CARES Act

Quarter 2 Disclosure

Framingham State University is receiving funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) under Section 18004 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES ACT).  Half of this funding will be used for emergency grants to students and can cover expenses due to the disruption of campus operations from COVID-19.  Such expenses may include housing, food, technology, health care, or child care, or any component of the University’s cost of attendance.

Framingham State University is required to disclose the following information to the public regarding our funding from the HEERF:

  1. We acknowledge that we have signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the HEERF Certification and Agreement. We intend to use no less than 50% of the funding we receive for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
  2. We have received $1,948,876 to be used for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
  3. As of June 30, 2021, we have distributed $1,948,876 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
  4. At this time, we estimate that 9,516 students are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. This number has been expanded to include students that are not eligible for Title IV aid, as eligibility criteria for these grants was recently changed by the federal government.   Please note that the actual number of students receiving emergency grants may be different.
  5. As of June 30, 2021, 3,185 students have received Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004 (a) (1) of the CARES Act. This website will be updated as grants are awarded to students.
  6. Since nearly all of the students who were enrolled during the spring 2020 semester were affected by the disruption to campus operations from the novel coronavirus, we determined that those students that are eligible to participate in programs under section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 will each receive an Emergency Financial Aid Grant of $650.00. We determined the award amount by taking the total funds we have received ($1,948,876) divided by the estimated number of eligible students (as of May 2020).  We also reserved $100,000 for students who may show eligibility later by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
    After distributing funds to most of the first group of students, we estimated that we would have approximately $281,000 in remaining funds. To distribute the remaining funds, we awarded Emergency Financial Aid Grants for technology expenses of $390.00 to eligible new first-year and transfer students enrolled during the fall 2020 semester.
    Since we had some remaining funds after this distribution, we awarded Emergency Financial Aid Grants to new first-year and transfer students that enrolled during the spring 2021 semester.  We awarded funds to most students in the amount of $1,195 to assist with computer and book expenses in our cost of attendance for new students, and we awarded $1,176 to one student.
  7. Eligible students were notified in writing via their Framingham State University email account that they may qualify for an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under section 18004 (a) (1) of the CARES Act. Eligible students were then asked to complete an online acknowledgment form that they are receiving these funds to be used for expenses incurred due to the disruption of campus operations as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.  Students should have received their funds within two to three weeks of completing the acknowledgment form online.

The final group of students that were awarded Emergency Financial Aid Grants (new first-year and transfer students that enrolled during the spring 2021 semester) did not need to complete an acknowledgment form online, as we awarded funds to them for a component of our cost of attendance, as allowed in changes made to CARES Act Guidance in 2021.

Quarter 1 Disclosure

Framingham State University is receiving funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) under Section 18004 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES ACT).  Half of this funding will be used for emergency grants to students and can cover expenses due to the disruption of campus operations from COVID-19.  Such expenses may include housing, food, technology, health care, or child care.

Framingham State University is required to disclose the following information to the public regarding our funding from the HEERF:

  1. We acknowledge that we have signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the HEERF Certification and Agreement. We intend to use no less than 50% of the funding we receive for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
  2. We have received $1,948,876 to be used for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
  3. As of March 31, 2021, we have distributed $1,870,440 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. This website will be updated as grants are distributed to students.
  4. At this time, we estimate that 3,742 students are eligible to participate in programs under section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under section 18004 (a)(1) of the CARES Act.  This number now includes students who were enrolled during the spring 2020 semester and the 2020-2021 academic year.  Please note that the actual number of students receiving emergency grants may be different.
  5. As of March 31, 2021, 3,118 students have received Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004 (a) (1) of the CARES Act. This website will be updated as grants are awarded to students.
  6. Since nearly all of the students who were enrolled during the spring 2020 semester were affected by the disruption to campus operations from the novel coronavirus, we determined that those students that are eligible to participate in programs under section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 will each receive an Emergency Financial Aid Grant of $650.00. We determined the award amount by taking the total funds we have received ($1,948,876) divided by the estimated number of eligible students (as of May 2020).  We also reserved $100,000 for students who may show eligibility later by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
    After distributing funds to most of the first group of students, we estimated that we would have approximately $281,000 in remaining funds. To distribute the remaining funds, we will award Emergency Financial Aid Grants for technology expenses of $390.00 to eligible new freshman and transfer students enrolled during the fall 2020 semester.  If funds remain after this distribution of funds, additional Emergency Financial Aid Grants for technology expenses may be awarded to new freshman and transfer students enrolled during the spring 2021 semester. Our new students enrolled during the 2020-2021 academic year have been affected by our need to move many classes online as a result of the pandemic.  These grants can help them cover necessary expenses related to that.
  7. Eligible students will be notified in writing via their Framingham State University email account that they may qualify for an Emergency Financial Grant under section 18004 (a) (1) of the CARES Act. We are currently notifying eligible students, who are then asked to complete an online acknowledgment form that they are receiving these funds to be used for expenses incurred due to the disruption of campus operations as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.  Students should receive their funds within two to three weeks of completing the acknowledgment form online.

Please check back to this website for updates.  Please note that students must meet all eligibility requirements for federal financial aid (section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965) to qualify for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004 (a) (1) of the CARES Act.

In addition to the funding reported above, Framingham State University has also received $1,948,875 in Institutional Funding under the CARES Act Sections 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion.  The university is required to disclose a copy of its reporting on this portion of the funding on a quarterly basis.  The Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting related to the CARES Act Sections 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion can be viewed here.