Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

HEERF I, II, III
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 HEERF I student aid allocation was $1,032,393.
As of 6/30/21, the College has distributed approximately $1,032,393 to 1,300 eligible students.
As of 3/31/21, the College has distributed approximately $1,024,788.28 to 1,294 eligible students.
As of 12/31/20, the College has distributed approximately $1,021,662.94 to 1,294 eligible students.
As of 9/30/20, the College has distributed approximately $1,018,662.94 to 1,294 eligible students.
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 I grants during the window they were granted eligibility as part of the Department of Education's May 21st update. 

The total amount that the College received under the HEERF II student aid allocation was $1,032,393.
As of 6/30/21, the College has distributed approximately $971,378 to 1,453 eligible students.
As of 3/31/21, the College has notified approximately 1,440 eligible students of $948,500 in grants.

The total amount that the College received under the HEERF III student aid allocation was $2,630,126.
The College is currently determining an equitable method to distribute emergency aid due to recent citizenship changes to eligibility criteria.
 

Announcements

3/24/21 - We are currently in the process of notifying students of their awards. The deadline to opt in to apply your funds to your student account balance instead of receiving a check is Wednesday, March 31.

3/17/21 - We are happy to announce the second round of HEERF student emergency grants will be issued soon.

1/19/21 - The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) signed on 12/27/2020 removes the restriction on eligibility to Title IV eligible students for both CARES Act HEERF I and CRRSAA HEERF II. We are working on a method to distribute the HEERF II funds to students as quickly as possible. Bard College has not received CRRSAA HEERF II funds or a notification of funds availability yet.

1/14/21 - We are monitoring incoming information regarding future assistance possibilities. In the meantime, we still have funding available for emergency grants.

10/30/20 - We continue to award emergency grants to eligible students. If you are unsure whether you are eligible, please contact StudentHEERF@bard.edu. Eligibility for emergency grants is based on Title IV eligibility.

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 I grants is limited to Title IV students (until December 27,2020). 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 (prior to December 27, 2020), 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.

Emergency grants funded by HEERF I after December 27, 2020 can be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care.

Eligibility for HEERF II grants is limited to US Citizens. Grants are tiered based on financial need, as determined by Pell and Title IV eligibility and also based on whether the student is on-campus or remote.

  • HEERF II Tiers:*
    Campus Remote
    Federal Pell Grant Recipients $1,200 $600
    Title IV Eligible Students $450 $225
    Non-Title IV Eligible Students $200 $100
    Emergency Grants $500 $500

    *Awards were based on the student's status at the time of calculation. If you are experiencing extraordinary financial need, please consider an emergency grant through the Bard Student Emergency Fund.
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Quarterly Public Reporting Form for (a)(1) Institutional Portion, (a)(2), and (a)(3) Funds

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:

  1. Email StudentHEERF@bard.edu notifying us of the return
  2. 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?
  • 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

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