Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Report - October 10, 2021

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II Report – Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students

October 8, 2021

Northwest Nazarene University OPE ID 142461 received education stabilization funds under Section 314(a)(1), (a)(4) HEERF II of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act ("CRRSAA"), Public Law No: 116-260. Additional funds were received under HEERF III of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law No: 117-2. This Fund Report applies to the student portion received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund(s) II & III that are designated exclusively for emergency financial aid grants to students.

Northwest Nazarene University was informed of HEERF II eligibility after the HEERF annual report was submitted 2/8/2021. The University was informed of HEERF III eligibility on 5/11/2021. The additional funds for both HEERF II & HEERF III were covered under the existing Certification of Agreement for the CARES Act HEER Funds. Northwest Nazarene University intends to spend, at minimum, the same percentage of funding for emergency financial aid grants to students as was provided with the initial allotment of HEERF for both HEERF II & HEERF III funds.

The institution appreciates that Congress and the President have made these additional critical funds available for eligible students who have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. We take receipt of these federal funds seriously and are distributing them in accordance with CRRSAA and implementing guidance.

The institution is making the below information available for transparency purposes and in compliance with the U.S. Department of Education's ("Department") Electronic Announcement of January 14, 20211. For questions or concerns regarding this Fund Report, please contact Dwight Berreth, Interim Director of Financial Aid, at dberreth@nnu.edu.

  1. The institution was automatically approved to receive additional funding under Section 314(a)(1), (a)(4) of CRRSAA and ARP to provide emergency financial aid grants to students as it had already been approved for HEERF awards under the Cares Act earlier in the year.
  2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution's Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students for HEERF II & III is $410,334 & $1,840,145, respectively.
  3. The total amount of emergency financial aid grants distributed to students under Section 314(a)(1), (a)(4) of CRRSAA and ARP as of the date of this Fund Report is $74,800.
  4. The estimated total number of students at NNU eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 under Section 314(a)(1), (a)(4) of CRRSAA and ARP, as of the date of this Fund Report is 1,884 students.
  5. The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 314(a)(1), (a)(4) of CRRSAA and ARP as of the date of this Fund Report is 124. These students were stratified into 3 groups with grants ranging from $400.00 to $800.00.
  6. The methods used by the institution to determine which students receive emergency financial aid grants and how much they would receive under Section 314(a)(1), (a)(4) of CRRSAA & ARP are provided at Attachment A.
  7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the emergency financial aid grants are linked below.

HEERF II - Letter.pdf

Attachment A: Methodology for payment of emergency financial aid grants under the HEERF II to Students

Northwest Nazarene University's goal when considering how to disperse Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds II & III is to prioritize assistance to students with the greatest financial need. Funds will be offered through Standard Block Grants to all Traditional undergraduate students, as well as non-Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate students, with additional funds being paid to students who meet the criteria listed below (data to be pulled in October 2021):

  • Submitted the FAFSA to NNU which establishes the student is eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 of the Higher Education Act
  • Enrolled in Northwest Nazarene University at the time of the payment, with priority on those students with exceptional need.
  • Have an official expected family contribution (EFC) between $0-$15,000 as reported on their 2020/2021 FAFSA

Remaining funds will be distributed to selected students who apply for a Special Consideration Award.

As of this report dated 9/30/2021, $74,800 in HEERF II funds received have been distributed to Northwest Nazarene University Title IV eligible enrolled students through block grants. The remaining HEERF II awards, as well as the additional HEERF III awards will be distributed during the Fall 2021 Semester in a combination of block grants and through a subsequent application process, starting in October 2021.

1 See: https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/electronic-announcements/2021-01-14/press-release-us-department-education-quickly-makes-available-more-21-billion-taxpayer-funds-support-continued-education-colleges-universities-ea-id-ope-announcements-21-01

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF I, II, and III (a)(1) Institutional Portion, (a)(2), and (a)(3), if applicable.