The Federal CARES Act and subsequent acts provided money to colleges and universities for emergency student grants. The purpose of the money is to award emergency financial aid grants to students for specific expenses that are a direct result of the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus.  King’s College received monies under these Acts and has and will distribute the emergency financial grants to students in a way that prioritizes students with the greatest demonstrated need while ensuring the funds are distributed as widely as possible.

Reports are available as PDF downloads:

HEERF II Funds

As part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) enacted on Dec. 27, 2020, the Department of Education provided an additional funds to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. In these unusual and unprecedented times, we recognize that students may face unexpected challenges in reaching their educational goals and require short-term financial support to achieve success. With the funds that the College has been provided we will be issueding a HEERF II Grants to for full-time students.

Students may use the grants toward:

  • Any component of their cost of attendance
  • Emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as:
    • Tuition
    • Food
    • Housing
    • Health Care (including Mental Health)
    • Child Care

HEERF III Funds

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 round of funding appropriated to provide higher education institutions funds to support students, and the institution itself, with expenses and financial needs related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The ARP includes additional Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) funds, referred to as HEERF III, in the amount of $39.6 billion in emergency funding to higher education.

Student Aid

On May 11, 2021, the Department provided allocations to colleges and universities and instructed colleges and universities to prioritize distribution to students with exceptional need. These funds must be reserved to provide students with financial grants, which may be used for any component of a 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 childcare. Accordingly, King’s College acknowledges the following:

  1. On May 15, 2021, King’s College received notice that a supplemental award has been made to the college under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP notifying institutions of the minimum amount each institution must reserve for emergency grants to students.
  2. The total amount of funds that King’s College will receive from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to 2003(a)(1) of the ARP for emergency grants to students is $2,599,904.
  3. The total amount of emergency grants to students under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP as of October 14, 2021, is $-0-.
  4. Presently, it is estimated that there are 1,636 total full-time enrolled undergraduate students at King’s College as of October 14, 2021, and thus eligible to receive emergency grants to students under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP.
  5.  As of October 14, 2021, no students have received an emergency grant under Section 2003(a)(1) of ARP.
  6. King’s College used the following method to determine which students may receive emergency grants under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP:
    1. A variable direct emergency cash grants to any full-time undergraduate student who was enrolled at King’s College as of October 14, 2021. The variable amounts are based upon the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) following this matrix:
      EFC Award Amount
      $0.00 $2,500.00
      $1.00 - $5,711 $2,100.00
      $5,712 - $12,000 $1,800.00
      $12,001 - $15,000 $1,500.00
      $15,000 - $30,000 $1,250.00
      $30,001 - $50,000 $1,000.00
      $50,001 - $9,999,999 $500.00
      No EFC $ 500.00
    2. Remaining funds will be eligible for distribution based on an application process in which the main criterion is the demonstration of a genuine financial hardship that occurred as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the result of that hardship may jeopardize the student’s capacity for continued enrollment at King’s College. Students seeking additional HEERF III funds may submit the 2021-2022 HEERF III Covid Special Conditions and Appeals Form to the Office of Financial Aid via email at finaid@kings.edu.
    3. HEERF III COVID-19 Appeal Policy
    4. 2021-2022 HEERF III COVID-19 SPECIAL Conditions Appeal Form
  7. The information was provided by King’s College to eligible students concerning the emergency grants.

The guidance for the HEERF III grant provides the option for a student with an outstanding balance to apply the grant amount to the balance with written authorization. If you have an outstanding balance on your account and would like to opt-in to this choice, please complete the authorization form enclosed with your grant approval notification and return it to the Office of Financial Aid via email at finaid@kings.edu within 14 days of your approval notification.

Forms not received by the deadline will have the grant funds automatically refunded in the form of a check to the mailing address on file with the College.

Questions and Answers

WHAT EXPENSES CAN BE CONSIDERED FOR CARES ACT EMERGENCY FUNDING?

The following can be considered for HEERF III Emergency grant appeals if they were incurred for either or both of the following reasons:

  • Financial hardship related to any component of the student’s cost of attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic including textbooks.
  • Emergency costs that have arisen due to the coronavirus pandemic for expenses such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or childcare.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR HEERF III EMERGENCY FUNDING?

The US Department of Education states only undergraduate and graduate students who are Title IV eligible can be awarded Emergency funds. This means students must have a FAFSA on file with King’s College or be eligible to file one. Additional recent federal guidance further clarified who may receive HEERF III Emergency funds.

DO I HAVE TO FILE A FAFSA TO RECEIVE HEERF III EMERGENCY FUNDS?

No. An undergraduate student or graduate student only needs to be eligible to file a FAFSA or already have a FAFSA on file with King’s College.

I AM AN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT WITH NEED WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR HEERF IIIEMERGENCY FUNDING. WHAT DO I DO?

The Eligibility Criteria are as follows:

  • Must have been an actively enrolled student at any time since the declaration of the coronavirus (COVID-19) national emergency beginning March 13, 2020
  • Must demonstrate and document such financial hardship and/or emergency cost that occurred as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
  • Students may only apply for HEERF III appeal funds one-time during the 2021-2022 academic year.
  • Approved funds will be awarded a single one-time payment.
  • Funding is available on a first-come, first-serve basis until all funds are exhausted.

I AM A GRADUATE STUDENT WITH NEED WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR HEERF III EMERGENCY FUNDING. WHAT DO I DO?

Recognizing many graduate students in need do not meet the eligibility criteria established, graduate students will be able to apply for HEERF III Emergency funds through completing the 2021-2022 HEERF III COVID-19 Special Conditions Appeal Form.

WHAT CAN I DO IF I AM NOT ELIGIBLE FOR HEERF III EMERGENCY FUNDING, BUT HAVE NEED?

King’s recognizes that the need for student support extends beyond what is allowed through the federal HEERF III funding and has set aside a limited amount of institutional funds to support qualified students. These institutional funds are currently available through King’s College Financial Aid Office. Please email finaid@kings.edu with all questions.

HOW MUCH WILL I RECEIVE?

King’s received a limited amount of HEERF III Emergency funds. For students applying for emergency aid, grant amounts will be determined based on the number of applications received and the specific needs presented in the application. King’s cannot guarantee that all applications submitted will be funded.

WHEN WILL WE KNOW THE RESULTS?

The College plans to award the emergency funds as soon as possible once applications are received.

How do students receive the money?

All emergency grants will be processed through student accounts. Emergency grants will be processed by the Business Office and a check will be set to the primary student address on our schools SAS system.

What if I owe King’s tuition or other expenses?

The full amount of the emergency grants will be given directly to the student unless the students stipulate that King’s hold the funds to pay any outstanding balance owed.

WILL HEERF III EMERGENCY FUNDS IMPACT CURRENT OR FUTURE FINANCIAL AID?

No. This funding is not financial aid, it is an emergency relief funding from Congress.