CARES Act (HEERF) Funding and UTC

CARES Act: HEERF I

As of December 31, 2020

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) received $9,513,779 based on Section 18004(a) of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). In addition, UTC also received $471,490 from Section 18004(a)(2) as part of the Act’s Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP). No less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act will be used to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

UTC CARES Act: HEERF I Quick Facts (as of December 31, 2020)

Total Funding	$9,985,269
Funding Available to Students	$4,756,890
Funding Disbursed to Students	$4,756,890
Title IV Students Eligible for CARES Act Funding (as of Spring 2020 term)	8,229
Student Block Grant Award Recipients	4,642
Student Emergency Fund Recipients	495
Total Block Grant and Emergency Fund Student Recipients (with duplication)	5,137

Student Block Grant Awards

The University distributed funds to eligible students through Block Grant Awards on May 1, 2020. The Block Grant Awards were not applied to outstanding balances on student MyMocsNet accounts. Student eligibility for the Block Grant Award was limited to students enrolled in the Spring 2020 semester who met the following criteria:

Students had to be eligible for Title IV aid as determined by the 2019-2020 FAFSA. This included meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards and resolving any outstanding eligibility requirements from the FAFSA.
Students must not had been enrolled in a program that was conducted exclusively online as of March 13, 2020. Students whose program was not exclusively online, but who were enrolled in all online Spring 2020 courses as of March 13, 2020, were not eligible for a Block Grant Award but were entitled to apply for aid through the Student Emergency Fund process outlined below.

The University determined eligibility for the Block Grant Awards. Students did not have to complete a separate application to receive them. Eligible students received the following awards based on their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) range:

Group	EFC Range	Award
Undergraduate Students	0-5,576	$1,000
Undergraduate Students	5,577-15,000	$650
Graduate Students	0-1,000	$300

Student Emergency Fund

The University made additional funds available from the HEERF through the existing Student Emergency Fund. Students were eligible to apply for these additional emergency funds for the following reasons, on an as-needed basis, if they have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, are Title IV aid eligible, and are not enrolled in a program that is exclusively online:

Essential academic needs (e.g. books and supplies);
Replacement of lost personal items due to the coronavirus pandemic;
Housing needs (e.g. securing short-term housing, security deposits, assistance with utilities, etc.);
One-time / non-recurring medical expenses;
Emergency expenses related to dependents (e.g. childcare); or
Other allowable expenses outlined by the CARES Act and any subsequent allowable expense guidance offered by the U.S. Department of Education.

The additional funds from the HEERF added to the Student Emergency Fund have been fully expended. However, the University’s traditional Student Emergency Fund is still available to students in need through the application process.

CRRSAA: HEERF II

As of December 31, 2021

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) received $15,129,486 based on Section 18004(a) of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) created as part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA). In addition, UTC also received $645,680 from Section 18004(a)(2) as part of the Act’s Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP). No less than $4,756,890 of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CRRSAA will be used to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

UTC CRRSAA: HEERF II Quick Facts (as of December 31, 2021)

Total Funding	$15,775,166
Funding Available to Students	$6,635,890
Funding Disbursed to Students	$6,627,910
Students Eligible for HEERF II Funding (as of Spring 2021 term)	10,534
Student Block Grant Award Recipients	4,819
Student Emergency Fund Recipients	1,020
Total Block Grant and Emergency Fund Student Recipients (with duplication)	5,839

Student Block Grant Awards

The University distributed funds to eligible students through Block Grant Awards on February 17, 2021. The Block Grant Awards were not applied to outstanding balances on student MyMocsNet accounts. Student eligibility for the Block Grant Award was limited to students enrolled in the Spring 2021 semester.

Group	EFC Range	Award
Undergraduate Students	0-5,711	$1,150
Undergraduate Students	5,712-15,000	$750
Graduate Students	0-1,000	$345

Student Emergency Fund

The University made additional funds available from the HEERF II through the existing Student Emergency Fund. Students were eligible to apply for these additional emergency funds for the following reasons, on an as-needed basis, if they have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic:

Essential academic needs (e.g. books and supplies);
Housing needs (e.g. securing short-term housing, security deposits, utilities assistance, etc.) as a result of the coronavirus pandemic;
One-time / non-recurring medical expenses;
Emergency expenses related to dependents (e.g. childcare);
Other allowable expenses outlined by the CARES Act and any subsequent guidance offered by the U.S. Department of Education.
Student account balances.

ARP: HEERF III

As of September 30, 2023

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) received $26,626,600 based on Section 18004(a) of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III) America Rescue Plan (ARP) created in addition to the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic (CARES) Act. No less than $13,372,365 of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the ARP will be used to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. In addition, UTC also received $1,183,328 from Section 18004(a)(2) as part of the Act’s Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP).

UTC ARP: HEERF III Quick Facts (as of September 30, 2023)

Total Funding	$27,809,928
Funding Available to Students	$14,372,365
Funding Disbursed to Students	$14,372,232
Students Eligible for HEERF III Funding (as of Fall 2021 term)	11,496
Student Block Grant Award Recipients	11,493
Student Emergency Fund Recipients	1,977
Total Block Grant and Emergency Fund Student Recipients (with duplication)	13,470

Student Block Grant Awards

The University will distribute funds to eligible students through Block Grant Awards. The Block Grant Awards will not be applied to outstanding balances on student accounts. Student eligibility for the Block Grant Awards are limited to students currently enrolled in the Fall 2021 semester.

The University has already determined eligibility for the Block Grant Awards. Students do not need to complete a separate application to receive them. Students will receive the following awards based on their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) range from the 2021-2022 FAFSA:

Group	EFC Range	Award
Undergraduate Students	0-5,846	$1,675
Undergraduate Students	5,847-15,000	$1,000
Undergraduate Students	>15,000	$550
Undergraduate Students	No EFC/FAFSA	$300

Graduate Students	0-5,846	$700
Graduate Students	5,847-15,000	$500
Graduate Students	>15,000	$300
Graduate Students	No EFC/FAFSA	$200

Student Emergency Fund

The University made additional funds available from the HEERF III through the existing Student Emergency Fund. Students were eligible to apply for these additional emergency funds for the following reasons, on an as-needed basis, if they have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic:

Essential academic needs (e.g. books and supplies);
Housing needs (e.g. securing short-term housing, security deposits, utilities assistance, etc.) as a result of the coronavirus pandemic;
One-time / non-recurring medical expenses;
Emergency expenses related to dependents (e.g. childcare);
Other allowable expenses outlined by the CARES Act and any subsequent guidance offered by the U.S. Department of Education.
Student account balances

Questions

Questions about the Student Emergency Fund should be directed to the Office of Student Outreach and Support by calling 423-425-2299 or by emailing SEF@utc.edu.

Questions about the HEERF Funding should be directed to Chris Sherbesman, Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, by emailing christopher-sherbesman@utc.edu.

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CARES Act: HEERF I

CRRSAA: HEERF II

ARP: HEERF III

Reports

Additional Resources