Disclosures for HEERF I, II and III

Southwest Baptist University was allocated funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) which was signed into law on March 11, 2021.

1. ARP funds were awarded after the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplement Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). ARP created a third round of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), known as HEERF III, to provide emergency financial aid grants to students who experienced financial hardship due to the pandemic.  The University received access to this funding on May 24, 2021.
2. The total amount of funds awarded to the University from the Department of Education for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students based on section 2003(a)(1) of ARP Act is $3,582,436.
3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the ARP program as of December 31, 2021 is $3,582,436.
4. The estimated total number of students at Southwest Baptist University who are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under the ARP program is 2,265 students.
5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under the ARP program is 2,161 students.
6. The University distributed ARP funds in two rounds.  For the first round of distributions, the method used by the University to determine which students received Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the ARP program follows:
   • Qualifying students were enrolled in the fall 2021 semester in at least 3 credit hours.  Full time employees were excluded. These students were further categorized as follows:
     • Undergraduate students with exceptional need were prioritized by Pell Grant eligibility and unmet need exceeding $10,000.  These students were awarded $2,250.
     • All other undergraduate students were awarded $1,500.
     • Graduate students and students without a FASFA were awarded $1,000.
   For the second round of distributions, which was an application process, the method used by the University to determine which students would be awarded Emergency Financial Aid Grants follows:
   
   • Qualifying students were enrolled in the fall 2021 semester in at least 3 credit hours. Full time employees were excluded. These students were further categorized as follows:
     
     • Undergraduate students with exceptional need were prioritized by estimated family contribution (EFC) of $0. These students were awarded $1,200.
     • Undergraduate students with and EFC of less than $20,000 were awarded $700.
     • Graduate students and students without a FASFA were awarded $350.
7. For the first round of distributions, students were notified of their qualification for Emergency Financial Aid by receiving the below email. 
   
   According to the criteria defined by the Department of Education, you qualify for emergency relief funds through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III), authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which was signed into law on March 11, 2021.
   
   To receive these funds, please log in to the MySBU student portal. In the list of Applications, choose the Self-Service link. Click on your username, then choose "Required Agreements". Carefully read the agreement, then select between the disbursement options to accept or decline the emergency relief funds offered through HEERF III.
   
   The current emergency grant funding under HEERF III allows students to consent to have Southwest Baptist University apply funds directly to their student accounts by accepting the agreement. If you do not consent to have funds applied to your account, then you can decline the agreement to have the emergency funding disbursed directly to you.
   
   Additional information is posted on the SBUniv.edu website and on the portal.
   
   For the second round of distributions, which was an application process, students were notified of the opportunity through the University’s student portal, digital signage and social media.  The messaging posted follows:
   
   HEERF III Funds Available by Application - Deadline Dec 5
   
   A small portion of HEERF III funds remain, and we invite those with exceptional need to apply.  Requested funds are not guaranteed.  The HEERF III - Round 2 Application is due by December 5.
   
   The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III), authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) and signed into law on March 11, 2021, provides emergency assistance to students during the pandemic. SBU is offering students a second opportunity to access these funds through this application process. Qualifying students are currently enrolled in the fall 2021 semester in at least three credit hours. Full time employees are excluded. Priority will be given to students with exceptional financial need. Requested funds are not guaranteed. Decisions will be made by December 10.
   
   HEERF III Funding Application

Southwest Baptist University was allocated funds from the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplement Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA).

1. CRRSAA funds were consequently awarded after the completion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). CRRSAA created a second round of funding known as HEERF II, to provide emergency financial aid grants to students who experienced financial hardship due to the pandemic.  The University received access to this funding on January 17, 2021.
2. The total amount of funds awarded to the University from the Department of Education for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students based on section 314(a)(1)(A)-(F) of CRRSAA is $1,150,794.
3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CRRSAA program as of May 20, 2021 is $1,151,150. 
4. The estimated total number of students at Southwest Baptist University who were eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under the CRRSAA program was 1,593 students.
5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under the CRRSAA program is 1,561 students.
6. The method used by the University to determine which students received Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the CRRSAA program follows:
   • Qualifying students were enrolled in the spring 2021 semester and demonstrated the greatest financial need on the 2020-21 FAFSA with an estimated family contribution of $20,000 or below.  These students were further categorized as follows:
     • Undergraduate students with exceptional need were prioritized by Pell Grant eligibility and unmet need exceeding $10,000.  These students were awarded $850.
     • All other undergraduate students were awarded $650.
     • Graduate students were awarded $550.

7. Students were notified of their qualification for Emergency Financial Aid by receiving the below email.  

   According to the criteria defined by the Department of Education, you have been identified as someone who qualifies for emergency relief funds through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II), authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), which was signed into law on December 27, 2020.

   In order to receive these funds, you must log in to the MySBU portal. In your list of Applications, choose the Self-Service link. Once in Self-Service, click on your username in the upper right corner, then choose "Required Agreements". Carefully read the agreement titled "CRRSAA/HEERF II Funding Agreement", then make your decision to accept or decline the emergency relief funds offered through HEERF II.

   The current emergency grant funding under HEERF II allows students to consent to have Southwest Baptist University apply funds directly to their student accounts by accepting the agreement. If you do not consent to have funds applied to your account, then you can decline the agreement to have the emergency funding disbursed directly to you.

As of September 30, 2020, Southwest Baptist University has received and distributed $1,150,794 of the $1,150,794 in funding received from the Department to award as Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

An estimated 1,537 students were determined to be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. The University determined the number of eligible students based on the number of students for whom the University received an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR).  The University then applied this number to its own methodological framework, as described below, for disbursal of funds to produce a final total of eligible students at the University.  The University did not make assumptions about the potential eligibility of students for whom the institution has not received an ISIR.

An estimated 1,537 students were determined to be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. The University determined the number of eligible students based on the number of students for whom the University received an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR).  The University then applied this number to its own methodological framework, as described below, for disbursal of funds to produce a final total of eligible students at the University.  The University did not make assumptions about the potential eligibility of students for whom the institution has not received an ISIR.

On August 4, the University opened an application process to allow students who had expenses that exceeded the initial Emergency Financial Aid Grant amount to request additional funds.  Instructions given to students about the application process included the following:

• If you were a student during the Spring 2020 semester and meet the following guidelines, you are eligible to apply for an additional Emergency Financial Aid Grant award of up to $2,000.
  • Title IV-eligible
  • Enrolled in a non-distance learning degree-seeking program during the spring 2020 semester
  • Estimated family contribution (EFC) of $20,000 or less for the 2019-20 academic year
  • Must have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus that were not covered by the first round of Emergency Financial Aid Grant awards
  • Applications must be received by August 21, 2020
• Funds are limited for the second round, and only those students with exceptional circumstances will be considered. You will have to provide a brief statement of your current financial need as it relates to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.
• Complete the attached application and return it via email as directed on the application.

The total number of students who received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of September 30, 2020 was 1,488. Of this total, 118 students received additional Emergency Financial Aid Grants through the application process.