CARES Act

CRRSAA Act – Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) II Grants to Students Required Report (posted July 10, 2021, updated October 10, 2021)

On 12/27/2020, the President of the United States signed the Coronavirus, Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021.  This Act provides emergency relief funds to organizations and individuals affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II), found in Section 314(1)(a) of the CRRSAA Act, allows higher education institutions to use certain funds allocated by the Department of Education to support students and higher education institutions with expenses and financial needs related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The following information is provided by Smith College as required by the Department of Education (“ED”) in order to comply with the reporting requirements under the CRRSAA Act.

1. An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

   Institutions who received HEERF I Grant funds under the CARES Act were not required to submit an application for the HEERF II Grant.  Smith College received its HEERF II Grant award notification on 4/01/2021. In keeping with the terms of acceptance of these funds, Smith College will use no less than $1,059,948, as stated under Section 314(1)(a) of the CRRSAA Act, to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants directly to students.  Note that Smith is subject to the endowment excise tax and will not draw down more than 50% of its total allocation (the “50% requirement”). 
    

2. 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 under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.

   Smith College is slated to receive a total of $3,123,009 (but will not draw down the full amount due to the “50% requirement”) under Section 314(1)(a) of the CRRSAA Act, of which $1,078,000 was provided directly to students with expenses related to the COVID-19 crisis. 
    

3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the initial report and every calendar quarter thereafter).

   As of 5/04/2021 Smith College had 1,433 HEERF-eligible students.  All enrolled students were notified of the availability of this grant via e-mail on 04/19/2021.  As of 5/04/2021, 1,433 awards were offered in an amount of $1,100, $900, $700, $500 or $300 depending upon the level of demonstrated need. 
    

4. The estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.

   Smith College determined that 1,433 students were eligible for the HEERF II Grant. 
    

5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.

   The total number of students who were offered an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 314(1)(a) of the CRRSAA Act was 1,433 and 1,433 grants were distributed.  All funds were expended as of 5/04/2021. 
    

6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.

   Smith College determined the amount of funding for undergraduate students based on the student’s level of financial need as determined by the financial aid application process.  The grant values for this round of funding range from a maximum of $1,100 to a minimum of $300.  The college issued funding to every student (including undergraduate and graduate students) who was continuously enrolled at Smith College for the spring 2021 semester and:

• Who filed a valid FAFSA demonstrating eligibility for Title IV funds and
• Whose estimated family contribution did not exceed $60,000

For graduate students, a flat rate of $500 was issued to all eligible students:

The college is issuing funding to every graduate student who was continuously enrolled at Smith College for the spring 2021 semester and:

• Who filed a valid FAFSA demonstrating eligibility for Title IV funds and
• Whose estimated family contribution did not exceed $60,000

As of 5/04/2021, the entirety of the $1,078,000 allotment for students was expended and the college expended $181,900 of its own funds as well.

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

   An email was sent to all enrolled students on 4/19/2021, explaining the eligibility requirements guidelines for use of HEERF II funds.

ARP Act – Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) III Grants to Students Required Report (posted 10/10/2021, updated 01/10/2022, 02/24/2022 and 04/10/2022)

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2). The ARP appropriated funds for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) and represents the third stream of funding appropriated for HEERF to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. HEERF III allows higher education institutions to use these appropriated funds to support students, and the institution itself, with expenses and financial needs related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The following information is provided by Smith College as required by the Department of Education (“ED”) in order to comply with the reporting requirements under the ARP Act.  The first report is required to be posted no more than ten days after the end of the quarter, with subsequent updates required no more than ten days after each quarter thereafter, ending with the date on which all funds are expended.

1. An acknowledgement that the institution has used, or intends to use, the same amount of HEERF II funds for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students as offered to students for HEERF III under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2).
   
   Institutions who received HEERF I Grant funds under the CARES Act were not required to submit an application for the HEERF III Grant.  Smith College received its HEERF III Grant award notification on 6/11/2021. In keeping with the terms of acceptance of these funds, Smith College will use no less than $2,773,465, as stated under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2), to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants directly to students.
    
2. 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 under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.
   
   Smith College is slated to receive a total of $5,546,929 under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2), of which $2,773,465 will be provided directly to students with expenses related to the COVID-19 crisis.  As of 03/31/2022, the College received $2,000 of the student portion of this award and $0 of the institutional portion of this award.
    
3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2), as of the date of submission.
   
   As of 03/31/2022, Smith College has distributed $3,060,500 of HEERF III emergency financial aid grants under the American Rescue Plan.
    
4. The estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs.
   
   As of 03/31/2022, Smith College has distributed $3,060,500 of HEERF III emergency financial aid grants under the American Rescue Plan. The unduplicated count of those receiving this grant is 1,836.

5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2).   
   
   As of 03/31/2022, 1,836 students received an Emergency Financial Aid grant under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pb. L. 117-2).   
    

6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2).   
   
   Smith College determined the amount of funding for undergraduate students based on the student’s level of financial need as determined by the financial aid application process.  The grant values for this round of funding range from a maximum of $3,500 to a minimum of $500. The college will issue funding to every student (including undergraduate and graduate students) who was continuously enrolled at Smith College for the fall 2021 or spring 2022 semesters and:

   • Who completed a financial aid application and
   • Whose annual estimated family contribution (EFC) did not exceed $75,000

   
   For graduate students, a flat rate of $500 was issued to all eligible students:   
   
   The college is issuing funding to every graduate student who was continuously enrolled at Smith College for the fall 2021 or spring 2022 semesters and:

   • Who completed a financial aid application and
   • Whose annual estimated family contribution did not exceed $75,000

    

   As of 03/31/2022, Smith has provided emergency grants totaling $3,060,500 to 1,836 students. 

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.   
   
   An email was sent to students on 3/04/2022 explaining the eligibility requirements guidelines for the use of HEERF III funds.   
       
   An additional email was sent to student on 4/6/2022 informing them about the option to seek a Professional Judgment adjustment should they have had some special circumstances since completing the FAFSA application.