across campus which explained the process by which students can request a Professional Judgement.
• Funds fully spent November, 3rd, 2021.

For the Quarter Ending December 31, 2022

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire signed and returned the Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students and will use no less than the required amount of funds received to provide HEERF grants to students.

• UW-Eau Claire was allocated $10,077,284 in Emergency Funds to distribute to students.
• $10,077,284 in Emergency Grants have been distributed to students.
• 7,069 students have received an Emergency Grant.
• To be eligible for Emergency Grants for Students under Section 2003(a)(1) and (a)(4) of the ARP (HEERF III), UW-Eau Claire students are required to be:
  • Active students in a degree-seeking program after the 10^th day of classes during the Fall 2021 semester (including programs offered exclusively online)
  • No application was required for students with a completed 2021-22 FAFSA on file and an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) of 30,000 or less. Tiered block grants were awarded to students on October 6^th, 2021. Pell grant recipients received the highest dollar amount.

• • No application or FAFSA was required for students enrolled in a course designated as a High Impact Practice. The list of eligible students was provided by Institutional Research. 994 students enrolled in course(s) designated as High Impact Practices that did not receive a block grant were awarded $500.
• October 18th - invited students who did not receive HEERF III Emergency Funds based on their FAFSA or being enrolled in a course designated as a High Impact Practice to submit an e-form requesting HEERF III Emergency Funds. The link to the e-form was be emailed to student’s campus email. The Financial Aid Staff reviewed e-forms and notified students of the outcome on October 28^th, 2021.
• October 20th – awarded 30 students block grants totaling $56,250. These were students whose FAFSA came in right after the first block grant awarding and fell into the awarding parameters from October 6th.
• October 25th – eform was turned off and the Financial Aid Staff began reviewing eforms.
• 1,100 eforms were approved and the remaining allocation of $412,684 was spent.
• December, 2022 - $3,250 in HEERF III funds were recouped due to two students not cashing their refund checks. Financial aid staff identified four students who filed their FAFSA after the block grant funds were awarded, were Pell Grant eligible, and only received a $375 HEERF III award due to filing an e-form.  The $3,250 was split between these four students.
• The university instructed students to file a FAFSA in order to be considered for HEERF III funds via information on the Federal Emergency Funds website. In addition, the university sent postcards to all students encouraging them to file a FAFSA, request a Professional Judgement consideration if their circumstances have changed, and directed them to the Emergency Funds website for updated information. Last, the university created bookmarks and dispersed them across campus which explained the process by which students can request a Professional Judgement.
• Funds fully spent December 22, 2022.

HEERF II: The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA)

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire signed and returned the Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. UW-Eau Claire was allocated $3,545,978 in Emergency Funds to distribute to students. 

As of March 10, 2021 we have exhausted our full allocation.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 included additional COVID-19 relief through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act. This new COVID stimulus bill included $23 billion for higher education institutions and students, using the same Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) model established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

UW Eau Claire is continuing our support of our most financially vulnerable students during the Pandemic by awarding $3,545,978 in emergency grants to 4,313 students (of the possible 6,712 students eligible). We have prioritized students with exceptional need as determined by the FAFSA.

All students enrolled in Spring who did not have a FAFSA on file were emailed in February to file a FAFSA if they wanted to be considered for funding. UW Eau Claire awarded degree-seeking students with a complete FAFSA on file and enrolled in the 2021 Spring term an emergency grant on March 10, 2021. Pell-eligible students received $1,000, while students with an EFC up to $12,000 (and not pell-eligible) received $800 and students with an EFC of $12,001 up to just over $22,000 were awarded an emergency grant in the amount of up to $600.

Emergency Grants will not be applied to student accounts. The funds will be refunded directly to students and may be used for any component of the cost of attendance or emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus such as: tuition; food; housing; health care (including mental health); child care.

At the time of awarding, non-citizens were ineligible to receive federal emergency grants.

Student Funds Quarterly Reporting

For the Quarter Ending June 30, 2021

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire signed and returned the Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students and will use no less than the required amount of funds received to provide HEERF grants to students.

• UW-Eau Claire was allocated $3,545,978 in Emergency Funds to distribute to students.
• $3,545,978 in Emergency Grants has been distributed to students.
• UW Eau Claire estimates that 6,712 students were eligible for HEERF II funds.
• 4,313 students received an Emergency Grant.
• The method by which UW Eau Claire will determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants:
• Currently enrolled, degree-seeking students (graduate and undergraduate) that had received a financial aid offer as of March 10^th, 2021 were awarded HEERF II emergency grants based on their EFC. Our awarding policy followed a tiered approach to ensure that we prioritized Pell eligible students. Current guidance excludes non-citizens.
• To ensure that we awarded HEERF II emergency grant funds to students’ who demonstrate “exceptional financial need” (i.e., Pell eligible) our policy was based on a tiered approach based on EFC.
  1. Students with an EFC of 0-5,711 received $1,000.00.
     1. An EFC of 5,711 is the Pell Grant EFC cutoff.
  2. EFC of 5,711 – 12,000 received $800
  3. EFC of $12,001 to 22,666 received $600
  4. EFC of 22,667– and up received $500.
     1. The last student with an EFC of 22,700 received $478
  5. This spent our full allocation of $3,548,978.
• UW Eau Claire communicated with all students without a FAFSA on file via email in February, 2021 to encourage them to submit a FAFSA by early March. We communicated with students receiving an award on March 10th that they had been awarded funds
• Funds fully spent March 10^th, 2021

For the Quarter Ending December 31, 2022

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire signed and returned the Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students and will use no less than the required amount of funds received to provide HEERF grants to students.

• UW-Eau Claire was allocated $3,545,978 in Emergency Funds to distribute to students.
• $3,545,978 in Emergency Grants has been distributed to students.
• UW Eau Claire estimates that 6,712 students were eligible for HEERF II funds.
• 4,313 students received an Emergency Grant.
• The method by which UW Eau Claire will determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants:
• Currently enrolled, degree-seeking students (graduate and undergraduate) that had received a financial aid offer as of March 10^th, 2021 were awarded HEERF II emergency grants based on their EFC. Our awarding policy followed a tiered approach to ensure that we prioritized Pell eligible students. Current guidance excludes non-citizens.
• To ensure that we awarded HEERF II emergency grant funds to students’ who demonstrate “exceptional financial need” (i.e., Pell eligible) our policy was based on a tiered approach based on EFC.
  1. Students with an EFC of 0-5,711 received $1,000.00.
     1. An EFC of 5,711 is the Pell Grant EFC cutoff.
  2. EFC of 5,711 – 12,000 received $800
  3. EFC of $12,001 to 22,666 received $600
  4. EFC of 22,667– and up received $500.
     1. The last student with an EFC of 22,700 received $478
  5. This spent our full allocation of $3,548,978.
• December 2022 - $1,000 in HEERF II funds were recouped due to one student not cashing the refund check. Financial aid staff identified a Pell eligible student who was not awarded HEERF II funds due to filing their FAFSA after funds were exhausted.  The $1,000 was awarded to that student.
• UW Eau Claire communicated with all students without a FAFSA on file via email in February, 2021 to encourage them to submit a FAFSA by early March. We communicated with students receiving an award on March 10th that they had been awarded funds
• Funds fully spent December 22, 2022.

HEERF I: UWEC CARES Emergency Fund

We have exhausted our full allocation.

UW-Eau Claire was allocated $3,545,978 in Emergency Funds to distribute to students. Under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, as of July 1, 2020, we were able to distribute $3,545,978 in CARES funds to 2,643 students.

If you are a dependent student (for financial aid purposes) and your parent(s) are experiencing an employment loss/reduction in income or increased medical expenses, you may wish to complete a financial aid appeal form. In order to submit an appeal, you will need a 2020-2021 FAFSA on file at UWEC as these appeals will be processed for the next academic year. If you have not filed your 2020-2021 FAFSA, do so now at fafsa.gov.

Please note that not all situations will warrant an adjustment to a student’s financial aid, however, we will carefully review every appeal submitted. 

About the UWEC CARES emergency fund

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire signed and returned the Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. At least 50% of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) grants are earmarked for students and their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. The total amount of HEERF funds dedicated to students is $3,545,978. There are approximately 7,079 students eligible to receives CARES funds at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

As of May 21, 2020, we have distributed $3,458,800 in CARES Funds to 2,578 students. In addition to CARES Funds, UW Eau Claire has provided $206,047 in Foundation and Institutional emergency grants to 397 students for covid-19 related expenses.

Students received information on how to apply for funds from an email from the Chancellor as well as in the bi-weekly COVID-19 email update and in the Chancellor’s briefing. In addition, students can find information about the UWEC CARES funds on the COVID-19 webpage.

UWEC CARES eligibility

UWEC students who have incurred expenses because of the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus pandemic should apply for funds as soon as possible. Unexpected expenses related to the pandemic may include costs for food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare, childcare and more. Awards will be determined based on expenses reported by students but not to exceed $2,000.

Per the Department of Education, CARES Funds have specific eligibility requirements.

To be eligible for UWEC CARES, you must:

• Be eligible to receive federal financial aid. For example, students must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. 
• Have a current FAFSA on file. If you have not filed a 2019-2020 FAFSA or 2020-2021 FAFSA, do so now at fafsa.gov.
• Be a currently enrolled student.

You are not eligible for UWEC CARES if:

• You were exclusively an “online-only” student on March 13.
• You are simultaneously enrolled in high school and college.
• You are an undocumented or international student.

If you are an international student, please contact CIE about alternate funding sources. If you were an exclusively online student as of March 13, 2020, please contact Blugold Central to inquire about other funding possibilities.

UWEC CARES application

To be considered for UWEC CARES funds, you must complete an application and follow the steps outlined below. 

To apply:

1. Ensure you have a 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 FAFSA on file. If you do not have a FAFSA on file, click here.
2. Set up a direct deposit. For the fastest access to emergency relief money, make sure you have a direct deposit in place. You may set up a direct deposit here. If you do not have a bank account and are planning to receive the check in the mail, please ensure your address is updated in CampS.
3. Fill out the UWEC CARES application.

Distribution and use of funding

UWEC CARES funds will be disbursed directly to you and will not be used to pay down a student account balance. You can determine how to use the funds after they are distributed.

Student Funds Quarterly Reporting

For the Quarter Ending June 30, 2020

• The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire signed and returned the Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students and will use no less than the required amount of funds received to provide HEERF grants to students.
• UW-Eau Claire was allocated $3,545,978 in Emergency Funds to distribute to students.
• $3,545,978 in Emergency Grants has been distributed to students.
• UW Eau Claire estimates that 7,079 students were eligible for HEERF II funds.
• 2,578 students received an Emergency Grant.
• The method by which UW Eau Claire will determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants:
• UWEC students who incurred expenses because of the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus pandemic and who had a 2019-20 or 2021-22 FAFSA on file were invited to apply for funds as soon via an eform. Students were not eligible if they were exclusively online as of March 13^th 2020, simultaneously enrolled in high school and college, or an undocumented or international student.
• UW Eau Claire communicated with students via the Blugold FYI, Information on the Federal Emergency Funds Website, Chancellor’s Town Hall, and emailed all students the link to the Eform to request Emergency Funds.
• Funds fully spent March 31st, 2020

Questions

For questions about the UWEC CARES fund, please contact Blugold Central at blugoldcentral@uwec.edu or 715-836-3000. Staff are available to respond to emails and voicemails from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Email continues to be the most efficient way to contact Blugold Central.