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The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III) was authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) signed into law on March 11, 2021 and provided funding to institutions of higher learning to serve students and ensure learning continues during the Covid-19 pandemic. In accordance with reporting requirements, we are providing the information below:

APUS acknowledges that a signed the Required Proprietary Institution Certification was submitted to the Department and approved on July 16, 2021 for HEERF III funding. This agreement indicated our commitment and assurance that APUS would use no less than 100% of the funds to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

HEERF III Funds Received by APUS

APUS received $330,991 in HEERF III funding, of which 100% was distributed to 1,060 students to help cover expenses related to the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arose due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or childcare.

HEERF III Criteria

In accordance with regulations and guidance established by the U.S. Department of Education, the criteria for identifying students with exceptional need and eligibility for HEERF III funding is as follows:

  1. Student applied for Federal Student Aid and the financial aid package was approved for the 2020-2021 award year (July 1-June 30).
  2. Student IS PELL ELIGIBLE WITH an Estimated Family Contribution [EFC] of $0, which is an indicator of the most needy Pell recipients;
  3. Student is in an Associates or Bachelors program;
  4. Student has completed one course successfully that started before March 2021 (a letter grade other than F or W); and
  5. An Academic Year allows for net registrations (NON-DROPPED COURSE) starting in either March, April, or May, AND STUDENT WAS NOT ACADEMICALLY DISSMISSED OR DISENROLLED AS OF 07/29/2021.
  6. The student did not receive HEERF II funding.

APUS identified 2,175 students who met the above criteria.

HEERF III Student Communications

APUS sent email notifications regarding the availability of HEERF III financial aid grants. Students were required to respond via a link provided in the email by no later than 11:59 PM EST on Thursday, 8/26/21. Students who selected the link were directed to a web page, which confirmed their certification, and provided information on how funds would be disbursed. The notifications included instructions regarding the appropriate uses of financial aid grants (e.g., any component of a student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus). Students with questions were encouraged to contact us by emailing [email protected] or calling 855-731-9218, Monday – Friday, from 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. EST.

The student email communications were sent as follows:

  1. August 11, 2021: Initial email sent to the eligible population.
  2. August 16, 2021: Reminder email to students who had not provided certification and acknowledgment.
  3. August 20, 2021: Reminder email to students who had not provided certification and acknowledgment.
  4. August 24, 2021: Final reminder email sent to students who had not provided certification and acknowledgement.

After the deadline had passed, the web page was updated with information that the timeframe for certifying eligibility for the grant had expired.

HEERF III Funding Summary

  • As of August 27, 2021, APUS received 1,060 student certifications for HEERF III Funding.
  • As of August 30, 2021, APUS disbursed a total of $313 to each student.

The total amount disbursed included 100% of the $330,991 allocated HEERF III funding combined with an APUS total contribution of $789 in institutional funding for a total of $331,780.

This is the final quarterly posting and covers all HEERF III funding expenditures.

Last Updated 10/8/21