Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)

Florida State University received its first installment of CARES Act funding from the U.S. Department of Education in the amount of $14.67 million. These funds have been provided by the federal government to directly support students facing urgent needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Our plan is to use these funds to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to our neediest students in accordance with federal guidelines for this funding.

Spring 2020

Out of the University’s total eligible population of 24,562 for the spring 2020 term, the following groups of students who submitted a 2019-20 FAFSA and who have not already received emergency relief funding from the University were disbursed CARES funding:

  • 8,148 undergraduate students enrolled for the spring term 2020 who received a Federal Pell Grant;
  • 1,876 undergraduate students enrolled in the spring term 2020 just outside of Pell eligibility who had estimated family contribution as determined by the FAFSA between $5,576 and $9,999.
  • 2,610 Graduate, Medical and Law students enrolled in the spring term 2020 who had an unmet need as determined by the FAFSA of greater than $999.

Summer 2020

Out of the University’s total eligible population of 14,321 for the summer 2020 term, the following groups of students who submitted a 2019-20 FAFSA were disbursed the CARES funding:

  • 4,919 undergraduate students enrolled for the summer term 2020 who received a Federal Pell Grant;
  • 1,079 undergraduate students enrolled in the summer term 2020 just outside of Pell eligibility who had estimated family contribution as determined by the FAFSA between $5,576 and $9,999.
  • 1,698 Graduate, Medical and Law students enrolled in the summer term 2020 who had an unmet need as determined by the FAFSA of greater than $999.

Fall 2020

Out of the University’s total eligible population of 25,743 for the fall 2020 term, the following groups of students who submitted a 2020-21 FAFSA were disbursed cares funding:

  • 8,442 undergraduate students enrolled for the fall term 2020 who received a Federal Pell Grant;
  • 1,857 undergraduate students enrolled in the fall term 2020 just outside of Pell eligibility who had estimated family contribution as determined by the FAFSA between $5,576 and $9,999.
  • 3,421 Graduate, Medical and Law students enrolled in the fall term 2020 who had an unmet need as determined by the FAFSA of greater than $999.
  • 52 students that demonstrated financial hardship were awarded $1,236 each (1 of these students received the final balance of $1,278).

All CARES Act funding has been expended.

Please read FSU Press release here: FSU students to receive CARES Act funding distribution

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I get my CARES Act grant money?

For students who have signed up for direct deposit with Student Finance funding will be sent to the student’s financial institution via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).  For students not enrolled in direct deposit, checks will be mailed.

Do I have to repay my grant from the CARES Act?

No. The money awarded to you is a grant, not a loan.

Are there any restrictions on how I spend my CARES Act grant?

Federal guidelines indicate the funds can be used for any number of financial costs related to the disruption of education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  This could include money spent for unanticipated travel, additional technology requirements, food, housing, course materials, health care, child care, etc.

Will there be any CARES Act awards made to students enrolled in the fall term?

We may have limited funding available for the fall term, however we will spend our current allocation of CARES funding by the end of 2020.

Will this funding impact my current or future financial aid awards?

No, this grant is a one-time emergency grant and it will not impact your current or future financial aid.

Report and Disclosure

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting
Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students -
Florida State University
Thirty Day Report and Disclosure
May 22, 2020
Forty Five Day Report and Disclosure
June 6, 2020

Quarter 1 January – March 2020: CARES funding was not available.

Florida State University (FSU) acknowledges it signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the Certification and Agreement on April 22, 2020, and gives the assurance that FSU has used more than 50% of the funds received under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

  1. The total amount of funds FSU received on April 29, 2020, from the U.S. Department of Education for distribution to students is $14,669,914.
  2. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of May 22, 2020, is $10,045,200.
  3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of June 6, 2020, is $10,044,600.
  4. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of July 22, 2020, is $10,045,000.
  5. The estimated total number of students at FSU 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 under section 18004(a)(1) of the Cares Act was 24,562 for Spring 2020 and 14,321 for Summer 2020.
  6. The total number of students who received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act was 12,634 for Spring 2020 and 7,696 for Summer 2020.
  7. The methods used to determine which and how much students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants are as follows:
    • A currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student for term of disbursement
    • Eligible for funding under a Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965
    • Awards are prioritized based on student type and individual as explained below:
      • Pell eligible undergraduate students;
        • $0 Expected Family Contribution students were provided with the highest award of $600 per term during the qualified timeframe.
        • Other Pell eligible students were provided with an award of $500 per term of enrollment during the qualified timeframe.
      • Undergraduate students with an expected family contribution less than $10,000 were provided with $400 per term of enrollment during the qualified timeframe.
      • Graduate students and professional students that had unmet need greater than $999 were provided with $400 per term of enrollment during the qualified timeframe.

The instructions, directions, or guidance provided by FSU to all eligible students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants were sent via University email and published on the University website.

Quarter 3 July - September: No additional CARES funds were disbursed in Quarter 3.

  1. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of December 2020, is $14,669,914.
  2. The estimated total number of students at FSU 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 under section 18004(a)(1) of the Cares Act was 24,562 for Spring 2020; 14,321 for Summer 2020 and 25,743 for fall 2020.
  3. The total number of students who received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act was 12,634 for Spring 2020; 7,696 for Summer 2020 and 13,772 for fall 2020.
  4. The methods used to determine which and how much students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants are as follows:
    • A currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student for term of disbursement
    • Eligible for funding under a Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965
    • Awards are prioritized based on student type and individual as explained below:
      • Pell eligible undergraduate students;
        • $0 Expected Family Contribution students were disbursed $450 for the fall 2020 term.
        • Other Pell eligible students were disbursed $350 for the fall 2020 term.
      • Undergraduate students with an expected family contribution less than $10,000 were disbursed $240 for the fall 2020 term.
      • Graduate students and professional students that had unmet need greater than $999 were disbursed $220 for the fall 2020 term.

The instructions, directions, or guidance provided by FSU to all eligible students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants were sent via University email and published on the University website.

 
Last updated 11/08/2021