The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) III is authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and was signed by President Biden on March 11, 2021. This law gives the U.S. Department of Education federal funds to support institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the ARP, the relief fund was created to provide colleges and universities with funds for students’ financial aid grants and cover institutional expenses related to the pandemic. The University of Maryland’s (UMD) approach to distributing these funds is student-centered.
UMD has received $29,263,877 to distribute to eligible students as UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II's to be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to the pandemic, such as:
- assistance with food purchases,
- needs related to housing/rent/utilities,
- assistance with health care (including mental health care) or child care expenses,
- the payment of tuition or purchase of course materials, and/or
- technology-related needs.
**We are no longer accepting applications at this time.
The UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II is offered using two methods:
- A portion of the funding is provided based on financial need to eligible students using information from the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Another portion of the funding is provided to eligible students using the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II Application.
A student must meet all the criteria listed below to qualify for the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II:
- A student must use the funds to cover unexpected expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted their educational experience, including the allowable expenses listed above.
- An undergraduate or graduate student (degree-seeking, non-degree seeking or certificate-seeking) who was enrolled on or after March 13, 2020.
How much is each grant?
Grant amounts will vary based upon student need and availability of funding. We will attempt to provide as many grants as possible to eligible students.
How many UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II's have been distributed to students?
For details on the number of students who have received the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II, please refer to the Student Grant Reporting tab on this page.
How many UMD students are eligible to receive a UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II?
For details on the number of eligible UMD students, please refer to the Student Grant Reporting tab on this page.
Can a student request COVID relief funds more than once if the need arises?
Yes, students may apply for COVID relief funds more than once. However, the funds are limited and will be awarded to students on a rolling basis until the funds are exhausted.
Do students have to repay their UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II?
Students who receive a UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II are not required to repay the grant.
Can a student use COVID relief funds to cover an outstanding balance on their UMD student bill?
Yes, students can use approved and provided COVID relief funds to cover any outstanding balance on their UMD student bill. On the application, students will have the option to provide an authorization to UMD to cover any outstanding balance they may have using the approved grant.
What will be required as justification for the grant? Will students be asked to show evidence that they have been adversely affected by COVID-19?
Students who wish to apply for the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II will be asked to submit the application.
Applicants will be asked to provide a statement about how the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unexpected financial hardship.
How quickly will students have access to their grant funds once they have been approved to receive them?
Approved grants will be paid through the student billing process.
Students who apply for the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II will be reviewed and decisions will be released 7 to 10 business days after receipt of the application. Applicants will receive an email once their application is reviewed. If an application is approved, eligible students can view the award using the student financial aid portal.
If you haven’t already done so, please sign up for a direct deposit. This will allow faster access to funds.
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 03.31.2023
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 12.30.2022
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 09.30.2022
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 06.30.2022
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 12.31.2021
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 09.30.2021
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 06.30.2021
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 03.31.2021
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 12.31.2020
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 09.30.2020
1. UMD acknowledges that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and assures 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 UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II's to students. UMD acknowledges receive two supplemental grants: The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSSA/HEERF II), 2021 Supplemental Agreement (CFDA 84.425E) ((a)(1) Student Aid Portion); and the America Rescue Plan (ARP/HEERF III).
2. UMD has received $29,263,877 to distribute to eligible students as the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II to be used for any component of the student's cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to the pandemic.
3. The chart below records the amount of funds UMD has distributed, the number of students that are eligible to receive the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II, and the number of students that have received the grant per quarter.
| Funds | Report Period | # Recipients for the period | $ paid for the period | # Total Recipients | $ Total Paid | # Cumulative Federally Eligible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CARES Act (HEERF I) | 2020 1st 30 Days (5/15 to 6/15) | 7,296 | $8,834,087 | 7,296 | $8,834,087 | 34,000 |
| CARES Act (HEERF I) | 2020 Q2 (6/16 to 6/30) | 1,140 | $1,325,650 | 8,094 | $10,159,737 | 34,000 |
| CARES Act (HEERF I) | 2020 Q3 (7/01 to 9/30) | 400 | $384,250 | 8,359 | $10,543,987 | 36,335 |
| CARES Act (HEERF I) | 2020 Q4 (10/01 to 12/31) | 3 | $3,000 | 8,361 | $10,546,987 | 36,335 |
| CRRSA (HEERF II) | 2021 Q1 (1/01 to 3/31) | 2 | $2,400 | 8,363 | $10,549,387 | 34,897 |
| CRRSA and ARP (HEERF II-III) | 2021 Q2 (4/01 to 6/30) | 8,279 | $18,778,723 | 12,404 | $29,328,110 | 34,897 |
| CRRSA and ARP (HEERF II-III) | 2021 Q3 (7/01 to 9/30) | 10,045 | $18,040,288 | 16,222 | $47,368,398 | 36,699 |
| CRRSA and ARP (HEERF II-III) | 2021 Q4 (10/01 to 12/31) | 1,247 | $1,752,601 | 16,598 | $49,120,999 | 36,699 |
| ARP (HEERF III) | 2022 Q1 (1/01 to 3/31) | 368 | $743,550 | 16,639 | $49,864,549 | 35,143 |
- Student Grant Reporting: Quarter Ending 06.30.2022
- Student Grant Reporting: Quarter Ending 09.30.2022
- Student Grant Reporting: Quarter Ending 12.30.2022
- Student Grant Reporting: Quarter Ending 03.31.2023
4. UMD used the following methods to offer the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II:
- Identified undergraduate students who were enrolled for the Spring 2021 and/or the Fall 2021 semesters that were considered to have high need based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculated by their 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Application were automatically offered emergency grant funds using the block awarding method.
- An email communication was sent to inform enrolled undergraduate students with an EFC greater than zero and all graduate students regarding the special circumstances appeal process. If the situation warranted an adjustment, students were directed to submit the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II Application. Within the application, students were requested to attest which federally approved conditions for funding they met and answer self-certification questions about the financial impact they experienced.
- Students who were initially offered emergency grant funds using the block awarding method could also be considered for additional emergency funding by submitting the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II Application. Student grant amounts varied based on the student need and availability of funding. UMD attempted to provide as many grants as possible to eligible students.
5. Students who received emergency grant funds using the block awarding method and had an outstanding student account balance were notified via email that they were offered emergency grant funds. The email also offered students the option to have their funds applied toward their outstanding balance by providing authorization using the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant Authorization Form listed under the To Do section of their financial aid portal.
Students who submitted the UMD Student COVID Relief Grant II Application were notified of their decision via email. If approved, instructions were provided to view their offer through their financial aid portal. Students were also encouraged to sign up for direct deposit through the Student Financial Services and Cashiering website in an effort to receive funds as quickly as possible.