HEERF III
The University received confirmation of funding for HEERF III in May 2021, the third phase of federal support that was also previously known as CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act).
Grants are intended to help cover expenses related to the cost of attendance (i.e., food, housing and utilities, health insurance, including mental health care, transportation, or child care) or for emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus. Priority was given to those students identified as having exceptional need based on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Throughout the awarding period students with emergency financial needs were referred to the HEERF committee for emergency grant consideration. These students were reviewed and approved on a case by case situation.
Students who receive a HEERF III grant can choose to apply it to their existing account balance or receive the grant as a refund. Students may complete the HEERF II Authorization Form to indicate their preference, which will be included in the grant notification email to eligible students. Students who received HEERF III grants were notified after awards were processed.
Phase 1 – Summer 2021
Initial funds were used to supplement the funding for May 2021 HEERF Emergency Grant applications. Additional funds were utilized to support first year students attending a summer reading course.
Phase 2 – Fall 2021
UNC Asheville awarded all eligible students $300 to $450 to cover the estimated costs of textbooks and help with other expenses for the fall 2021 semester. Awards were processed August 23, 2021 and unless a student authorized the funds to be applied towards their balance, a refund was issued by August 27th.
Eligibility:
Students enrolled in six or more credit hours will receive the full $450.
Students enrolled in three to five credit hours will receive $300.
Students must be degree-seeking or in the Teacher Licensure Program.
Non-degree seeking students and students enrolled in fewer than three credit hours are not eligible.
If students are not eligible and have exceptional financial need, they were able to apply for the emergency grant.
A number of students completed the application for the block grant regardless of their need or initial award. The university contacted these students to see if additional assistance was needed. For the students in need of additional funding, $1,000 awards were given based on exceptional need.
Students who have exhausted financial aid eligibility were offered the opportunity to apply for the HEERF grant to cover components of their cost of attendance.
A team of University leaders developed a plan for distributing up to $1,200 to undergraduate degree-seeking students enrolled in Fall 2021 who paid a significant portion of their fall balance and had unmet needs related to the pandemic or cost of attendance.
Phase 3 – Spring 2022
Students enrolled in Spring 2022 were able to apply for a $500 Emergency Grant, between February 2-21, 2022. Students were notified by email when the application opened on February 2nd. The initial application deadline was February 14; however, the application was extended an additional week. A few students with extenuating circumstances applied after the application closed and those were reviewed on a case by case basis through March 24th. Application evaluation officially closed at the end of the spring semester.
Phase 4 – Summer 2022
UNC Asheville awarded all eligible students $400 to $800 to cover the estimated costs of technology, course materials and other expenses for the Summer 2022 semester, including Maymester and all four summer terms.
Eligibility:
- Students must have been charged for a summer course.
- Students enrolled in five or more credit hours will receive the full $800.
- Students enrolled in less than five credit hours will receive $400.
Options for receiving and using your grant award:
- Students who were registered in a prior semester and have registered for Summer courses will receive a refund for the grant by Friday, June 3.
- If you are a new student this summer, your grant will be applied to your account after your summer course(s) begin and a refund will be issued within 10 days.
- You can apply the funding to your current student account balance. To do this, you should complete the authorization form in OnePort by Tuesday, May 31.
Phase 5 – Fall 2022
UNCA Asheville is awarding all eligible students $300 to $600 in an emergency grant to cover the estimated costs of textbooks and help with other expenses for the Fall 2022 semester. If students do not choose one of the options below, a refund will be issued on September 6th.
Eligibility:
Students must have completed a 2022-23 FAFSA and have exceptional need, as determined by your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Students enrolled in twelve or more credit hours will receive the full $600.
Students enrolled in three to eleven credit hours will receive $300.
Students must be degree-seeking or in the Teacher Licensure Program.
Non-degree seeking students and students enrolled in fewer than three credit hours are not eligible.
Options for applying the grant award:
You can choose to participate in the Bookstore Advance Program, which allows students to use a portion of their grant to purchase textbooks prior to the first day of classes. Complete the Bookstore Advance Program form and complete the Financial Aid Authorization Form to select this option.
Or, you can apply the funding to your current student account balance. Grants will be applied to student accounts at the end of the second week of classes. If you have no balance, you will be issued a refund by September 6th. Complete the HEERF Authorization Form to apply the funds to your account balance.
Please email cares@unca.edu with any questions.