HEERF II Reporting

An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

A supplemental award designated for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II), was made to our original Grant Award Notification (GAN) on Sunday, January 17, 2021. 

The University of Northern Iowa submitted the Certification and Agreement on April 14, 2020. The original GAN was received from the U.S. Department of Education on April 24, 2020. 

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.

The University of Northern Iowa will receive $3,809,369 for the student portion of HEERF II. 

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed 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).

As of March 10, 2021: $3,743,800 of HEERF II funding was awarded and disbursed to students the following day.

As of March 24, 2021 (FINAL): $3,809,369 of HEERF II funding had been disbursed to students.  This exhausts the student portion of the HEERF II funding provided to the university.

The estimated total number of students at the institution 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.

6,486 students were eligible to participate in Title IV aid programs during the Spring 2020 semester.   

The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

A total of 3,493 students received HEERF II funding in Spring 2021. 

The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided.

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) II provides emergency funding to universities to assist students in need during the coronavirus pandemic. In 2020, this funding was known as the CARES Act Funding. Per guidance from the federal government, these grants will be distributed to our students with exceptional need, which will be identified by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

UNI will be distributing grants ranging from $500-$1,200 to eligible students to help cover expenses related to the cost of attendance (e.g., food, housing and utilities, health insurance, including mental health care, transportation, or child care) or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus.

Funds from the HEERF II CRRSAA Emergency Relief Fund are not considered financial aid and do not affect a student's current or future financial aid eligibility.

Eligibility and Awarding

Eligible students will meet the following requirements: 

• You must be an enrolled graduate or undergraduate student for spring 2021.
• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• You must demonstrate need, which is measured by the 2020-2021 FAFSA (those completed by February 22, 2021 will be fully considered).

Undergraduate Students 

• $1,200 awarded to Pell Grant eligible students (0-5,711 EFC)
• $1,000 awarded to undergraduate students that 5,712-14,000 EFC
• $500 awarded to undergraduate students that have 14,001-$15,000 EFC 

Graduate Students 

• $1,000 awarded to graduate students that have a 0 EFC
• $500 awarded to graduate students with a 1-1,000 EFC    

These funds will be added in addition to your existing financial aid award by March 12 of after.  No changes will be made to your existing financial aid.

To cover existing charges (posted after December 27, 2020) on the U-Bill, students would need to grant permissions for these funds by March 10.

Granting Permission to Use HEERF II Funds Toward the U-Bill

Students will have the opportunity to direct these funds towards payment of their university bill by following these instructions on granting this permission: Granting Permissions for Federal Aid or HEERF II.

If students choose not to grant permission to use these funds toward their U-Bill, students would receive the entire balance in the form of a refund.  Any overpayment of the U-Bill would be refunded normal.  It is highly encouraged to enroll in direct deposit for timely receipt of any overpayment.  The refund would need to be used for educational expenses such as tuition, food, books, housing, health care, child care, or other expenses related to the ongoing COVID-19 national emergency. 

Students not eligible for HEERF II funding and in need of financial support can reach out to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to determine what additional financing resources exist for them.