The March 2021 passage of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) 2021 established the usage of HEERF III funding for institutions to provide students with emergency financial aid.

To award HEERF funds to students, the Department of Education (ED) requires all institutions to provide regular information regarding the funding, awarding and number of students receiving these emergency grants. 

• On June 5, 2021, the Department of Education made available $7,178,610 to Missouri S&T as a part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) that was to be awarded in direct emergency grants to students. Because Missouri S&T had already utilized HEERF funding provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA), we had already completed the necessary certification and agreement for the funds.

• On September 20, 2021, Missouri S&T disbursed a $1,000, fall only, grant to undergraduate students with Expected Family Contributions (EFC) on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) of $12,000 or less, who were enrolled on that date for the fall 2021 semester.

• On September 21, 2021, an application was made available to all enrolled students to complete with a deadline of October 10, 2021. Two emails (to student’s S&T emails) have been sent to all enrolled students; the first was sent on September 21, 2021 and the other was sent on October 7, 2021.
• On the application, students are asked to complete the following:
  • Indicate if they would like the funding applied to their student balance and/or if they had any other COVID related expenses they needed to cover.  If students indicated they had other expenses to cover, approved funding will be sent directly to the student for up to the total offered amount per academic level.
  • The application also asked students if they had borrowed federal student loans to cover their Cost of Attendance expenses that they would like to now reduce.
• Applications were reviewed after the application ended on October 10, 2021 and awards for this application were completed October 30, 2021.  Funding was based on number of applications, type of need and funding available.
• Undergraduate Awards varied from $250 - $2,000
• Graduate Awards varied from $250 - $1,500

• On November 18, 2021, an updated application was made available on the website to all enrolled students to complete with no deadline. Students were directed to the application when they inquired about additional funding. 
• On March 25, 2022, the Student Financial Assistance office made individual phone calls to students who had been identified as having a financial need (either through referral from other offices or a balance due in the current semester).  Students were encouraged to complete the application.
• On April 26, 2022, an email was sent to all currently enrolled students who hadn't previously received HEERF III funding inviting them to complete the application.
• On the application, students are asked to complete the following:
  • Indicate if they would like the funding applied to their student balance and/or if they had any other COVID related expenses they needed to cover.  If students indicated they had other expenses to cover, approved funding will be sent directly to the student for up to the total offered amount per academic level.
• Applications were reviewed weekly as applications were submitted.  Funding was based on number of applications, type of need and funding available.
  • Undergraduate Awards varied from $250 - $2,000
  • Graduate Awards varied from $250 - $1,500

• Students were notified by email of their award.

• As of April 26, 2022, all funding ($7,178,610) has been awarded to 3,860 students.