Emergency Financial Aid

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Emergency Financial Aid

COVID-19 Emergency Funds Have Been Exhausted


Contact Financial Aid Office
Phone: 763-433-1500
Email: Financialaid@anokaramsey.edu
Walk-ins: In person at the Financial Aid Office located at both Coon Rapids and Cambridge Campus 

Business Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM 

CARES HEERF

In late March, federal legislation was passed to provide economic relief to individuals and organizations dealing with the ramifications of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This legislation—titled the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (or CARES Act)—established a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) for colleges and universities in the United States. 

The CARES Act directed that 50% of HEERF money must go toward emergency student financial assistance for various expenses related to disruptions of campus operations and changes in instruction method. 

CRRSAA HEERF II

In December 2020, the federal government passed the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II), which allocated funds to higher education institutions across the nation. Similar to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act with HEERF I funds, the HEERF II funds are distributed in grants with appropriate use stipulations and requires institutions to disburse a portion of these funds in direct support to eligible students. The funds must be used to cover expenses related to students’ cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to COVID-19, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), child care, course materials, or technology. Institutions cannot require students to use funds to pay tuition or past due balances; however, students may choose to apply the funds toward tuition.

ARP HEERF III

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) is authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2, signed into law on March 11, 2021, providing $39.6 billion in support to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. This Plan has created emergency financial aid grants to assist students with exceptional need. These grants can be used toward educational costs and other emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care. ARP requires institutions to prioritize students with exceptional need, such as those who receive Federal Pell Grants, when awarding this grant. However, students do not need to be a Pell Grant recipient or student who is eligible for Federal Pell Grants to receive this funding. ARP funding is limited, so not all applicants will receive funding.

  • Eligibility requirements for HERF I emergency assistance include enrollment in courses that were: 

    • Credit-earning 
    • Semester-based
    • Continued through or started on or after the first Monday of Spring Break 2020 


    To be eligible, students also cannot have dropped, withdrawn, or had a Last Day of Attendance before Spring Break. 

    Various restrictions on the use of these funds were established in the CARES Act and through regulatory direction from the federal Department of Education. These restrictions mean that several categories of students cannot receive emergency financial assistance, including: 

    • Current high school students (PSEO or Concurrent) 
    • Senior citizens who already received a tuition discount 
    • DACA/DREAM Act Students 
    • Students with Employer-Paid Tuition (EPT) including tuition waivers 
    • Incarcerated students
    • International students with an F1 Visa status in SEVIS 


    Eligibility requirements for HERF II & III emergency base payment include: 

    • Must be a currently enrolled student (To be eligible, students also cannot have dropped or withdrawn)
    • Must demonstrate exceptional need due to COVID-19 


    Various restrictions on the use of these funds were established in the HERF I & II base payments and through regulatory direction from the federal Department of Education. These restrictions mean that several categories of students cannot receive emergency base payments, including: 

    • Current high school students (PSEO or Concurrent) 
    • Senior citizens who already received a tuition discount 
    • DACA/DREAM Act Students 
    • Students with Employer-Paid Tuition (EPT) including tuition waivers 
    • Incarcerated students
    • International students with an F1 Visa status in SEVIS 


    Eligibility requirements for HERF II & III Emergency Grant Applications include: 

    • Must be a currently enrolled student (To be eligible, students also cannot have dropped or withdrawn) 
    • Must demonstrate exceptional need due to COVID-19
    • Cannot be receiving Employer-Paid Tuition (EPT) including tuition waivers 


    Students eligible to submit HERF II & III Emergency Grant Applications: 

    • Regular undergraduate students 
    • DACA Students
    • International students 

    Students not eligible to submit HERF II & III Emergency Grant Applications: 

    • PSEO Students
    • Incarcerated Students
    • Students receiving 3rd Party or Employer Paid Tuition

    We encourage all students experiencing financial hardships due to COVID-19 disruptions to apply for emergency grants. 

  • CARES HEERF  

    Anoka-Ramsey Community College received $1,790,488 of student emergency funds from the CARES Act. Three different methods were used to award funds to students with hopes to assist as many students as possible. Disbursements began on May 5, 2020. 

    • Base Awards ($116) – Awards of $116 were sent to all eligible students Spring 2020.*  
    • Supplemental Award ($400) – All eligible students who received a Federal Pell Grant or Minnesota State Grant received an additional $284, for a total of $400 Spring 2020. All eligible pell grant recipients received $100 for Fall 2020 semester. 
    • CARES Act Emergency Fund Applications ($500) – Twenty-six percent of the college’s allocation was reserved for applications for additional funds. Approved supplemental applications were disbursed based on student application date until funds were exhausted.  

      Approved CARES applications for emergency funds were sent directly to students. These funds did not pay any tuition, fees, or other charges on a student’s account. 

      * Students attending more than one Minnesota State college or university can only receive a Base Award from one school. Students who believe they meet the eligibility requirements, but did not have a base award, should check their student account for their other school. 

      CRRSAA HEERF II 


      Anoka-Ramsey Community College received $1,849,244 in CRRSAA money. Three different methods were used to award funds to students with hopes to assist as many students as possible. Disbursements began 
    • Base Awards – Awards of $400 were sent to all eligible students during Spring 2021 semester for Pell eligible students. Awards of $145 were sent to all eligible students during the Spring 2021 semester for non-Pell eligible students.  
    • Emergency Fund Applications – a certain percent of the college’s allocation was reserved for applications for additional funds. Students could apply for $500 without COVID related documentation or $1,000 with COVID related documentation. Approved Emergency Grant applications were disbursed based on the students requestion to either cover an existing balance with the college or directly to the student.  
    • Balances – a certain percentage of the college’s allocation was also used to cover unpaid balances during the semesters related to COVID impact.  

  • Anoka-Ramsey’s Business Office is making all disbursements of CARES funds to students. Depending on whether direct deposit is setup, students may receive their funds either by check sent in the mail or direct deposit. To check your disbursement status, follow the instructions below:

    • Login to Eservices, using your Star ID and password
    • Click on “Bills & Payment”, then “Account Detail” for Spring 2020
    • CARES disbursements and COVID-19 Fee Rebates from Anoka-Ramsey will be shown as a credit
    • Direct Deposit transactions and/or check numbers will appear here and will indicate the method that the funds were or will be disbursed. 

    If you have questions about your payment method, please contact the Business Office at 763-433-1600 or businessoffice@anokaramsey.edu. If you did not receive a payment and believe you are eligible, contact the Financial Aid Office at 763-433-1500 or financialaid@anokaramsey.edu.

  • Institutional Reporting Template (PDF)
    Quarter 2 CARES Reporting
    Quarter 3 Institutional HEERF Funds (PDF)

    Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting – Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students

    1. An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

      Anoka-Ramsey Community College signed and submitted the Certificate and Agreement for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on April 14, 2020. Anoka-Ramsey Community College plans to use at least 50% of the total allocation for student emergency funds.

    2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

      Anoka-Ramsey received award confirmation on April 24, 2020 that CARES – Student Financial Aid was available in G5. Anoka-Ramsey has received $1,790,488 of funds for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

    3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).

      1. May 21, 2020: $1,215,840
      2. July 1, 2020: $1,386,840
      3. August 14, 2020: $1,436,740
      4. October 29, 2020: $1,611,740
      5. December 31, 2020:  $1,855,422 ($1,682,012 (student funds) and $173,410* (institutional funds))
      6. March 31, 2021: $1,845,780

    *For more information on Institutional Funds reposting, see template above.

    • The estimated total number of students at the institution 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.

      Based on student eligibility as defined below, Anoka-Ramsey identified 3,591 students as eligible for funds.

    • The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

      3,591 students have received Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

    • The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

      Eligibility requirements for this emergency assistance include enrollment in courses that were:
      1. On-campus instruction (i.e. ”land-based” in federal terminology)
      2. Credit-earning (not an audited course)
      3. Semester-based
      4. Continued through or started on or after the first Monday of Spring Break

        To be eligible, students also cannot have dropped, withdrawn, or had a Last Day of Attendance before the first Monday of Spring Break (3/13/2020). Various restrictions on the use of these funds were established in the CARES Act and through regulatory direction from the federal Department of Education. These restrictions mean that several categories of students cannot receive emergency financial assistance, including:
      5. Current high school students (PSEO/Concurrent)
      6. Seniors citizens who already receive a tuition discount
      7. DACA/DREAM Act Students
      8. Students with Employer-Paid Tuition (EPT) including tuition waivers
      9. Incarcerated students
      10. International students with an F1 Visa status in SEVIS

        Anoka-Ramsey Community College received $1,790,488 of student emergency funds as part of the CARES Act. In an effort to distribute funds to make the greatest impact, three different methods were used to award funds to students.
      11. Base Award ($116) – Awards of $116 were sent to all eligible students on May 5, 2020. *
      12. Supplemental Award ($284) – All eligible students who received a Federal Pell Grant or Minnesota State Grant received an additional $284 and were sent on May 5, 2020.
      13. CARES Act Emergency Fund Applications ($500) – Twenty-six percent of the college’s allocation was reserved for applications for additional funds. Applications are reviewed by date submitted and all approval and denials are sent within a week of submission.

        * Students attending more than one Minnesota State college or university can only receive a Base Award from one school.

    • Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
      1. The distribution plan was presented to the Anoka-Ramsey Student Senate on April 28, 2020.
      2. The Student Emergency Funds Application Website was updated to include CARES Act funds.
      3. After our eligible-student list was finalized on April 30, 2020, we compared it with our records for students with Student Account holds or Title IV holds. Students who had student account holds or Title IV holds were marked as ineligible for CARES funds per the CARES Act Guidance.

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