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Student Emergency Aid

HEERF III ARP Student Emergency Grant funding is currently exhausted for Fall 2022.

HEERF III – American Rescue Plan (ARP) Student Emergency Grants

Eligibility Requirements set forth by ARP, the Department of Education, and NOVA:

Funding provided to NOVA under HEERF III – ARP is available only to current NOVA students and can be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care. Students also must meet the following criteria to qualify for ARP Student Emergency Grants:

  • Students must be enrolled in a program of study
  • Students must have graduated from high school, completed home schooling, or passed the GED.

HEERF III – ARP Student Emergency Grants

Eligible Expenses

  • Tuition
  • Housing
  • Groceries
  • Technology for Remote Learning
  • Books and Supplies
  • Childcare
  • Healthcare

Eligibility Requirements set forth by ARP, The Department of Education, and NOVA:

Funding provided to NOVA under ARP is available only to current NOVA students and can be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care. Students must also meet the following criteria to qualify for ARP Student Emergency Grants:

  • Students must be enrolled in a program of study and registered for and attending classes at the time of the award.
  • Students must have graduated from high school, completed home schooling or passed the GED.

Availability of ARP Student Emergency Grants

Funds available for ARP Student Emergency Grants are limited. Under ARP, institutions are directed to prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students receiving Pell Grants. DACA, undocumented, and F-1 students may also receive ARP Emergency Grants, but all must have completed high school and be program placed. NOVA must prioritize students who have need determined, then domestic students, and then F-1 students. ARP Emergency Grants will be awarded in the following order with grant amounts higher for higher levels of enrollment due to increased costs of attendance. No Emergency Grant Application is required for Fall 2022 . Eligible students will automatically be considered for emergency grants until funds are exhausted.

Award amounts for Fall 2022 are shown below. Awards will be offered in the following order with grant amounts higher for higher levels of enrollment due to increased costs of attendance.

  1. 2022-2023 FAFSA filers with $0 EFCs whose files are complete
  • Students enrolled in 12 or more credits will be awarded $1,250
  • Students enrolled in 6-11 credits will be awarded $1,000
  • Students enrolled in 1-5 credits will be awarded $500
  1. 2022-2023 FAFSA filers with EFC's of $1-$6,206 whose files are complete
  • Students enrolled in 12 or more credits will be awarded $1,000
  • Students enrolled in 6-11 credits will be awarded $750
  • Students enrolled in 1-5 credits will be awarded $375
  1. 2022-2023 FAFSA filers with EFCs of $6,207-$15,000 whose files are complete
  • Students enrolled in 12 or more credits will be awarded $750
  • Students enrolled in 6-11 credits will be awarded $500
  • Students enrolled in 1-5 credits will be awarded $250
  1. 2022-2023 FAFSA filers with EFCs greater than $15,000, whether complete or not, students who do not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements, and non-FAFSA filer domestic students, including DACA, undocumented, other Dreamers, and similar undocumented students:
  • Students enrolled in 12 or more credits will be awarded $750
  • Students enrolled in 6-11 credits will be awarded $500
  • Students enrolled in 1-5 credits will be awarded $250
  1. F1 students who meet the eligibility criteria may be considered for a $750 award.
  • F1 students are generally required to take 12 credits.

    Note: Less than full-time F-1 students who were approved to enroll less than full-time due to their last semester at NOVA or a one-time medical exception are eligible and should apply. The approved list of students will be provided to the Financial Aid Office by the International Student Office. Award amounts will be based on the award amounts for the above group 4 students for each enrollment level.

Additional considerations:

  • Student eligibility for emergency grants will be determined at three points for Fall 2022:
    1. After the 15-week census date
    2. After the second 8-week census date
    3. At the end of the term

  • Grants will not be awarded until the student has attended past the census date for the credits on which the grant payment is based.

  • Dual enrolled high school students are not eligible.

  • Students must be actively enrolled in (including graded courses) a minimum of 1 credit at time of a new award.

  • Credits withdrawn before the 15-week term census date (9/8/2022) and classes dropped before their class census dates will not count.

  • NVRK credits and credits withdrawn at time of the award are not eligible and will not be included in total eligible credits.

  • Credits added after term census date but before an award is calculated will be included if the course census date has passed. [NVRKs already reported must be excluded.]

  • Some students will receive more than one check or deposit for the term if eligibility exists and some classes begin later in the term.

  • Students who received grants for previous terms may apply again.

NOVA will continue to award Student Emergency Grants to eligible students until funds are exhausted. Funds will be distributed to eligible students upon approval per dates previously stated.

FAQ

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) was signed March 11, 2021. Institutions receiving funds must use the student portion for grants to students, which can be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care.  NOVA received $38,959,500 for ARP student emergency grants.

ARP provides Student Emergency Grants, which can be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care.  Under ARP, institutions are directed to prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students receiving Pell Grants.  DACA, undocumented, and F-1 students may also receive ARP Emergency Grants, but all students must be eligible and program placed and must have completed high school, completed home schooling, or passed the GED.  NOVA must prioritize students who have need determined, then domestic students (#4 above), and then F-1 students. Recipients must be enrolled in a program of study and attending a minimum of one credit for Fall 2022.

No Emergency Grant Application is required for Fall 2022 . Eligible students will automatically be considered for emergency grants until funds are exhausted.

You may spend the money on any component of the student cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or childcare.

First disbursements will not be released until aid adjustments are completed after the term census (i.e. the last day to drop with a tuition refund for the longest session of the fall, spring, or summer term).  Awards will be made at three specific times during the term as students are determined to be eligible.

  • After the 15-week term census date
  • After the second 8-week census date for the fall term
  • At end of the term if funds are still available

Your funds arrive most promptly if you select direct deposit as your NOVA refund choice. Paper checks are dependent upon mail service. Your address in MyNOVA must be correct.

Upon approval of your Student Emergency Grant application, grant funds will be released to you based on your selected refund preference at NOVA. If you have not selected a refund preference, funds will be released to you by paper check. Your address in MyNOVA must be correct.

  • No, but a larger percentage will be, including DACA, undocumented and F-1 students.  Those already eligible for HEERF I and II included the following:

    • U.S. national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swain’s Island)
    • U.S. permanent resident who has an I-151, I-551 or I-551C (Permanent Resident Card)

    You could be eligible if you’re not in one of these categories, but you have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) showing one of the following designations:

    • “Refugee”
    • “Asylum Granted”
    • “Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Status Pending”
    • “Conditional Entrant” (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)
    • “Parolee” (You must be paroled into the United States for at least one year, and you must be able to provide evidence from the USCIS that you are in the United States for other than a temporary purpose and that you intend to become a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.)

    Those not eligible include, but are not limited to, individuals in the U.S. for other governments, for work (B1), visiting (B2) or other temporary periods.   Examples include a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa, or G series visa (pertaining to international organizations); all are not eligible for HEERF III Grants.

No. This grant will not be used in calculating your current or future financial aid awards.

Most students will qualify for ARP. All students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA to also determine eligibility for federal, state, VCCS, and institutional funds. Additional resources are available through the Financial Stability and Advocacy Centers at 703.323.3450 or financialstability@nvcc.edu.

NOVA Financial Aid is here to help answer your questions. Contact the 24-Hour Student Support Center at 855-323-3199 or finaidsupport@nvcc.edu.

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