HEERF/CARES Act Compliance
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) allocates funds to support individuals and businesses/organizations, including colleges and universities, affected by the pandemic and economic downturn through three specific funding acts.
The first of these was the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES). The second was the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA). The third is the American Rescue Plan (ARP).
UT Austin has received funds under these three acts and is working to provide emergency assistance to as many students as possible to help them meet their emergency financial needs during this challenging time.
Report and Disclosure
CARES Act (HEERF I)
1. Acknowledgment
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.
UT Austin signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement. The university will award no less than 50 percent of the $15,731,161 of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
2. Total Amount Received
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 total amount of funds that UT received on April 25, 2020, from the U.S. Department of Education for distribution to students is $15,731,161.
The total funds that UT received on May 18, 2020, from the U.S. Department of Education for institutional use and support is $15,731,160.
3. Total Amount Distributed
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).
The total amount of emergency grants distributed to students under section 18004(a)(1) Student Portion of the CARES Act is $15,731,161.
This final report outlines the quarterly posting which covers all remaining HEERF fund expenditures for Section 18004(a)(1) Student Portion funds.
The total amount of Institutional Portion expended 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).
The total amount of funds expended under section 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion of the CARES Act is $15,731,160.
Per HEERF Reporting Guidelines regarding the institutional portion, CARES Institutional Quarterly Reporting Form must be publicly posted on institution’s primary website in the same place as the Student Portion Public Reporting. Quarterly Institutional Public Reporting Form for HEERF I Quarter 4, Quarter 1, and Quarter 2.
*Updated as of July 2021
4. Estimated Total Number of Eligible Students
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.
The estimated total number of students at UT eligible to participate in programs under section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive emergency grants under section 18004(a)(1) of the Cares Act is 32,422*.
*Updated as of December 2020
5. Total Number of Student Recipients
The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
The total number of UT students who received an emergency grant under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 15,099*.
*15,099 students received a combined total of 19,524 awards.
Updated 1/27/21
6. Method Used to Determine Eligibility
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.
Students submitted CARES Act emergency financial aid grant applications indicating their need for funds due to expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19.
The verified FAFSA was used to confirm that recipients met the eligibility requirements of the CARES Act.
Students who were eligible for Federal Pell Grants were eligible for spring award amounts up to $2,000 or summer award amounts up to $1,500. Non-Pell eligible students with an AGI between $0-$125,000 could receive up to $1,500 in the spring or $1,250 in the summer.
For the fall 2020 semester, the maximum amount for Pell-eligible students who had not received prior CARES Act funding was $750. The maximum amount for Pell-eligible students who had received prior CARES Act funding and for non-Pell students who had not received CARES Act funding with an AGI between $0-65,000 was $500.
7. Information and Application Instructions for Students
Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
Information regarding the application for, and awarding of, the CARES Act emergency aid grants was published on the university’s website at https://onestop.utexas.edu/cares-act-faq. Eligible students were sent an email directing them to the CARES Act information and application.
CRRSAA (HEERF II)
1. Acknowledgement
The University of Texas at Austin received acknowledgements that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education on the Certification and Agreement form with the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than the required amount of the funds received as student aid Act to provide HEERF emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
2. Total Amount Received
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 total amount of funds that UT received on March 16, 2021, from the U.S. Department of Education for distribution to students is $15,731,161.
The total funds that UT received on March 16, 2021, from the U.S. Department of Education for institutional use and support is $32,645,797.
Updated: July 9, 2021
3. Total Amount Distributed
The total amount of emergency grants distributed to students under section 18004(a)(1) Student Portion of the CARES Act is $15,731,161. All funds in the account were awarded.
The total amount of funds expended under section 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion of CRRSAA (HEERF II) is $3,329,888.
Effective September 30, 2021, institutions must post their two separate reports (institutional and student) for each quarter until the expend all HEERF grant funds, including the quarterly reports from previous quarters if not already posted on the institution’s website. Quarterly Institutional Public Reporting Form for HEERF II for Quarter 2, Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 for 2021. Quarterly Institutional Public Reporting Form for HEERF II for Quarter 1 for 2022.
Updated: April 10, 2022
4. Estimated Total Number of Eligible Students
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.
The estimated total number of students at UT eligible to participate in HEERF II (CRRSSA) is 28,033 *.
The estimated total number of students at UT eligible to participate in programs under section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive emergency grants under section 18004(a)(1) of the Cares Act is 32,422*.
Updated: July 9, 2021
5. Total Number of Student Recipients
The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under CRSSA Act to date is 17,375*.
The total number of students who have received monies under HEERF II (CRRSSA) to date is 17,375*.
The combined total number of UT students who received an emergency grant under the CARES Act and CRSSA Act is 23,837*.
* unduplicated count.
Updated: October 8, 2021
6. Method Used to Determine Eligibility
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.
For HEERF II (CRRSSA) students were determined eligible for the block grant by need level as determined by the 2020-21 FAFSA and prior HEERF funding received. For Spring and Summer 2021 the maximum award for Pell recipients was $750 new recipients and $500 for Pell students who had previously received HEERF funding. Non-Pell recipients with an AGI of up to $65,000 and prior HEERF funding received an award of $500. This approach follows Department of Education guidance to college and university presidents, encouraged institutions to prioritize funding for those students with the greatest need, while also distributing grants as widely as possible for maximum impact.
Updated: July 9, 2021
7. Information and Application Instructions for Students
Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
For HEERF II (CRRSSA) emergency grants were distributed per Federal guidance via block grants to UT’s neediest students determined by the FAFSA. Students were notified of the awarding of HEERF funding via email.
Updated: July 9, 2021
ARP (HEERF III)
1. Acknowledgement
The University of Texas at Austin received acknowledgements that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education on the Certification and Agreement form with the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than the required amount of the funds received as student aid Act to provide HEERF emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
2. Total Amount Received
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 total amount of funds that UT received on June 21, 2021, from the U.S. Department of Education for distribution to students is $43,016,290.
The total funds that UT received on June 8, 2021, from the U.S. Department of Education for institutional use and support is $42,982,972.
Updated: July 9, 2021
3. Total Amount Distributed
The total amount of emergency grants distributed to students under section 18004(a)(1) Student Portion of the ARP (HEERF III) is $43,016,290.
Due to the new combined report, the Institutional Portion total includes ARP and CRRSAA (HEERF II and III) for Quarter 2. The total amount of funds expended under section 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion for Quarter 2 is $67,129,767.
Effective September 30, 2021, institutions must post their two separate reports (institutional and student) for each quarter until they expend all HEERF grant funds, including the quarterly reports from previous quarters if not already posted on the institution’s website. Quarterly Institutional Public Reporting Form for HEERF III for Quarter 2, Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 for 2021. Quarterly Institutional Public Reporting Form for HEERF III for Quarter 1 for 2022.
Effective July 1, 2022 institutions must post one combined report (institutional and student) for each quarter until they expend all HEERF grant funds.
HEERF Quarterly Combined Reporting Form for Quarter 2, Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 for 2022.
Updated: October 6, 2022
4. Estimated Total Number of Eligible Students
The estimated number of students at UT Austin eligible to participate in the HEERF III (ARP Act) through block grants and an application process is 54,370.
Updated: July 7, 2022
5. Total Number of Student Recipients
The total number of students who have received monies under HEERF III to date is 33,237.
Updated: July 7, 2022
6. Method Used to Determine Eligibility
For HEERF III (ARP Act) students were determined eligible for the block grant by need level as determined by the 2021-22 FAFSA including Texas International students and graduate Nursing students for the first time. All other graduate and professional students, non-Texas international students, students who had not filed for financial aid, and students who had missed the block grant window will be eligible to apply for funds through an application process. This process is being conducted in partnership with an external vendor, Edquity. Eligibility is assessed through a rubric that examines various risk factors for students and determines their vulnerability to COVID related events. It is anticipated that both the block grants and application process will be conducted the beginning of Fall and Spring semesters depending on available funding and student need. This approach follows Department of Education guidance to college and university presidents, encouraged institutions to prioritize funding for those students with the greatest need, while also distributing grants as widely as possible for maximum impact.
This same process was utilized for the Spring 2022 semester.
Updated: April 10, 2021
7. Information and Application Instructions for Students
HEERF III (ARP Act) emergency grants are being distributed per Federal guidance through block grants to UT’s neediest students determined by the FAFSA and an application process. Student recipients of block grant monies are being notified on the awarding of HEERF funding via email. Students who will be eligible to apply via the application process are also being notified by email to go to the Edquity app and submit an application selecting UT Austin as the school in which they are enrolled.
This same process was utilized for the Spring 2022 semester.
Updated: April 10, 2022
AANAPISI (HEERF III)
1. Acknowledgement
The University of Texas at Austin received acknowledgements that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education on the Certification and Agreement form with the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than the required amount of the funds received under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, pursuant to section 314(a)(2) supporting Minority Serving Institutions through funding for Strengthening Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) as student aid to provide HEERF emergency financial aid grants to students.
2. Total Amount Received
The total amount of funds that the institution received Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students allocations under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, MSI Supplemental funds on September 27, 2021, for distribution to students is $314,218.
Updated: January 10, 2022
3. Total Amount Distributed
The total amount of emergency grants distributed to students is $314,218.
Updated: January 10, 2022
4. Estimated Total Number of Eligible Students
The estimated number of students at UT Austin eligible to participate in the HEERF III (ARP Act), MSI Supplemental funds through block grants is 2,973.
Updated: January 10, 2022
5. Total Number of Student Recipients
The total number of students who have received monies under HEERF III, MSI Supplemental funds is 1,256.
Updated: October 8, 2021
6. Method Used to Determine Eligibility
For HEERF III (ARP Act), MSI Supplemental funding, students were determined eligible for the block grant by need level as determined by the 2021-22 FAFSA who were in the groups the Department of Education had designated as eligible recipients.
Updated: January 10, 2022
7. Information and Application Instructions for Students
HEERF III (ARP Act) MSI emergency grants were distributed as allowable per Federal guidance through block grants to UT’s neediest students determined by the FAFSA. Student recipients of block grant monies were notified on the awarding of HEERF funding via email.
Updated: January 10, 2022