American Rescue Plan Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III)

This round of funding was specifically reserved for students impacted by the ongoing pandemic and will incur additional academic and program expenses as a result of the following:

• Had one or more non-passing grade(s) in spring 2021 at NIU, are enrolled sall 2021 at NIU. The funding is intended to help defray the costs associated with repeating the course(s) that were not passed; and/or
• Students who were not enrolled full-time in fall 2021 and lost the fall 2021 portion of an NIU Merit Scholarship due to not being enrolled full-time.

Citizenship and residency were not used as a criteria for determining eligibility, so if an international or undocumented student met the criteria outlined above then they would receive funds. However, the U.S. Department of Education encourages institutions to prioritize domestic students, especially undergraduates.

No. Grants are automatically issued to eligible students.

No.

Grant amounts vary, and are based on an individual student’s qualifying circumstance.

Yes. The money is yours to use for any cost of attending NIU or emergency costs caused by COVID-19, such as tuition, food, housing, health care, mental health care or child care.

Cost of Attendance would include tuition, fees, food, travel or other personal/miscellaneous expenses incurred as a result of enrollment.

Because of timing limitations, grants were sent out to students as a credit balance refund. If you owe NIU money, you always can make payments toward your NIU account balance with your ARPA:HEERF III dollars.

NIU processed grants beginning December 14.

Our criteria included:

• Undergraduate, graduate and aw students enrolled Fall 2021 semester.
• Students who are not full-time NIU employees.
• Includes students exclusively enrolled in distance education, citizens, permanent residents, refugees, asylum seekers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, other DREAMers and similar undocumented students.
• International students are also eligible after domestic students have been prioritized.
• Students who demonstrate exceptional financial need, based on loss of financial resources as a result of the ongoing pandemic such as a loss of an NIU merit scholarship because of enrollment status as well as students who demonstrate need because they must repeat a course from Spring 2021.

Students who do not meet the eligibility requirements will not receive HEERF III automatic grants. If you did not receive a grant but you are experiencing a hardship related to COVID-19, you might be eligible for relief through the university’s Student Emergency Fund beginning February 7.

No. The university issued grants to all students who demonstrate exceptional financial need, based on eligibility requirements, including those set forth by the U.S. Department of Education.

If your family income has decreased, or you incurred additional expenses associated with the pandemic, you can apply for assistance through NIU’s Student Emergency Fund beginning February 7.

Yes. Beginning February 7, all degree-seeking students are eligible to apply for assistance from NIU’s Student Emergency Fund (SEF). Questions? See our FAQ for the Student Emergency Fund.

Yes. Beginning February 7, all degree-seeking students are eligible to apply for assistance from NIU’s Student Emergency Fund (SEF). Students who have not received any funding from the SEF will be given priority consideration. Questions? See our FAQ for the Student Emergency Fund.