Cabrini students have been notified via email of the institution’s plan to distribute funding provided via the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) II, established by the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA). A portion of these funds, provided to colleges and universities to prevent, prepare, and respond to COVID-19, is earmarked for distribution as emergency student grants, which students can use for any component of their cost of attendance or for emergency costs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or childcare.
“We are grateful to be able to distribute to our students the appointed federal CRSSAA funding, which we hope helps to offset at least some of the financial challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent mitigation measures,” said Eric J. Olson, Cabrini’s Vice President for Finance and Treasurer.
While federal guidelines mandate institutions to prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, in the distribution of funds, students are not required to be Pell recipients or eligible for Pell grants in order to receive funding. Additionally, unlike the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding of 2020, CRRSAA funds may be provided to students exclusively enrolled in distance education.
To be eligible for funding, students must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen; enrolled in the spring 2021 semester, including exclusively distanced or remote learning; and have demonstrated financial need. According to federal mandates, institutions must consider increased funding to students with exceptional need.
Cabrini University is requiring an official 2020-2021 FAFSA to help determine exceptional financial need. Students received the link to complete a FAFSA in an email from the Financial Aid Office, and students who meet the eligibility requirements and have not filed the FAFSA to date can do so here.
Students designated to receive CRRSAA funding will receive via email from the Financial Aid Office a link to a form notifying them of their eligibility and requesting directions for the allocation of their awarded funds. Cabrini credentials will be required to access this form, which should be completed prior to May 12.
For more information on the distribution of Cabrini’s CRRSAA funding, visit Cabrini's CRRSAA FAQs page.