HEER 3 is the Higher Education Emergency Relief fund, which was previously part of
the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act and was updated in
the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act
HEER 3 funds are emergency grants to university students to help pay for costs while
attending the U (e.g., tuition, books, housing, food, health care, etc.)
These funds can also be used to help with emergency costs associated with the coronavirus
NOTE: HEER 3 grants are not treated as financial aid nor are they considered in determining
eligibility for other forms of financial aid (such as scholarships, loans, or work-study)
you may receive
Who can get the HEER 3 Grant?·
ALL STUDENTS are eligible to receive the HEER 3 Grant
The American Rescue Plan (ARP), which authorized HEER 3, requires prioritization of
students with financial need in awarding HEER 3
How much will I get with my HEER 3 grant?
Every student is scheduled to be awarded $500 during the Fall 2021 semester
Students with demonstrated financial need will receive an additional $250 (for a total
of $750)
Students who are Federal Pell Grant recipients will receive an additional $250 (for
a total of $1,000)
Students who have emergency costs associated with COVID-19 may also apply for additional
funds via the university’s Emergency Fund application
How are ‘Students with demonstrated financial need’ determined?
‘Demonstrated financial need’ will be determined from a student’s 2021-2022 FAFSA
application
Students who are unable, unwilling, or ineligible to file the FAFSA are still eligible
to receive the HEER 3 grant in the amount of $500
What is the University’s plan to distribute the HEER 3 funds to students?
Update: The plan described below is the final plan for distribution
Our current HEER 3 distribution plan is based on projections of the number of enrolled
university students, including those with demonstrated financial need, from prior
years
Because ARP mandates prioritization of students with financial need, we may need to
adjust the amount(s) noted above based on the final funding we were allocated from
ARP
Every student will receive a grant, but the final award amounts may be adjusted
We will keep you informed once we finalize and award the grants
What should I do NOW to ensure I receive HEER 3 funding?
If you haven’t already filed your 2021-22 FAFSA, we encourage you to do so immediately (the U’s School Code is 003675); until HEER
3 funds are exhausted, we will review and make awards for sttudents with demonstrated
need
Be sure you are registered for Fall 2021 classes by July 31, 2021. This will help
ensure we have planned and budgeted effectively for every university student to receive
the largest HEER 3 grant for which they qualify (Note: you are not required to be
registered at this time but it will help in planning and budgeting)
Ensure your direct deposit or refund preferences are current in Campus Information Services (CIS) (visit the tuition and loans tile on the student homepage to update your direct
deposit information) as grants will be issued directly to you and will not be applied
to your student account/bill
When will I get my HEER 3 funds?
Currently, we plan to begin disbursing HEER 3 funds the week of August 30, 2021. Update: Awards began being authorized for disbursement on September 15, 2021 and will continue
until funds are exhausted
What if I have additional questions?
You may contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at financialaid@utah.edu
Please fill out the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
