American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARP”) Grants Disclosure

April 8, 2022

Quarterly Report as of March 31, 2022

La Salle University has received funding from the federal government for grants under the ARP as part of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III). The University acknowledges the Certification and Agreement required with its assurance that the University will provide at least the same amount of funding in Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students as was required under the CARES Act and will distribute all amounts designated for emergency financial grants to students. For details regarding expenditures of the University’s institutional share of HEERF funding, refer to the following link.

The total amount awarded from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III) as part of the ARP pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students was $5,980,351.  This funding is being distributed as emergency cash grants to eligible students in need who are enrolled in the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 terms to pay for expenses incurred as a result of COVID-19.  The estimated number of students eligible to participate and thus eligible to receive emergency grants under the ARP funding was 4,100.

As of March 31, 2022, the University has distributed a majority of the HEERF III funding and as such, the University has drawn down the corresponding funds from our federal account (G5).  The total amount that has been distributed to students as of March 31, 2022 was $5,187,750.  The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under the ARP was 2,930 as of March 31, 2022.

The Department of Education has given colleges and universities discretion to determine how this emergency assistance will be disbursed to eligible students. Understanding that many of our students have experienced financial hardships as a result of the pandemic, the University’s intention is to ensure that students with the most urgent need are the first to receive the emergency grant funds.  Accordingly, the University distributed grants under the ARP to eligible students who indicated financial need via an application process as follows:

Category Full-Time Amount Part-Time Amount
Pell Grantees & Pell Eligible Students $1,600 $800
Non-Pell Undergraduate Students $800 $350
Non-Pell Graduate Students $500 $250

Students receiving emergency financial grant funds under the ARP had the opportunity to request an appeal for an additional Emergency Financial Aid grant.  Upon University review and approval of the appeal, the University distributed additional grants as follows:

Category Full-Time and Part-time Amount
Pell Grantees & Pell Eligible Students $2,000
Non-Pell Undergraduate Students $1,000
Non-Pell Graduate Students $750

La Salle University employees (except those hired as student workers) are ineligible to receive an ARP grant.

These grants were not applied against existing University account balances (unless appropriate authorization was received from the student) and were sent by direct deposit if eRefunds were elected. (Here’s how to register for eRefunds.) If you were not enrolled in eRefunds, a check was issued and mailed to the billing address on file. These grants will be available to eligible students so long as funds are available.  La Salle’s intention is to assist as many students as possible while being sensitive to need.

If you have not received a student emergency grant this Fall and believe that you were eligible based on the parameters described in this update, please email CARESFUND@lasalle.edu.

Federal guidelines require institutions to prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who are eligible for Federal Pell Grants.  Institutions can also identify additional eligibility requirements.

We thank you in advance for your patience as we continue to assist our students in navigating through this difficult time.