Skip to main content

HEERF Combined Report: Quarter Ending Dec. 31, 2021

HEERF I, II, III Student Fund Quarterly Report: Dec. 31, 2021

South Dakota State University (SDSU) has received allocations to provide grants to students through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund authorized by the CARES Act, CRRSAA and the ARP. SDSU has signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the Certification and Agreement documents for each grant allocation. SDSU will use all HEERF funds designated for students grants to provide grants to qualifying students.

Prior to the quarter ending September 30, 2021, South Dakota State University provided separate quarterly reports for each of the HEERF Student Grant funds allocated under the CARES ACT, CRRSAA and the ARP. Per guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, effective with the quarter ending Sept. 30, 2021, quarterly reporting for these three grants will be combined into one report.

HEERF I, II, II Combined Quarterly Report: December 31, 2021

Total HEERF Student Funds Received: $14,995,905

  • HEERF I: $3,010,084
  • HEERF II: $3,010,084
  • HEERF III: $8,975,737

HEERF Student Funds disbursed as emergency grants to students Oct. 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021: $28,666

  • HEERF I: $0 (all HEERF I student funds were spent in prior quarters)
  • HEERF II: $0 (all HEERF II student funds were spent in prior quarters)
  • HEERF III: $28,666

Estimated number of students eligible to receive HEERF emergency grants in the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2021: 11

Number of students who received HEERF emergency Grants in the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2021: 11

HEERF III Student Emergency Fund Awarding Methodology

HEERF III Student Emergency Funds were disbursed to students attending the Summer 2021 and Fall 2021 terms.

Summer Grants

Awards will be paid out to Summer 2021 students in July or August, depending on when the student’s first summer course starts. To receive summer 2021 grant funds, students must

  • Be degree-seeking at SDSU during the Summer 2021 term working on an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral or professional degree
  • For students whose first summer class began on or before July 13, 2021, be enrolled in at least 1 summer credit on July 13, 2021 and not have dropped all summer credits or have withdrawn from summer term before July 13, 2021
  • For students whose first summer class began after July 13, 2021, be enrolled in at least 1 summer credit Aug. 17, 2021 and not have dropped or withdrawn from all summer credits before Aug. 17, 2021, and
  • Begin attendance in at least one summer 2021 course.
Financial Need/Credit LoadLess than Half-TimeHalf-Time and above
0 to 5846 FAFSA EFC$250$500
5847 to 11999 FAFSA EFC$200$400
EFC > or = 12000 or no FAFSA$150$300

Fall Grants

Block awards were paid out to fall 2021 students based on enrollment the day after the last day to drop and add fall classes. Students who drop all fall classes or withdraw prior to Sept. 3, 2021, will not be eligible for the grant. Additionally, students who receive a fall grant payment and who do not start their fall classes may be required to repay the fall grant funds. To receive a fall grant a student must

  • Be degree-seeking at SDSU during the fall 2021 term working on an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral or Professional degree
  • Be enrolled in at least one (1) fall 2021 credit Sept. 3, 2021, and not have dropped all fall credits or have withdrawn from the fall term before Sept. 3, 2021, and
  • Begin attendance in at least one fall 2021 course*

Fall block grant award amounts ranged from $350 to $1,100  will be based on enrollment status** and financial need as demonstrated by the FAFSA. Please see the chart below for additional details.

Financial Need IndexLess than Half-TimeHalf-Time and above
0 to 5846 EFC$550$1,100
5847 to 11999 EFC$425$850
EFC > 11999 or no FAFSA$350$700

* Students who receive a fall block grant and do not attend a fall 2021 course, may be eligible to retain their grants if they have established eligibility for HEERF funds by attending the spring 2020 or subsequent term prior to fall 2021.

**Students who add credits and move from less than half-time to at least half-time status on or after September 3 may request a grant increase based on additional enrollment by emailing SDSU Cares Grant Request will be honored until the student portion of the HEERF III funding has been exhausted.

Supplemental Emergency Grants

Any HEERF III student funds that remained after the block grants were distributed will be used to provide supplemental emergency grants to qualifying students. To qualify students must

  • Be degree-seeking at SDSU working on an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral or Professional degree
  • Be enrolled in or have been enrolled in at least one credit hour during the term the grant is requested
  • Complete the ARP HEERF Supplemental Grant Application. The application will remain active until the funds are exhausted.
  • Document exceptional financial need for allowable expenses that exceed the amount of the prior block grant(s).

HEERF II Student Emergency Fund Awarding Methodology

No HEERF II Student Funds were spent in this quarter. HEERF II Student Emergency Grant Funds were exhausted during the Spring 2021 term.  Please visit the Quarter Ending June 30, 2021 report for information on awarding methodology and notification to recipients. [please link that report]

HEERF I Student Emergency Fund Awarding Methodology

No HEERF I Student Funds were spend in this quarter. HEERF I Student Emergency Grant Funds were exhausted during Summer 2020 term.  Please visit the CARES Act: Quarter Ending Sept. 30, 2020 report for information on awarding methodology and notification to recipients.

Instructions and Guidance Provided to Students

Students who qualified for grants in this quarter received an email notification from the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships detailing

  • The amount and source of the grant
  • How and when the grant would be provided to the student
  • What the grant could be spent on
  • That the grant would be paid to the student even if the student owed a balance to SDSU
  • That the grant may have to be repaid if the student did not attend the term

Here is a sample of an email that was sent to students receiving the Fall 2021 block grant:

Dear SDSU Student,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been awarded a CARES Grant in the amount of $1100. The grant funds were provided through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 passed by the United States Congress. You do not need to complete an application to receive this grant.       

Your grant will be disbursed to your bank account this week through direct deposit, or, if you don't have direct deposit set up, by paper check mailed out within 10 days to your Student Refund Address.         

You may use the funds to cover any portion of your educational costs and emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus including things like          

  • Tuition, fees, books, and school supplies         
  • Housing, utilities, and food         
  • Health care expenses including mental health          
  • Child-care costs         
  • Transportation expenses         

The grant will disburse directly to you even if you have outstanding charges on your SDSU account. If you choose to use your grant funds to cover charges that you owe to SDSU, you will need to make a payment to your account by visiting the Cashier’s Office or through SDePay.        

If you do not start your fall 2021 courses, you may be required to repay the grant.

If you have additional questions about the Grant or your financial aid, please contact the Financial Aid Office at SDSU Financial Aid or 605-688-4695.

We are here to help, so don’t hesitate to let us know if you need assistance!        

SDSU Financial Aid Team