HEERF III (ARP ACT)

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP Act) provided a third allotment of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF III) to institutions of higher education. The following information is shared in accordance with federal government reporting requirements.

Drake University has signed and returned the certification and agreement form for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding provided through the ARP Act (HEERF III). Drake will use at least $3,225,972 of the funds received for emergency financial aid grants to students, in accordance with guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education.

Student Portion Reporting

Fund Allocations

What is the total amount of funds Drake University will receive or has received under the HEERF student portion?
Drake University will receive $3,225,972 under the student portion of the HEERF III. 

Grants Awarded

Of those funds, how much has been distributed, or has Drake initiated payments for? How many Drake students have received an emergency financial aid grant?

Quarter ending June 30, 2021
In the quarter ending June 30, 2021, Drake has distributed or initiated payments in the amount of $163,650 to 257 students.

Quarter ending September 30, 2021
In the quarter ending September 30, 2021, Drake has distributed or initiated payments in the amount of $2,969,000 to 2,365 students.

Quarter ending December 31, 2021
In the quarter ending September 30, 2021, Drake has distributed or initiated payments in the amount of $111,127 to 44 students.

Quarter ending March 31, 2022
In the quarter ending March 31, 2022, Drake has distributed or initiated payments in the amount of $24,310 to 12 students.

Cumulative Awarding
As of March 31, 2022, Drake has distributed or initiated payments in the amount of $3,225,972 to 2434 students.
 

Communications

How did the University communicate instructions, directions, or guidance to students concerning the emergency financial aid grants?
Students have been (and will continue to be) informed of the availability HEERF III student funding through multiple channels, including campus email, COVID-19 campus announcements, newsletters, social media accounts, and other outreach from offices across the University, such as the Office of Global Engagement and the Dean of Students.

Eligibility

How is Drake determining which students did, or will receive emergency financial aid grants and how much funding they did, or will receive?
To be eligible for HEERF III student funding, a student must have been enrolled at Drake University on or after March 13, 2020. In addition, a student must sufficiently demonstrate “exceptional need”.

“Exceptional need” will be determined through one of three ways, as described below:

1. Students who were eligible for HEERF II but who had not previously received a payment. Students who receive a payment through this method will also be eligible to receive payments through the following two methods.
2. Current students with a 2021-2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with Drake University as of August 1, 2021, with a qualifying EFC as outlined below. (The grant amounts listed below reflect a 5% reduction that was made on August 4, 2021, due to a significant increase in registered students who have submitted a FAFSA with a qualifying EFC.) These payments were made to eligible students automatically (no student action required) during the week of August 16, 2021. On September 21, 2021 an additional round of automatic payments was made to students with a qualifying EFC on file as of September 1, 2021.
   
   

   2021-22 EFC	Undergraduate Student Amount	Graduate Student Amount
   Zero	2,375	1,190
   1 to 6,000	1,900	950
   6,001 to 12,000	1,425	710
   12,001 to 18,000	950	475
   18,001 to 30,000	475	240
   Over 30,000	0	0

3. Students who do not qualify for emergency financial assistance as outlined under items 1 and 2 should complete the HEERF III Student Application to demonstrate exceptional need.

How did those who were eligible apply to receive funds from HEERF III allocation?
Either the 2020-2021 FAFSA, the 2021-2022 FAFSA, or the HEERF III Application will be used to apply for awards and determine eligibility.