The school has disbursed 100% of the HEERF grant funds designated for emergency grants to students as of June 30, 2022. The application process is closed.
To be eligible, a student must:
- Been enrolled at NWSWB on or after March 13, 2020
Unlike previous emergency student financial aid grants through the CARES Act and CRRSAA, students do not need to be Title IV (Federal Student Aid) eligible to receive HEERF III grants. Additionally, undocumented, and international students may receive HEERF III grants.
Exceptional need:
Under the American Rescue Plan, NWSWB is required to prioritize students with exceptional need. Eligible students with exceptional need (as defined below) may receive grants of up to $3,000. All other eligible students may receive grants of up to $1,500.
In accordance with issued guidance, NWSWB defines “students with exceptional need” as:
- Students who receive Pell Grants while attending NWSWB.
- Students with an expected family contribution (EFC) of less than or equal to $6,495. EFC is calculated when students complete a 2021-2022 FASFA application.
Emergency financial aid grants may be used by students for any component of their cost of attendance, such as tuition, food, housing, transportation, required tools, or for emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus such as health care (including mental health care) or childcare. Students must certify that they have eligible expenses in the amount of the grant they receive. Students determine how they use their emergency financial aid grant within the allowable uses.
A team consisting of the school’s Financial Aid Director, Students Services Manager, and the Student Affairs Manager will review the applications and determine the amount of grant award based on the number of requests made using customary financial aid award principles.
About the HEERF III and Rescue Plan
Signed into law on March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) includes aid to assist higher education institutions in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) includes aid to students and institutions.
NWSWB was allocated $166,635 in ARP funding through the U.S. Department of Education. This allocation was determined by the federal government using a formula based on the total student enrollment weighted for the number of Pell eligible students. At least $83,318 of this allocation must be awarded to students for emergency financial aid grants.
In accordance with the ARP, NWSWB will prioritize grants to students with exceptional financial need as defined above. Eligible students with exceptional need will receive an HEERF III grant of up to $3,000 and other eligible students will receive an HEERF III grant of up to $1,500. Students with eligible expenses of less than the applicable grant amount will receive a grant in the amount of their eligible expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
The number of students who receive a grant and the amount of the grant will be determined by the number of students who complete applications. Eligible students with exceptional need (as defined above) will receive a HEERF III grant of up to $3,000. Other eligible students will receive a HEERF III grant of up to $1,500.
Yes. On the HEERF III grant application, students can choose if they would like the grant applied directly to their student account or issued directly to them in the form of a check.
Grant funds will be applied to a student’s account immediately upon award. Students who choose to have their grant funds issued to them directly will received a check during the first week of class.
No, the funds will not affect current financial aid.
It is NWSWB’s understanding that HEERF III grants are not treated as taxable income or untaxed income for Title IV federal student aid purposes. However, we advise you to consult with your tax advisor when filing your 2021 returns.
Contact:
Katie Whalen, Business Manager
[email protected]
Information on HEERF and CARES Act Funding, including quarterly reports
Previously awarded CARES Act Grant:
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal grant that provides relief from COVID-19. The CARES Act specifies that funds can be disbursed as grants to students whose education is impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. The funds are to be used specifically for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus, and may be used for food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care incurred during 2020 summer and fall quarters. Best of all, these grants do not have to be paid back.
The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement of these awarded funds. The school has received $500,000 dollars of federal CARES Act funds of which the school acknowledges $31,782 will be disbursed to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to current students.
As of November 16, 2020 the school has dispersed 100% of the $31,782 received from the Department of Education to 18 students ( 67% of current students). NWSWB estimates the total number of students at the institution who are or could be eligible to participate is 20 students (or 75% of current students).
The school received a second award of $79,027 dollars of federal CARES Act funds of which the school acknowledges $31,782 has been disbursed to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to current students.
As of July 6, 2021, the school has dispersed 100% of the $31,782 received from the Department of Education to 11 students (61% of current students). NWSWB estimates the total number of students at the institution who are or could be eligible to participate is 18 students (or 100% of current students).
Current Award Cares Act Grant:
The school received a third award of $166,636 dollars of federal CARES Act funds of which the school acknowledges $83,317 will been disbursed to provide Grants to students.
As of June 30, 2022, the school has dispersed 100% of the $83,317 received from the Department of Education to 32 students (60% of current students 2022-2023 school year). NWSWB estimates the total number of students at the institution who are or could be eligible to participate is 53 students (or 100% of current students 2022-2023 school year).
The School’s CARES Act Grant Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report can be found here:
Notifications:
Students were sent an email on 7-28-2020 directing them to the school’s website where instructions and an online application are available. The School’s Financial Aid Director hosted a follow-up Q&A CARES Act Emergency Grant zoom meeting with current students on 7-30-2020. Ongoing periodic emails have been sent out to enrolled students notifying them of available grant funds with links to our website application, Financial Aid Staff have contacted financial aid applicants to inform them of funding and to facilitate enrolled students with the process.
