COVID-19 Relief Funds & Resources

MSU Denver took a 3-pronged approach to awarding the $23,103,865 in the designated student portion of HEERF III funding.  

• The HEERF III Impact Grant- awarded directly to most students enrolled in at least 1 credit hour for the Fall 2021 semester, prioritizing those with exceptional need. Eligible students received an email explaining the eligibility criteria and what was required to receive these funds.  
• The HEERF III Student Support Program Funding– awarded directly to students who were involved in 11 different university programs and initiatives. The program informed the student of their eligibility and what was needed to receive the funds.  
• The last part of the awarding strategy included remaining funding from HEERF II funds. It was awarded through the Student Emergency Grant via the CARE Team application.  The student needed to actively apply for the emergency grant.  
  

HEERF III Eligibility Criteria:
-Undergraduate or Graduate student who is registered for at least 1 credit hour in Fall 2021
-Home institution for student is MSU Denver
-Is not a graduating student for Fall without loan debt

Initial Reporting December 31, 2021

Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) signed & returned a Certification & Agreement with the Department of Education to accept allocated funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2. The ARP established and funded the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) to provide emergency financial aid grants. These critical funds help eligible MSU Denver students cover expenses related to Any element of cost of attendance, such as tuition, food, housing, health care, child care, etc.
Emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus.

In June 2021, MSU Denver was notified it received $23,103,865 for students to fund the Federal Emergency Financial Aid Grants. The estimated total number of students potentially eligible to be considered to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants was 17,501.

As of December 31, 2021,  $9,712,500 in HEERF III funds has been disbursed to 16,564 unduplicated students.

Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) signed & returned a Certification & Agreement with the Department of Education to accept allocated funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2. The ARP established and funded the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) to provide emergency financial aid grants. These critical funds help eligible MSU Denver students cover expenses related to Any element of cost of attendance, such as tuition, food, housing, health care, child care, etc.
Emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus.

In June 2021, MSU Denver was notified it received $23,103,865 for students to fund the Federal Emergency Financial Aid Grants. The estimated total number of students potentially eligible to be considered to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants was 17,501.

• As of March 31, 2022, an additional $10,529,882 in HEERF III funds has been disbursed. Bringing the total disbursed in HEERF III funds to $20,242,382 to 17,142 unduplicated students. The average HEERFIII award was $1181.

• Between April 1st, 2022 and June 30th, 2022 an additional $715,886.62 in HEERF III funds was disbursed within the following HEERF3 Programs Funds:  Note: No additional HEERF3 Impact Grants were paid during this timeframe.

• Additional Emergency Grant Fund – via the C2Hub – totaling $53,820
• Alternative Credit Grant – via the Office of Registrar, Testing Services, and Student Support and Retention – totaling $11,492
• Balance Due Grant Program – via the C2Hub – totaling $422,008.62
• Dreamer Emergency Grant – via Immigrant Services – totaling $172,442
• Earn and Learn Grant – via the C2Hub Industry Partners Team – totaling $53,400
• Graduate School Exploration Grant – via the CMEI, C2Hub – totaling $1,000
• HEERF Housing Grants (Section-8-ineligible/facing housing insecurity) – via Immigrant Services and the CMEI – totaling $1,724.00

• Between July 1st, 2022 and September 30th, 2022 an additional $1,465,475.00 in HEERF III funds was disbursed within the following HEERF3 Program Funds: Note–No additional HEERF3 Impact Grants or Additional Emergency Grants (C2Hub) were paid during this timeframe.

• Balance Due Grant Program – via the C2Hub – totaling $1,465,475.00. Funds were distributed amongst 768 unduplicated students who applied. The average award was $1,908.00.

View the second quarter report here.
View the third quarter report here.
View the fourth quarter report here.

View the first quarter report here.

View the second quarter report here.

View the third quarter report here.

View the fourth quarter report here.

The Additional Impact Grant – will be awarded by May 2021 to eligible students with an Expected Family Contribution of less than $5,712 as calculated by the FAFSA. If qualified, students will receive an email explaining the self-certification steps required to receive these funds. *Please note – This application is now closed (students had until May 15, 2021 to self-certify).

• The Additional Emergency Relief Grant – aimed at making funds available to a broader scope of students who also have immediate needs. These grants are available to eligible students regardless of Expected Family Contribution but require an additional application. ***Please note – This application is now closed (as of May 31, 2021).

Initial Reporting April 9, 2021

As of Wednesday, March 31, 2021: MSU Denver had distributed $2,431,748.00 in CRRSAA funded emergency grants to students. The total number of students who had received emergency financial aid grant funds under Section 314(a)(1) of CRRSAA is 4,508.

Total funds the institution will receive or has received for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under CRRSAA: $7,195,042.00

On March 12, 2021, MSU Denver announced and initiated the awarding and application process for students to receive CRRSAA emergency financial aid grants via two initial programs:

• The Additional Impact Grant – to be awarded through May 2021 to eligible students with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of less than $5,712 as calculated by the 2020-2021 FAFSA. If qualified, students receive an email explaining the self-certification steps required to receive these funds. This program will end May 15, 2021.The Additional Impact Grant will be offered at $1,000 and set for two (2) separate $500 payments.

• Payments will be split between when funds are first accepted, and April 28^th in effort to help sustain students over a longer period.
• Students who accept funds after April 28^th will receive the full $1,000 in one (1) payment.

• The Additional Emergency Grant – aimed at making funds available to a broader scope of students who also have immediate needs. These grants are available to eligible students regardless of EFC but require an additional application.  Awards will vary based on request but in most cases will not exceed $2000/student. This program opened to students the week of March 22, 2021.

As of March 3, 2021, the estimated number of students at MSU Denver with eligibility for this aid, as defined above, and under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, was approximately 6,630 students based on Spring 2021 enrollment activity.

• June 30,2021 

Estimated number of students at MSU Denver with eligibility for Additional Impact Grants and/or Additional Emergency Grants, as defined above, and under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965:  6,630  

Total Amount of HEERF II funding paid to students under above programs: $6,793,527. 

Total number of students (unduplicated) who have received HEERF II funding under above programs: 5765 

Total number of students who have received an Additional Impact Grant: 5192 

Total number of students who have received an Additional Emergency Grant: 1508 

(note: RTD summer awards will be notated in update that will be based on 9/30/2021 figures/data once compiled and approved for publication).

Additional Reporting as of March 31, 2021:

Estimated number of students at MSU Denver with eligibility for Additional Impact Grants and/or Additional Emergency Grants, as defined above, and under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965:  6,630  

Total Amount of HEERF II funding paid to students under above programs:$7,195,042. 

Total number of students (unduplicated) who have received HEERF II funding under above programs:5846 

The average HEERFII award is $1231.

**HEERF II Funds are now closed**

The COVID-19 Impact Grant – awarded to eligible students with an Expected Family Contribution of less than $30,000 as calculated by the FAFSA. If qualified, students receive an email explaining the self-certification steps required to receive these funds. *Please note – This application is now closed.

The COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant – aiming to make funds available to a broader scope of students who also have immediate needs. These grants are available to eligible students regardless of Expected Family Contribution but require an additional application. *Please note – This application is now closed.

As of Monday, May 11, 2020, MSU Denver has distributed to students $3,374,400.00 in emergency grants to students.

The estimated total number of students at MSU Denver with eligibility for this aid, as defined under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 is approximately 11,362 students based on Spring 2020 enrollment.

The total number of students who have already received emergency financial aid grant funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 6,670. Using current projections MSU Denver estimates approximately 10,290 students will receive funds overall; this is approximately 55% of the student body for the Spring 2020 semester.

On May 5, 2020, MSU Denver announced and initiated the awarding and application process for students to receive these emergency financial aid grants via two modes of distribution:

• The COVID-19 Impact Grant, a fixed grant designed to focus on our students’ needs as determined by Expected Family Contribution (EFC) data from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Fixed awards range from $250/student at higher EFC ranges to $650/students at lower EFC ranges.  The overall EFC awarding range runs from 0-30,000.
• The COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant, a simple application-based process designed to allow MSU Denver the means to be responsive to the immediate and acute needs of students in a way that cannot be identified by FAFSA and EFC data alone.  Awards will vary based on request but in most cases will not exceed $2000/student.

il 9, 2021

Total funds the institution will receive or has received for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under CARES: $7,195,042.00

Total Amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students: $7,195,042.00

Estimated number of students eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965:  10,514

Total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant:  8,207