What is HEERF?

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds are part of each of the three COVID-19 bills passed by Congress and signed by the presidents through 2020 and 2021. These included the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (2020), the 2021 Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (December 2020), and the American Rescue Plan (March 2021). The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund within the acts provided money to colleges and universities to disburse to students as emergency grants for expenses related to and income lost due to COVID-19.

When will funds be available to students?

MVNU submitted the application for the funding and was approved to begin disbursing funds in late April 2020. With each additional act passed, MVNU was granted additional funds to allocate through the original application.

MVNU has emergency grants available to aid students who are facing unexpected financial challenges related to the pandemic. Students may use the funds toward any component of the cost of attendance, or for emergency costs that arise as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic such as food, housing, tuition, health care (including mental health care), or child care, in addition to income from lost wages.

MVNU recognizes the broad impacts of COVID-19 and is making these funds available to undergraduate, graduate and professional students on all campuses.

Who is eligible for these funds?

Emergency grant aid will be awarded in accordance with federal, state, and institutional rules and regulations. Requirements for the American Rescue Plan funds differ from previous allotments. Students can apply for emergency grants through the Emergency Grant Application and address questions to stayinformed@mvnu.edu. Eligibility requirements differ by funding source, but the university will address applications from students who meet these criteria:

• Registered for classes at MVNU on or after March 13, 2020, the date of declaration of the national emergency considering the novel coronavirus disease; and

• Have or can demonstrate financial need or hardship caused by or because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Note: MVNU is required to prioritize students with exceptional need.

How can I apply for COVID-19 Emergency Funds?

Please fill out the COVID-19 Emergency Funds application located at this link. Applications will be reviewed by a committee on a continual basis as they are received; priority will be given to applications submitted by September 15, 2021. Students will be notified of the committee’s decision via email.

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Reporting

Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students

The following information is provided to comply with the Department of Education's CARES Act Reporting requirements. This information is limited to CARES Act funding and does not include grant programs utilizing institutional funds.

Reporting as of: December 30, 2020

Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) submitted a Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to the Department of Education in April 2020. MVNU was granted a total of $1,310,478 to help mitigate the financial impact of COVID-19. Pursuant to this agreement, MVNU assures that no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(A)(1) of the CARES Act are being used to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University was allocated $655,239 from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a) (1) of the CARES Act as of December 30, 2020 is $665,239. MVNU will report updates at least every quarter.

The 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)(a) of the CARES Act is 1,232.

All eligible students of Mount Vernon Nazarene University (1,232 students) were given $250 under the Emergency Financial Aid Grants. Students were invited to apply for additional emergency funds, as need arose. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a) (1) of the CARES Act beyond the initial award is 103. In December 2020, MVNU awarded additional monies to continuing eligible students based on need. The amounts students received is variable and dependent upon financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (if applicable).The number of students awarded these funds is 924.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University has established an application process for students to request funds for their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. The Emergency Grant Form is available to all students. Award amounts are determined by MVNU based upon an individualized review of the student emergency grant application in accordance with guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Education. As of December 30, 2020, the average additional amount awarded to eligible students is $540.

MVNU announced the availability of emergency grants in a message from the president sent on May 5, 2020, to all students, and the message was reiterated in several follow-up emails to the university community. A message was sent to eligible students in December 2020 notifying them of the additionally awarded funds, sent from the “MVNU CARES Act Committee”. Additionally, the university amplified awareness through a media release and social media. These student notifications include information that funds may be used for allowable expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care expenses.

MVNU students can visit the Student Financial Aid COVID-19 webpage (www.mvnu.edu/stayinformed) for additional information and specific guidance regarding Emergency Financial Aid Grants, including to review program information, eligibility requirements and directions for submitting an application.

MVNU acknowledges that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the MVNU 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.

MVNU has received a total of $3,386,824 from the Department for use in Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CARES, CRRSAA, and ARP (a)(a) and (a)(4) programs.

As of December 31, 2021, the total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students is $2,639,273, between the CARES, CRRSAA, and ARP allotments.

Approximately 2,875 students are eligible to receive grants.

As of December 31, 2021, 2,495 students have received awards. The average total award is $1,057.

The amounts students received is variable and dependent upon financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (if applicable). Emergency applications were made available to all eligible students and were prioritized by financial need caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Awards continue.

MVNU announced the availability of emergency grants in messages from the president sent on May 5, 2020, December 21, 2020, April 13, 2021, August 24, 2021, and October 1, 2021.The messages were reiterated in several follow-up emails to the university community. Messages were sent to eligible students notifying them of the additionally awarded funds, sent from the “MVNU CARES Act Committee”. Additionally, the university amplified awareness through media releases and social media. These student notifications include information that funds may be used for allowable expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, childcare expenses, and lost wages.

MVNU students can visit the Student Financial Aid COVID-19 webpage (www.mvnu.edu/stayinformed) for additional information and specific guidance regarding Emergency Financial Aid Grants, including to review program information, eligibility requirements and directions for submitting an application for emergency funds.