As of November 11, 2021, Bentley University has distributed all HEERF funding. Please email CARES@bentley.edu if you have any questions.

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 $36 billion in support to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bentley University has been allotted a third round of funds, amounting to $3,476,373, designated under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), to assist students with emergency grants. These funds are meant to provide students with financial aid grants, which may 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 child care. The ARP requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants or undergraduates with extraordinary financial circumstances.

Eligibility Criteria: 

• Undergraduate – Must be a student currently enrolled for the fall 2021 term in a degree program. 
• Graduate – Must be a student currently enrolled full time for the fall 2021 term in a degree program. 
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Must have filed a valid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that confirms your citizenship status.  
• To prioritize students with exceptional need, the funds were disbursed in four tiers of $3,000, $2,500, $2,000 and $1,200.

Disbursement of Funds: 

The funds disbursed under the HEERF III/ARP can be used to satisfy tuition and other Bentley charges with authorization from the students. We have begun notifying certain students of their eligibility. The process of identifying and notifying students will continue through the summer. 

If you have questions about your eligibility for 2022 HEERF funds, please contact CARES@Bentley.edu.

Section 314(1)(a) of the Coronavirus, Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), enacted on Dec. 27, 2020, allows higher education institutions to use certain funds allocated by the Department of Education to support students and higher education institutions with expenses and financial needs related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Bentley University is pleased to announce that it has been allotted a second round of funds, amounting to $1,332,814, designated under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), to assist students with emergency grants. These funds are meant to provide students with financial aid grants, which may 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 child care.  Unlike the CARES Act, the CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need.
 

Eligibility Criteria: 

• Undergraduate – Must be a student currently enrolled for the spring 2021 term in a degree program. 
• Graduate – Must be a student enrolled full time for both the fall 2020 and spring 2021 terms in a degree program. 
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Must have filed a valid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that confirms your citizenship status.  
• To prioritize students with exceptional need, the funds were distributed in three tiers of $1,000, $700 and $400 based on factors including Pell Grant eligibility and federal need-based eligibility. 
• 1,824 students are currently eligible for a distribution. 

Disbursement of Funds: 
The funds disbursed under the CRRSAA Act can be used to satisfy tuition and other Bentley charges with authorization from the students. As of April 22, 2021, all eligible students have been notified of their awards and been provided instructions to request the funds be applied to their student account or distributed directly to them through Workday.

If you have questions about your eligibility for 2021 CRRSAA funds, please contact CARES@Bentley.edu. 

On March 27, 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to ease the financial strain across the country created by COVID-19. A portion of that economic relief package included a Higher Education Emergency Relief fund to provide emergency grants to students to help them pay expenses caused by the pandemic’s disruption. On April 28, Bentley received $1.3 million for emergency financial aid for students. Bentley has signed and returned notice to the U.S. Department of Education that 100 percent of the $1.3 million will be allocated for student emergency relief. 

Student Eligibility

In compliance with guidelines set forth by the CARES Act, only students who are eligible for federal financial aid qualify for funding, and students with the greatest financial need are given priority. Student eligibility was determined by the Office of Financial Assistance based on students' FAFSA applications. Under the CARES Act, DACA and international students are not eligible for funding. During the spring 2020 semester, 2,552 Bentley students were 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 maximize the impact of the CARES Act funding, the funds were disbursed to students in amounts of $1,000, $700 and $300. The amounts were determined for eligible undergraduate and graduate students based on factors that included Pell Grant eligibility, a move from on-campus housing, satisfactory academic progress and spring 2020 enrollment. 

Students are not required to submit an application to receive CARES Act funds.

Disbursement of the Money and How it Can be Used

CARES Act funding was disbursed by check to students' primary addresses, starting on May 15, 2020. As of September 30, 2020, the university has distributed $1,339,400 to 2,426 students. CARES Act funds are non-taxable and should be used only for expenses related to disruptions caused by the pandemic including:

• Food
• Housing
• Course materials
• Technology (such as having to buy a computer or pay for internet when courses were moved online)
• Transportation for moving out of campus 
• Health care
• Child care

CARES Act funds were not applied to students' accounts to cover outstanding balances. Any funds received must be used for pandemic-related expenses. By depositing CARES Act checks from Bentley, students certify that the money will only be used for pandemic-related expenses and not for other purposes. 

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act

30-Day Report – Student Portion
Quarterly Report – Institutional Portion

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) funding through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act

30-Day Report – Student Portion
Quarterly Report (June 30, 2021) – Student Portion
Quarterly Report (June 30, 2021) – Institutional Portion

American Rescue Plan - Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) III Reporting

30-Day Report – Student Portion
Quarterly Report (September 30, 2021) – Student Portion
Quarterly Report (September 30, 2021) – Institutional Portion
Quarterly Report (September 30, 2021) – Institutional Portion (12/15/21 update)
Quarterly Report (December 31, 2021) – Student Portion

For More Information

For more information on CARES Act funding or if you have any questions, please contact CARES@Bentley.edu.