HEERF II

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II), Spring 2021

Updated 1 October and 1 July 2021 to reflect review
 
The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), was signed into law on December 27, 2020, and authorized the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) to provide funds to educational institutions. 
 
Similar to the CARES Act, this law provides funds for the institution to defray expenses caused by Coronavirus and funds grants for distribution to students to assist with emergency costs arising due to Coronavirus.  In total, VMI will receive $1,565,705 via HEERF II, with $566,346 allocated for grants for students and $999,359 for allowable institutional costs.
 
As the law stipulates schools prioritize financial need in awarding the funds, VMI will utilize existing FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid) data in providing grants of $1,000 to enrolled cadets (international students are not eligible) with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $7,000 and less, while providing $250 to enrolled cadets with an EFC greater than $7,000, or without a valid FAFSA.  Through this approach, all eligible cadets will receive a grant and VMI plans to allocate close to $600,000 toward student grants.
 
The purpose of the financial aid grants for students is to provide assistance toward any component of a student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs since March 13, 2020, the date of the declaration of the national emergency. 
 
Examples of emergency costs may include: “tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care.”
 
As of April 1, 2021, VMI provided HEERF II Emergency Grants to 1598 cadets via a check to their home address.

In total, $599,000 was disbursed and cadets were told via email the funds were to assist with emergency costs arising due to the Coronavirus.

Additionally, VMI separately notified all cadets, via email, who may be eligible for enhanced benefits via the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on 24 March 2021.
 

March 31, 2021 Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF I, II, and III (a) (1) Institutional portion - Revised report dated 17 November 2021

June 30, 2021 Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF I, II, and III (a) (1) Institutional portion - Revised report dated 17 November 2021

 
VMI acknowledges that the Certification and Agreement form was previously signed and returned and has used no less than the required amount of funds stipulated in the CRRSA Act to provide HEERF grants to students.
 

 
Questions? 
Please contact the Financial Aid Office at 540-464-7208 or financialaid@vmi.edu

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