Student Aid via HEERF III
The university has been identified as a beneficiary of additional funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, or HEERF, as authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, & Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
CSULB received $59,147,455 in funding through HEERF Phase III for direct aid payments to students enrolled in fall 2021 and spring 2022. Additionally, $7,577,517 was allocated to CSULB as part of the Minority-Serving Institution portion of the HEERF funding.
Through HEERF Phase III, CSULB will provide direct aid payments to eligible students in fall 2021 and spring 2022. Students may have experienced loss of employment or other financial support due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These aid payments are intended to help with expenses incurred as a result of this emergency—including housing, food, course materials, technology, healthcare, or childcare.
Eligibility
To receive an emergency grant payment in spring 2022, each student must be:
- Enrolled as a matriculated student in a degree or credential program at CSULB
- Registered in at least 1 unit in the spring 2022 semester as of February 17, 2022
Allocation and Distribution
All eligible students, regardless of financial need, will receive an aid payment. Students with the highest financial need (based on their financial need information on file with the university) will receive the highest aid amount. Students enrolled less than full-time will receive prorated aid payments.
Aid payments will be sent by direct deposit. Students who do not have eRefund will receive a paper check that will be mailed to their mailing address. Students are advised to guard against phishing attempts that may target student account information.
Timeline
- March 7-11, 2022: Students without eRefund information on file asked to set up eRefund.
- March 14-18, 2022: All students notified that CSULB is working on distribution of HEERF Phase III funding.
- Our goal is to process payments to students eligible for aid payments by March 22, 2022.
HEERF Phase III FAQ
The Higher Educational Emergency Relief Fund, or HEERF, was created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, & Economic Security (CARES) Act in spring 2020. Additional funds were allocated to HEERF as authorized by the Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Much of this funding is intended for direct aid to students.
Students who were enrolled in a degree program at CSULB and were registered in at least 1 unit in the spring 2022 semester as of February 17, 2022, are eligible to receive an emergency aid payment in spring 2022.
All eligible students, regardless of financial need, will receive an aid payment. Students with the highest financial need (as determined by their completed FAFSA or DREAM Act application) will receive the highest aid amount. Students enrolled less than full-time will receive prorated aid payments.
At CSULB, full-time enrollment for financial aid is defined as follows:
- Undergraduate, credential, and second baccalaureate students: 12 or more unit
- Master’s degree students: 8 or more units
- Doctoral students: 6 or more units
| Full-time | Less than full-time | |
|---|---|---|
| $0 Expected Family Contribution | $1,950 | $975 |
| Students with a Pell Grant Eligible EFC - defined as exceptional need | $1,400 | $700 |
| Expected Family Contribution below Cost of Attendance | $700 | $350 |
| All other qualified students - Expected Family Contribution above the Cost of Attendance, incomplete financial aid file, and students who did not file a FAFSA or DREAM Act Application | $300 | $150 |
No. You do not need to repay this emergency aid.
No, students do not need to apply for HEERF Phase III funds.
If you have not previously set up eRefund, your aid payment will be via paper check. You will receive an email when your paper check is available for pickup during business hours at the Cashier’s Office, Brotman Hall 148. To pick up your check, you must bring your CSULB student ID card. Paper checks that are not picked up by end of day of April 15, 2022 may be voided.
We are processing spring 2022 aid payments as quickly as possible. You will receive an email when your aid payment is processed.
Depending on your bank, it may take several business days for your payment to post to your account.
No. Our Financial Aid office will not include HEERF emergency aid in your income when determining your financial aid package for next year.
No. Our Financial Aid office will not include HEERF emergency aid in your income when determining your financial aid package for next year.
If you receive payment from HEERF Phase III, it will be paid in its entirety to you. You will need to pay your outstanding charges separately because they will not be deducted from your aid payment amount.
Aid payment eligibility and amounts were determined based on each student’s enrollment status as of February 17, 2022. Students who withdrew prior to that date will not receive payments as part of the HEERF Phase III emergency aid distribution. Students that attended classes through February 17, 2022 and subsequently withdrew will receive a HEERF Phase II emergency aid payment.
Only students who were enrolled in degree-granting programs at CSULB and were registered in at least 1 unit in spring 2022 as of February 17, 2022 are eligible to receive emergency aid payments. Visiting students are not eligible to receive emergency aid payments from CSULB’s grant but should check with their home institutions to determine their eligibility for emergency aid.
Eligible students will receive notification about their aid payment the week of March 14-18, 2022. Our goal is to process payments for eligible students by March 22, 2022.
If your eRefund information is on file, your aid payment will be sent via direct deposit. You will not receive a check because the aid payment will be sent automatically to your bank. If you have not previously set up eRefund, you will receive an email when your paper check is available for pickup during business hours at the Cashier’s Office, Brotman Hall 148. To pick up your check, you must bring your CSULB student ID card. Paper checks that are not picked up by end of day on April 15, 2022 may be voided.
We are processing aid payments as quickly as possible, and we hope that your payment notification email will answer any additional questions you have.
For additional questions about the HEERF Phase III emergency aid payments, please contact the Division of Student Affairs at CARESActSupport@csulb.edu.
