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  4. HEERF II Student Funding
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HEERF II Student Funding

The federal and state governments are committed to lessening the financial impact of COVID-19 on students in 2021. This page provides an overview of financial assistance that is available to Chatham students. 

Overview

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 included additional COVID-19 relief through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act. This new COVID stimulus bill included $23 billion for higher education institutions and students, using the same Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) model established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Chatham has received funding in the amount of $581,188. This funding provides direct financial assistance to students and may be referred as HEERF II.

At Chatham, funding is available through direct payments to students receiving Pell Grants and an application process for all other students. Students are required to have a 2020-2021 FAFSA on file.  

Funding for Students with Pell Grants

Pell-eligible students will receive $1,000 (full-time); $500 (part-time) automatically. Funds can be used toward:

  • cost of attendance
  • costs of living

Students will receive information on the distribution of their funds from the Office of Financial Aid.

Funding for Students without Pell Grants

Students without a Pell Grant can apply to receive HEERF II funds for covered expenses. The following is a list of expenses that can be considered for this grant assistance:

  • tuition
  • food
  • housing
  • course materials
  • technology
  • healthcare
  • childcare

As of 3.1, the application is closed due to application volume. 

Other Financial Assistance Options for Students

Besides HEERF II, there are other ways for students to obtain COVID-19 relief funding that can help you obtain food, healthcare (including mental health), childcare, and other necessities:  

Student Emergency Fund
If students do not qualify for a HEERF grant or have additional financial needs, Chatham offers additional assistance through the Student Emergency Fund (SEF). This aid is for limited, short-term, financial assistance when students are unable to meet immediate, essential expenses because of temporary hardship related to an emergency situation. Some funds are counted as income and are subject to federal taxes. Funds may also be loaned to students with repayment plans less than twelve (12) months in duration to be determined at the time funds are approved.

To apply for emergency funding, please submit the application at this link. Someone from the Office of Student Affairs will be in touch to confirm receipt and provide follow-up information.

Change in Circumstance Filing
In addition, if students have experienced a reduction in income, change to employment, or increase in expenses that directly affect the student’s or family’s income and ability to pay for education, please contact our office today to discuss options for qualifying for more Chatham, federal and/or state aid through a Change in Circumstance filing. Contact Financial Aid at 412-365-2781 or financialaid@chatham.edu.  

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Pennsylvania has temporarily lowered the requirements for college students to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The basic eligibility guidelines are:

  • Students with a $0 estimated family contribution
  • Students who are eligible for federal work study program, even if they are not currently working on or off-campus (note that this includes all Pell-eligible students)

Students can apply for SNAP benefits here. 

Contact Us

This web page was developed to provide students with instructions, directions, and guidance concerning HEERF II funding and to provide other financial aid alternatives for those students affected by COVID-19. If you need further assistance, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 412-365-2781 or financialaid@chatham.edu. 

 

FAQ: Student Emergency Fund

The Chatham University Student Emergency Fund is provided through the generous donations of University students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.

This aid is for limited, short-term, financial assistance when students are unable to meet immediate, essential expenses because of temporary hardship related to an emergency situation. Some funds are counted as income and are subject to federal taxes. Funds may also be loaned to students with repayment plans less than twelve (12) months in duration to be determined at the time funds are approved.

The Emergency Fund is reserved for short-term assistance in emergency situations. Given the nature of the current COVID-19 crisis, requests related to loss of resources and employment due to shutdowns of a number of businesses is the most common emergency situation.

Other examples of emergencies could include (but are not limited to):

  • Apartment or House Fire
  • Death of a Relative / Family Member / Friend / Student or Former Student
  • Life Stressor or Family Emergency Impacting a Student’s Campus Life
  • Sexual Assault, Interpersonal Violence or Stalking
  • Natural Disaster
  • Injury or Illness
There are a range of incidents that may incur financial hardships. Typical expenses that may be covered include, but are not limited to:
  • Medications/Prescriptions or costs related to medical care
  • Assistance with rent or utilities due to an emergency situation
  • Travel arrangements to attend funeral services
  • Books, fees or other school-related expenses
  • Safety related needs (i.e. changing a lock on vehicle or home)
  • Replacement of personal belongings due to theft, robbery, accidents, fire or natural disaster
  • Vouchers for temporary food assistance
Applicant must be a currently enrolled student at Chatham University and have temporary financial hardship resulting from an emergency situation. Applicants must pursue all other forms of assistance and determine those to be insufficient or unavailable. Applicants must be able to provide sufficient documentation of financial hardship. If approved for a loan, a Promissory Note will be required.
Please submit the application through WuFoo at this link. Someone from the Office of Student Affairs will be in touch to confirm receipt and provide follow-up information.
You will receive confirmation of your approval from the Office of Student Affairs. At this time, we will ask you to confirm how you would like to receive the funds. Please monitor your Chatham email after submitting an Emergency Fund request and be responsive to help us process your request quickly.
There are a few options available for disbursement of Emergency Funds. If you are still currently housed on a Chatham campus, we can provide funds to your Cougar Dollars that will allow you to purchase food and groceries from Parkhurst. In most scenarios, funding will be issued as a check mailed to the address you provided on your application. Please carefully check this address for accuracy.
Check requests are processed on a weekly basis. You can expect an average turnaround of 1-2 weeks, depending on whether follow-up information is needed before we can process your request.