HEERF Spring 2022

In May 2021, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced additional funding available to institutions of higher education to serve students during the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) and was authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), which was signed into law on March 11, 2021. 

Under ARP, HEERF III Institutional funds may be used for additional financial grants to students for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care. Loyola is allocating $5.8 million of its HEERF III Institutional Share towards additional financial grants to students (HEERF Spring 2022 Student Grants).

Under ARP, students enrolled at an institution of higher education on or after March 13, 2020 (the date of declaration of the national emergency due to the coronavirus) are eligible for emergency financial aid grants. 
 
The ARP requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need. ED encourages institutions to prioritize domestic students, especially undergraduates, in allocating this funding. Domestic students include citizens, permanent residents, refugees, asylum seekers, DACA recipients, other DREAMers, and similar undocumented students. International students are also eligible. 
 
Please refer to the University’s HEERF Spring 2022 Student Grant policy for more information. 

Consistent with ARP and ED, the University will prioritize students with exceptional need in awarding HEERF Spring 2022 Student Share Grants, as follows:

For Eligible Students who have completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) and have an official Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on file with Loyola’s Financial Aid Department:

The University has determined that EFC is an appropriate metric for measuring a student’s need and will utilize the most recent official EFC available. The University will use the following EFC categories for purposes of prioritization:

For Eligible Students who have not completed a FAFSA or do not have an official EFC on file:

As part of the HEERF Spring 2022 Student Share Grant Application, Eligible Students will be asked to self-certify as to whether they are currently participating in any federal or state need-based programs including: Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children, All Kids health insurance, Head Start, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Supplemental Security Income, Illinois Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled, Temporary Aid for Needy Families, Illinois General Assistance and Medicaid

OR

An Eligible Student may self-certify as to their Estimated Annual Household Income (“AHI”) in one of the following ranges:

For Eligible Students without a FAFSA or EFC, to the extent reasonably possible, the University will compare the Eligible Student’s self-certification with information available within the University’s Financial Aid Department, such as receipt of an Illinois MAP Grant, Loyola Commitment or other need-based financial aid awards.

For Eligible Students without a FAFSA or EFC, the University may share the self-certification information provided by the student as part of the HEERF Spring 2022 Student Share Application process with other appropriate University Departments for purposes of providing information to the student about other available programs which the student may consider.

You can review your EFC by following these steps:

1. Navigate to the FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa and select the Log In button.
2. Choose your role whether you are the student or parent (these screenshots will follow the option of “I am the student”), and then enter your FSA ID and password. After you enter this info you must ACCEPT the disclaimer.
3. At this point you may have more than one FAFSA completed. Be sure to navigate to the 2021-2022 FAFSA tab.
4. Once you’ve arrived on the 2021-2022 FAFSA, click on View or Print your Student Aid Report (SAR).
5. Once you’ve clicked this link, a synopsis of your FAFSA will appear. At the top, your EFC will be shown.

Your EFC will not be shown in LOCUS and staff cannot provide an EFC unless the student is in person, with a photo ID.

The University anticipates being able to notify students of the amount of their HEERF Spring 2022 Student Grant as soon as possible after the end of the Priority Application Period. We will keep students notified as things progress.

Yes! When we notify you of the amount of your HEERF Spring 2022 Student Share Grant, you will be asked to complete a Disbursement Instruction. Here is an example.

Using this form, you will have the opportunity to tell us if you’d like some, all, or none of the HEERF Spring 2022 Student Share Grant applied towards your student account balance. Of course, you also have the option of having the entire award paid directly to you.

We empathize with the hardships our students and families are experiencing as a result of this pandemic. Loyola has a variety of programs to support you during this time. These programs include the Center for Student Assistance and Advocacy, the Loyola Commitment, and other financial aid assistance. We encourage you to learn more about this valuable assistance here.

Loyola received more than 9,000 applications for HEERF Spring 2022 Grants with $5.8 million in funds available. In previous HEERF disbursements, fewer students applied for funds with more funds were available.