Your  Account:

HEERF II Funding

Status – Student Portion

CSUSM has received authorization to award $7,981,518 in direct emergency grants to students and redirected $2 million from the institutional portion to increase the awards. 

Overview – Student Portion

As a result of Congress passing the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), CSUSM has been allocated $7,981,518 in emergency student aid.  This aid will be awarded as HEERF II Grants. The date of enactment for CRRSAA was December 27, 2020. 

According to the CRRSAA and guidance from the Department of Education (ED), the following factors played a pivotal role in CSUSM’s decision for awarding these funds:

  • Funds may be used for pre-award costs incurred on or after December 27, 2020.
  • Institutions must make financial aid grants to students, which can be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or childcare.
  • Unlike the CARES Act, the CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, and authorizes grants to students exclusively enrolled in distance education.
  • Students must be a U.S. Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen
  • Students must be in a qualifying degree program and enrolled in Spring 2021

Who Will Receive Funds? – Student Portion

As a result of this guidance, CSUSM will be awarding HEERF II Grants from CRRSAA to the following students, and under the following conditions:

  • Spring 2021 enrolled students who are in a qualifying degree program,
  • enrolled in at least one unit,
  • have a 2020-21 FAFSAon file with CSUSM indicating they meet the citizenship or Eligible Non-Citizen requirement,
  • have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) in the ranges below.

There are 11,583 eligible students that meet the Federal and CSUSM eligibility criteria.  The breakdown of this population by Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) and award amounts:

Aid Year

Term

EFC Distribution

Count

Award Amount

Cost

2021

Spring 21

0 – 7,000

7726

$1,000

$7,726,000

2021

Spring 21

7,001 – 15,000

1,530

$750

$1,147,500

2021

Spring 21

15,001+

2,366

$500

$1,183,000

 

 

 

11,604

 

$10,056,500

Students may not receive more than one HEERF II Grant, so individual appeals will not be accepted.

Timeframe and Process for Awarding – Student Portion

Awarding will take place in one group award and disbursement for students with a FAFSA at CSUSM. All student funding will be released and none of the funds will apply to balances.   

  • The Financial Aid & Scholarships Office will post a HEERF II Grant for the student in MyCSUSM on Thursday, March 25, 2021. Once the awards added, students will be sent an e-mail Award Notice to their CSUSM e-mail account directing them to MyCSUSM to view the award.
  • No action is needed by students once they have been awarded. The grant will automatically disburse on Friday, March 26, 2021 without the need for the student to do anything. If students have signed up for Direct Deposit, the refund will be in the student’s bank account within 3 days. If the student has not signed up for Direct Deposit, they should do so immediately, or a paper check will be mailed to the address in the MyCSUSM portal.  Paper checks take 14 business days.
  • By accepting the refund of the HEERF II award, students are acknowledging they have a need for these funds to help with their educational costs in the Spring 2021 term, or that they have incurred emergency costs arising due to Coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care.
  • Any students that receive funds, and no longer need assistance can send an email to finaid@csusm.edu with their student id and request to return the funding.

HEERF II Funds Disbursed

HEERF II Student portion

 $7,977,500

 8,073

HEERF II MSI  

 $1,173,500

 1,772

HEERF II MSI 

 $867,000

 1,734

Distribution Category

Amount Disbursed

# of Students as of March 31, 2021

AB 540 students

The HEERF II funds are open to students that are US Citizens or Eligible Non-Citizens.  CSUSM wanted to ensure our AB540 students who are ineligible for HEERF II funding received additional support; we have applied $1000 dollars in State University Grant Fees to the student’s account.  The State University Grant is not refundable; the grant will pay unpaid fees or refund to the payment type used to pay the fees.  For example, a student paid their fees with an e-check, the fees would be refunded to the e-check.  There are 235 AB540 students enrolled in Spring that will receive this payment. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How will my refund arrive?

If you signed up for Direct Deposit, you will have your refund in your bank account within 3 days.  If you didn’t, the campus will mail you a paper check that will arrive in 14 business days. Please sign up for Direct Deposit today.

What if you did not receive an award?

Complete your FAFSA right away and ensure CSUSM’s Title IV School Code is 030113 is on the application.  If your FAFSA is not received by April 9, 2021, you will not be considered for HEERF II funding.

If you are not an US Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen, you are not eligible for the HEERF II funding.  CSUSM has emergency financial aid options available, you can apply for the ASI Student Emergency Fund.

If you have already completed your FAFSA, and it has been more than 7 business days, please email finaid@csusm.edu with your student id.

Did you already withdraw?  You are not eligible for HEERF II funding since you are no longer enrolled.

How can I tell if I’ve been awarded?

Please log into your MyCSUSM portal and review your awards. 

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My friend got a bigger award then me, what can I do?

The data on the FAFSA is used to determine your eligibility for financial aid and HEERF II funding. Every family situation is different.  If you need additional support beyond the HEERF II grant, please apply for the ASI Student Emergency Fund

Can I apply for another HEERF II Grant?

Unfortunately, no.  There is limited funding and CSUSM has already added 2 million to ensure as many students as possible can be awarded. 

I don’t see my refund, what can I do?

Students on direct deposit should see the funds in their account within 1-3 business days.  Students not on direct deposit will receive a refund check via USPS in 14 business days. Students needing assistance with their Student Account, should review the information in this page.

How can I tell if I’m not in a degree seeking program?

Please log into your MyCSUSM portal and review your ToDo items.  Once you have completed a FAFSA, the financial aid process will begin.  Any items needed by the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office will appear on the To Do List.  If your program is not an eligible program, you will have a To Do item “Fin Aid Ineligible Program”.  Students in the OpenUniversity or visiting students are not degree seeking students and not HEERF II eligible.

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