American Rescue Plan (ARM)

Emergency Financial Aid Grant for Students under the American Rescue Plan (ARM)

On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law. Section 2003(a)(1) of the American Rescue Plan (ARP), provided an additional $39.6 billion for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). The ARP funds are in addition to funds authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260 and the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136. Emergency funds available to institutions and their students under all emergency funds total $76.2 billion. The Department of Education has disbursed these funds to the Universities and as a result, Westfield State University has been allocated $12,788,564. Of this allocation, Westfield State is required to award $6,466,657 in direct aid to students.

Westfield State University is committed to getting funds to students as quickly as possible. The University has decided to award Block Grants to students in order to expedite the process.

As of June 30, 2022, Westfield State University has paid the full $6,466,657 to students in the form of Block Grants under the funds allocated to the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund through the ARP.

  • 5,012 students were active for the Spring 2021 at Westfield State. Following the criteria outlined below, it was determined that 3,774 students were eligible under the guidelines set by Westfield State University to receive funding through HEERF.
  • Concurrent to the first allocation, 161 students matriculated at Westfield State during the Summer Session. Following the criteria outlined below, it was determined that 14 students were eligible under the guidelines set by Westfield State University to receive funding through HEERF.
  • 5,025 students were active for the Fall 2021 at Westfield State. Following the criteria outlined below, it was determined that 3,737 students were eligible under the guidelines set by Westfield State University to receive funding through HEERF.
  • Students subsequently enrolled in the Spring 2022 semester and residing on campus during the Summer 2022 were eligible to received an additional grant if they met the established criteria.

As of March 31, 2022, 5,095 students have received funding under the ARP. Westfield State had communicated to students who were not eligible to allow them to gain eligibility for the fund under the HEERF.

Westfield State University is committed to getting funds to students as quickly as possible. The University has decided to award block grants to students in order to expedite the process.

June 2022

Block Grants

Under this plan, students will receive block grants based if they were residing in University Housing for the Summer 2022 and were Pell Eligible (based on their 2021-2022 FAFSA).  All students who meet the criteria will receive a block grant of $825.

Eligibility

Students must have filed a FAFSA for the 2021-2022 academic year in order to be eligible for the Block Grant.

Students must be enrolled or have been enrolled at Westfield State University during the COVID-19 national emergency in order to be eligible to receive funds under the HEERF. 

 

Students with an Outstanding Balance

Grants awarded under the HEERF are required to be awarded directly to students and cannot be applied directly to a student’s account without their consent.  Students who owe an outstanding balance to Westfield State University are eligible to receive any grant awarded under the HEERF, and will not see any delay in processing the grant.

For students who wish to have the grant applied to their outstanding balance, they must submit an affidavit to the University and give their consent to have the grant applied their outstanding balance.  The deadline to submit an affidavit was June 29, 2022.

Students who chose to complete the affidavit will have their grant credited directly to their outstanding balance.  If a student files an affidavit, then later decides to have the grant funded directly to them instead, they may email the Financial Aid Office and withdraw their consent up until the time the grant is disbursed.

Questions

December 2021

Block Grants

Under this plan, students will receive block grants based on their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA that was filed for the 2021-2022 academic year.  Students will receive block grants according to the following breakdown:

Undergraduate Students

EFC

0 – 5,846

5,847 - 12,000

12,001 +

Full-Time

$1,500

$800

$400

Part-Time

$1,200

$600

$300

Graduate Students

EFC

0 – 2,500

2,501 - 10,000

10,001 +

 

$500

$400

$250

 

Eligibility

Students must have filed a FAFSA for the 2021-2022 academic year in order to be eligible for the Block Grants, or students must submit an affidavit attesting to their financial need.

Students must be enrolled or have been enrolled at Westfield State University during the COVID-19 national emergency in order to be eligible to receive funds under the HEERF. 

 

Students without a FAFSA

Students who have not filed a FAFSA will have the opportunity to submit an affidavit that certifies they have financial need.  Students who filed the affidavit will be eligible for a block grant of $250.  The deadline to submit an affidavit was December 15th, 2021. 

 

Students with an Outstanding Balance

Grants awarded under the HEERF are required to be awarded directly to students and cannot be applied directly to a student’s account without their consent.  Students who owe an outstanding balance to Westfield State University are eligible to receive any grant awarded under the HEERF, and will not see any delay in processing the grant.

For students who wish to have the grant applied to their outstanding balance, they must submit an affidavit to the University and give their consent to have the grant applied their outstanding balance.  The deadline to submit an affidavit was December 15th, 2021.

Students who chose to complete the affidavit will have their grant credited directly to their outstanding balance.  If a student files an affidavit, then later decides to have the grant funded directly to them instead, they may email the Financial Aid Office and withdraw their consent up until the time the grant is disbursed.

Questions

July 2021

Block Grants

Under this plan, students will receive block grants based on their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA that was filed for the 2020-2021 academic year. Students will receive block grants according to the following breakdown:

Undergraduate Students
EFC 0 - 5711 5712 - 12,000 12,001 +
Full-Time $1,500 $1,000 $500
Part-Time $1,200 $800 $400
Graduate Students
EFC 0 - 2500 2501 - 10,000 10,001 +
  $800 $600 $300

Eligibility

Students must have filed a FAFSA for the 2020-2021 academic year in order to be eligible for the Block Grants, or students must submit an affidavit attesting to their financial need.

Students must be enrolled or have been enrolled at Westfield State University during the COVID-19 national emergency in order to be eligible to receive funds under the HEERF.

Students who are enrolling at Westfield State University beginning in the Fall 2021 semester will not be eligible for the 1st round of Block Grants.

Students without a FAFSA

Students who have not filed a FAFSA will have the opportunity to submit an affidavit that certifies they have financial need.  Students who filed the affidavit will be eligible for a block grant of $300.  The deadline to submit an affidavit was August 15th, 2021. 

Students with an Outstanding Balance

Grants awarded under the HEERF are required to be awarded directly to students and cannot be applied directly to a student’s account without their consent. Students who owe an outstanding balance to Westfield State University are eligible to receive any grant awarded under the HEERF, and will not see any delay in processing the grant.

For students who wish to have the grant applied to their outstanding balance, they must submit an affidavit to the University and give their consent to have the grant applied to their outstanding balance.  The deadline to submit the affidavit was July 21st, 2021.

Questions

Reports