As part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 2021 (CRRSAA), the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) provides colleges with funds to award grants for their students. The purpose of these emergency funds is to provide aid to higher education students to address the unexpected expenses and losses associated with the coronavirus pandemic. ** This may also be referred to as CARES II funding **
Am I eligible to receive the Relief Grant II?
To be eligible, you must meet the the following requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
- Have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with an official Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculated; and
- As of March 15, 2021, be enrolled in the spring 2021 semester as a regular or online student with at least one credit hour. Cross enrolled and dual enrolled students are not eligible for assistance.
How do I apply for Relief Grant II?
Eligible students have automatically been identified and awarded. No additional application is required.
How do I receive my Relief Grant II?
Relief Grant II awards have been determined and will be applied to student accounts on March 19, 2021. However, due to the volume that must be distributed, it is expected that refunds will be sent on or after March 31, 2021.
How will I know if I was awarded the Relief Grant II?
You may view this on your Banner account. Go to Financial Aid > Award for Aid Year > Choose 2020-2021 and check your Award Overview.
If you have a balance on your account, you may have been contacted by the University regarding your outstanding debt and given the opportunity to authorize your emergency aid to be applied towards your balance. Please follow the instructions provided in the correspondence or contact the Controller’s Office. You are not obligated to pay towards any outstanding balance; however, it may be a good idea to do so.
How was the award amount determined?
The Department of Education requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who qualify for Pell Grants, in awarding financial aid grants to students. Therefore, we must have a 2020-2021 FAFSA on file to properly prioritize students. This provides for the federal requirement of prioritizing students with exceptional need while utilizing all funding. The following table describes the amount awarded based on a student’s EFC and enrollment status:
| EFC Range | Award Amount for Students Enrolled Part-time | Award Amount for Students Enrolled Full-time |
| 0 | 450 | 900 |
| 1-999 | 400 | 800 |
| 1,000-6,999 | 350 | 700 |
| 7,000-7,999 | 300 | 600 |
| 8,000-9,999 | 250 | 500 |
| 10,000+ | 200 | 400 |
More About the HEERF II Student Financial Aid Grant
Nicholls HEERF II grant allocation was $2,528,760. In conjunction with $307,673 remaining HEERF I funding, the total to award was $2,836,400. As of March 16, 2021, $2,825,550 has been awarded to students. The remaining $10,883 will be allocated to eligible students meeting the qualifications until the fund is fully depleted. No awards will be made once our allocation is exhausted.
