CARES Act Fund / HEERF I

Denison received $883,000 of funding on July 7, 2020, from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Following the Department of Education guidance, these funds are meant to be distributed to students with financial need in the form of emergency grants to help students with expenses related to COVID-19 and its disruption of campus operations such as housing, food, course materials, technology, healthcare, and childcare. The amount awarded to each school was based on a school’s total enrollment and the number of Pell Grant recipients.

To be eligible for a grant, students must be Title IV federal financial aid eligible, as demonstrated by having filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2019-20 academic year, and have financial need. All students who had demonstrated financial aid need for the 2019-2020 academic year, were enrolled at Denison in the spring of 2020 (and were enrolled as of March 1, 2020), will receive a grant of $802. There is no application process. Grants will be made via direct deposit for students who have direct deposit information on file. All others will receive a check to their address of record. Deposits will be made and checks issued on Tuesday, July 14.

CRRSAA Fund / HEERF II

Denison received $883,012 additional funding as a result of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) established under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), as signed into law on December 27, 2020.

Unlike the CARES Act, CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional financial need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, in awarding HEERF grants to students. To be eligible for an emergency grant for this additional round of funding, students must be eligible for Title IV federal financial aid, as demonstrated by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2020-21 academic year, be enrolled for the Spring 2021 semester AND received a Federal Pell Grant for the Fall 2020 semester. All eligible students identified will receive a HEERF grant of $2523. There is no application process. Grants will be made via direct deposit for students who have direct deposit information on file. All others will be sent a check to address of record. Deposits will be made and checks issued on February 18, 2021.

ARP Fund / HEERF III

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP Act) provided a third distribution of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF III) to institutions of higher education. The following information is shared in accordance with federal government reporting requirements.  

Denison University has signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the Certification, Agreement, and the assurance that Denison intends to use the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)1) and (a)(4) programs to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.

Denison University received authorization on May 16, 2021 for $2,286,803 from the Department of Education pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the ARP Act. These funds may be used for the cost of attendance components or for emergency costs that arise due to COVID-19.

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the ARP Act as of July 30,2021 is $1,597,500 to 895 students. Denison will continue awarding eligible students from the ARP Fund until all emergency grant funds have been spent.

The estimated total number of students at Denison that are eligible to receive Emergency Grant to Students under the ARP Act is 2300.

The ARP Act requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional financial need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, in awarding HEERF grants to students. To be eligible for the HEERF III emergency grant, Denison students must be a degree-seeking student, be enrolled in the Fall 2021 semester and have demonstrated financial need, as determined by the university. Students identified as having financial need will receive a block HEERF grant; $2500 to Pell eligible students and $1500 to all other eligible students. There is no application process.

Eligible students will be notified via email from the Office of Financial Aid, which will include the amount of their award. Grants will be made via direct deposit for students who have direct deposit information on file. All others will be sent a check to address of record.

Public Disclosures