HEERFIII

American Rescue Plan, 2021 (ARP)

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III)

The total funding to Antioch University for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students allocated under the ARP (“American Rescue Plan”), Public Law 117-2, is $1,648,533. Antioch University signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the ARP program to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

Grant funds may be used for any component of the cost of attendance (i.e., food, housing and utilities, health insurance including mental health care, transportation, or childcare) or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus.

To apply for HEERF III grant funds, please log into AUDirect between October 5-18, 2021.

The application will be open from October 5-18, 2021.

Funding is limited, and Antioch University is required to prioritize grants to students with exceptional need. Not all students who apply will receive federal grant funds. All responses will be reviewed and award notifications will be sent to students’ Antioch email address. Applicants not awarded grant funds will also be notified by email.

We are using the FAFSA’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as a proxy to define exceptional need as we review student applications. We will award based on priority groups, until all funding is expended.

If you are awarded a HEERF III grant, you will receive notification via email and funds will be refunded directly to you via your preferred method currently on file (by direct deposit or paper check).

If you have questions, see FAQ’s below or contact the HEERF Response team at: [email protected]

Reporting information can be found here

HEERF III FAQs

I received an e-mail telling me I am eligible, but I can’t find the link to the application. What should I do?

If you are unable to find the HEERFIII Apply button on your AUDirect home page, please try the following:

  1. Log out of AUDirect
  2. Close your browser
  3. Open a new browser* and log into AUDirect.

*Google Chrome is the recommended browser for this specific application.

If issues persist, please reach out to [email protected], and a team member will assist you.

How much money has Antioch University received for ARP HEERFIII Student Aid funds and how many students qualify?

Antioch University has received additional federal assistance as a result of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) which provides additional funding to the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III) to support students with exceptional need, in continuing their education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Antioch received a total of $3,297,065 in HEERFIII funding, split into two portions – *$1,648,533 in student aid grants, and $1,648,532 in institutional support.

Who is eligible for the ARP HEERF III Student Aid funds?

The ARP requires institutions to prioritize HEERFIII student aid grants to students with “exceptional need” and gives institutions broad discretion to determine the amount and availability of the grants. Current Antioch University undergraduate and graduate students who apply within the application period of October 5-18, 2021 will be considered for an award and will be reviewed by way of priority groups using EFC as a proxy to identify exceptional need.

To be considered eligible to apply, you must be:

  • Matriculated into a program of study
  • Enrolled in the Summer 2021 term and/or Fall 2021 term

International and undocumented students are NO LONGER excluded from eligibility for the funds.

If my EFC is more than zero, am I excluded from eligibility?

No. All students who apply and attest to the need for the funds within the application period will be considered. and Funds will be granted using priority groups (established using EFC as a proxy to identify exceptional need) until fully expended. PLEASE NOTE: There are limited funds and so not all students who apply will receive a grant.

What if I didn’t file a FAFSA, am I still eligible to apply?

Yes, eligibility for aid is not a requirement for HEERFIII funding. Note that we are required to award funds to students with exceptional need and will use EFC as a proxy, if on file, to prioritize those eligible for grants until funding is fully expended. PLEASE NOTE: There are limited funds and so not all students who apply will receive a grant.

To be considered eligible to apply, you must be:

  • Matriculated into a program of study
  • Enrolled in the Summer 2021 term and/or Fall 2021 term

International and undocumented students are NO LONGER excluded from eligibility for the funds.

When were qualifying students notified of their eligibility status and the amount of their grants?

On October 5, 2021, the University sent emails to the 3,954 students identified as eligible to apply for HEERFIII federal funds. The email announcement included a link to the application for HEERFIII funding. We will review all applications after the close of the application period. Application period is October 5, 2021 – October 18, 2021. We will begin communicating to students awarded funding by the week of October 25th. All communications go to a student’s Antioch University student email.

How do I apply?

There is an application process. A communication was sent from the Chancellor’s Office on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 that included a link to the application. Eligible students will be able to find a link logged into AUDirect. If you have trouble locating the application, please contact [email protected].

When will ARP HEERFIII Student Aid funds be available?

We will begin communicating to students awarded funding by the week of October 25th. All communications will go to a student’s Antioch University student email.

How will students receive their grants?

We will be processing your award on or after October 29; you will receive the full amount via mailed check or automatic deposit if you are signed up for it.

If you are not signed up for automatic deposit, you can sign up via ‘AU View “under the Financial Information section “Non-Payroll Bank Information.”

You can also verify or make changes to your mailing address in ‘AUView’ under “Update My Contact Information. ‘AUView’ can be found after logging into your student account via the AUDirect Link.

Will receiving a grant through the ARP HEEFIII affect a student’s regular financial aid?

No. Recipients of emergency grants will see no impact on the calculation of their financial need.

How were funds awarded?

The HEERFIII grant was awarded by way of priority groups until all funds have been expended. We acknowledge that there is more need than we have available funds, so not all students who applied received a grant.

To determine exceptional need and priority groups, we utilized a student-centric approach by reviewing EFC scores on the 2021-22 FAFSA applications that were submitted by the close of the HEERFIII application period.

Are ARP HEERFIII Student Aid fund grants taxable?

No. The grants are not included in gross taxable income. For that reason, also, students who use some of their grant to pay for course materials required for online learning cannot claim that expense as a qualifying tax deduction or credit.

Are students who were enrolled exclusively in online programs prior to the national coronavirus emergency eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants?

Yes. This is a change from the previous policy set by Congress under the CARES Act.

Do I have to pay this money back?

No. Any funds a student receives from the ARP HEERF III will not need to be repaid.

I got this money as a refund. Does this mean my student account balance has been paid off?

No. Distribution of ARP HEERFIII Student Aid funds is made directly to students and not applied by the University toward any outstanding balances that may still be owed by the student. As such, receipt of these funds does not indicate the recipient has satisfied their financial obligations to Antioch University for any charges incurred during the Fall 2021 term or any terms prior. Please check your current student account balance in AUView.

Can students appeal decisions regarding their eligibility or the amount of their grant?

There is no process for appeal. However, for students in immediate, urgent need, we encourage you to communicate that to us by emailing: [email protected]

Can ARP HEERFIII Student Aid fund grants be used to pay for tuition or outstanding balances for fees, debts or other amounts owed to their college?

Yes. The funds are for the students to use however they see fit, but are intended for unexpected expenses, unmet financial need, or expenses related to the disruption of campus operations resulting from the coronavirus. These include expenses for food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, or childcare. AU chose to put the money directly into the hands of its students so that they may choose how to best use these funds.

Skip to content