New Student Relief Funds Awarded for Fall Semester 2021

Utah State University will begin awarding a new round of student relief grants on Aug. 12-13 to students enrolled for fall semester. The university has slightly more than $27 million in federal relief funding it will distribute to continue to support students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nearly 9,000 students will be notified through their USU email accounts that they have automatically qualified for awards of $400 or $500. Automatic awards are determined by students demonstrating “exceptional need” in their completed 2021-2022 FAFSA.

These funds have been allocated from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) to aid students with any component of their cost of attendance. “We are glad to be able to continue financially supporting our students through the extended challenge of this pandemic,” said USU Vice President for Student Affairs James Morales. “Our goal is to help keep students on track to graduate.”

Awards may also be used for emergency costs due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, transportation, health care (including mental health care), or child care. Students must accept their award when they are notified, and they have the option of applying it to their outstanding university balance or getting it sent directly to them.

Students who do not receive automatic awards, but who have experienced significant unexpected expenses such as loss of employment, reduced income, or food or housing insecurity, can apply for grants of up to $250. This includes international and undocumented students who do not fill out the FAFSA. The application is here: usu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2c3EOKgkKNdYwGq.

In March 2021, HEERF III was allocated $39.6 billion in funding by the American Rescue Plan. This funding is available to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the pandemic.

As of June 30, 2021, USU has disbursed a total of $17,261,670 of federal relief funding to 13,017 students. For more information on USU’s student relief grants, visit usu.edu/covid-19/cares.