CARES Act

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)

Bard College signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement. The College intends to use no less than fifty percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Cares Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

The total amount that the College received under the student aid allocation was $1,032,393.

As of 8/17/20, the College has distributed approximately $1,010,662.94 to 1,290 eligible students.
As of 7/2/20, the College has distributed approximately $988,917.94 to 1,290* eligible students.
As of 5/22/20, the College has distributed approximately $903,984.97 to 1,287 eligible students.

*The increase is a result of non-title IV eligible US students receiving HEERF grants during the window they were granted eligibility as part of the Department of Education's May 21st update.

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Announcements

8/17/20 - Title IV eligible students can apply for an emergency grant through the Bard College Student Emergency Fund or via email to StudentHEERF@bard.edu.

7/2/20 - We are still accepting requests for HEERF grants for eligible students. You can apply for relief through the Bard College Student Emergency Fund.

6/23/20 - The Department of Education has issued an interim final rule, published 6/17/20, to define eligibility of students to receive emergency financial aid grants under the CARES Act. The interim final rule is under a comment period lasting one month, ending 7/17/20. Our FAQs section has been updated to reflect the final ruling.

5/22/20 - We welcome eligible students to apply for relief through the Bard College Student Emergency Fund.

5/21/20 - The Department of Education, in an update on 5/21/20, has announced it will not enforce Title IV eligibility as an eligibility factor for HEERF grants. International students, undocumented students, and DACA students remain ineligible according to current guidelines.

5/20/20 - If you have eligible expenses in excess of the funds you were already awarded, you can apply for further funding up to $500 through the Bard College Student Emergency Fund.

Methodology

Eligibility for HEERF grants is limited to Title IV students. For those without Pell grants, Title IV recipients will receive $330 for eligible expenses incurred as the result of the Covid pandemic. For Pell-eligible students, the relief funds will map to the percentage of the Pell grant that an individual is eligible for up to $1,385 maximum check. For example, a student who is receiving a maximum Pell grant, will receive $1,385; whereas a student who receives a 50% Pell award will receive a check of $692.50 (50% of $1,385).

By accepting these funds, students certify that they will use the funds for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and childcare. Funds received in excess of such eligible expenses should be returned to the College.

Returning Excess Funds

If you received funds in excess of your eligible expenses or wish to decline aid, you can return the funds to the College by doing the following:

Email StudentHEERF@bard.edu notifying us of the return
Send a check payable to Bard College, noting "HEERF" and the Bard Student ID in the memo OR send the uncashed, original check from Bard College to:

Attn: Controller's Office
Bard College
PO Box 5000
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504

All returned funds will be redistributed to eligible students who apply for Coronavirus-related expense relief through the Bard Student Emergency Fund.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a HEERF grant?

How do I apply for a HEERF grant?
The Cares Act HEERF grants were distributed automatically to Title IV eligible students, per the original guidelines of the CARES Act. These checks were mailed on Friday, May 15 to the address Student Accounts had on file at the time.
Who is eligible for a HEERF grant?

Who is eligible for a HEERF grant?
Students are eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants from the HEERF if they are or could be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA).

On May 21, 2020, the Department of Education announced that they will not enforce Title IV eligibility as an eligibility factor for student grants. However, international students, undocumented students, and DACA students remain ineligible according to current guidelines.

On June 17, 2020, the Department of Education published an interim final rule to define eligibility of students to receive emergency financial aid grants under the CARES Act:
For purposes of the phrases “grants to students” and “emergency financial aid grants to students” in sections 18004(a)(2), (a)(3), and (c) of the CARES Act, “student” is defined as an individual who is, or could be, eligible under section 484 of the HEA, to participate in programs under title IV of the HEA. We add this definition to 34 CFR 668.2.
Bard College will adhere to the Title IV eligibility as an eligibility factor for HEERF grants until official DOE guidelines remove this criterion.
I haven’t received a check, what do I do?

I haven’t received a check, what do I do?
If you believe you should have received a check, but have not yet received one, please contact StudentHEERF@bard.edu. Please include your full, legal name and Bard ID number.
I relocated temporarily/permanently and have not updated my address with Student Accounts. What do I do?

I relocated temporarily/permanently and have not updated my address with Student Accounts. What do I do?
The checks that were already sent were mailed to the address on file at the time. If you have mail forwarding set up with the USPS, you may receive your check soon. If your check is returned as undeliverable to our office, we will contact you via your Bard student email address for an updated address.

Please contact StudentHEERF@bard.edu with any questions. If you need to officially update the address on your account, please contact the Student Accounts Office, sao@bard.edu.
How can I use the grant money I received?

How can I use the grant money I received?
The purpose of the HEERF grants is to help defray the expenses related the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student's cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care). You are not required to prove your expenses to Bard College.
Does the grant money count as income?

Does the grant money count as income?
According to the IRS:
No. Emergency financial aid grants under the CARES Act for unexpected expenses, unmet financial need, or expenses related to the disruption of campus operations on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as unexpected expenses for food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, or childcare, are qualified disaster relief payments under section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code. This grant is not includible in your gross income. [May 7, 2020]
I received a HEERF grant, but I am still struggling…

I received a HEERF grant, but I am still struggling…
If you have experienced extraordinary expenses in excess of this grant, you can apply for further aid through the Bard Student Emergency Fund. If these expenses are a direct result of the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, please be sure to indicate Yes to that question on the form. The form is located here: https://www.bard.edu/connect/student-emergency-fund/
Who can I contact for more information?

Who can I contact for more information?
Please email StudentHEERF@bard.edu for any CARES Act HEERF grant-related inquiries.

Past Communications & Notifications to Students

Notice on Automatic Award Checks
Notice on Automatic Award Checks
- Check Memo Line: “Grant for COVID-19-related expenses”
- Check Stub: “Distributed to students to cover expenses incurred as the result of campus disruption due to COVID-19. By accepting these funds, you certify that you will use the funds for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and/or childcare. Funds received in excess of such eligible expenses should be returned to the College.”

For More Information

For more information or questions, please email StudentHEERF@bard.edu

Additional Resources:
Frequently Asked Questions about the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students
Internal Revenue Service FAQs regarding Grants under the CARES Act

CARES Act

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Announcements

Methodology

Returning Excess Funds

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a HEERF grant?

Who is eligible for a HEERF grant?

I haven’t received a check, what do I do?

I relocated temporarily/permanently and have not updated my address with Student Accounts. What do I do?

How can I use the grant money I received?

Does the grant money count as income?

I received a HEERF grant, but I am still struggling…

Who can I contact for more information?

Past Communications & Notifications to Students

Notice on Automatic Award Checks

For More Information