HEERF II - CRRSAA Grant

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA)

The following describes how funds received from Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) have been apportioned for student purposes.

Student Portion of CRRSAA Act Funding

The Federal Government established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021. FFashion Institute of Technology received Student Aid funding under the CRRSAA section 314(a)(1) program or section 2003(7) of the ARP. This program, with some changes, provides supplemental funds to the CARES Act section 18004(a)(1) program. Fashion Institute of Technology signed and returned to the Education Department a Certification and Agreement as required under the CARES Act section 18004(a)(1) program. This fund will allow the Fashion Institute of Technology to provide emergency grants to students.

Fashion Institute of Technology acknowledges an authorized representative of the institution has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 100 percent of the funds received under Section 314 (a)(1) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. We acknowledge that by drawing down the CRRSAA funds, our institution agrees to be bound by the conditions set forth in the CRRSAA Supplemental Agreement for a portion of these funds to provide emergency aid grants to students. The Grant Award Notice was approved on January 18th, 2021. The amount of funds made available by this supplemental award under CFDA 84.425E represents the minimum amount that recipient must use for financial aid grants to students.

Fashion Institute of Technology has received or will receive $3,517,700.00 from the Department of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

Fashion Institute of Technology has distributed the following CRRSAA Act funding to students under Section 314 (a)(1) of the CRRSAA Act.

Awarding Methodology

FIT has prioritized awarding of CRRSAA Emergency Financial Aid Grants to its spring 2021 students in the following manner (methodology):

The Base Grant for eligible full-time students is $747 and the Base Grant for eligible part-time students is $373.50. The final grant award amounts were determined as follows using a template provided by the State University of New York (SUNY) that takes into consideration a student's status as full or part-time and their EFC range.

HEERF II Student award chart

FIT has prioritized awarding of CRRSAA Emergency Financial Aid Grants to its summer 2021 students in the following manner (methodology):

The Base Grant for eligible full-time students is $165 and the Base Grant for eligible part-time students is $82.50. The final grant award amounts were determined as follows using a template provided by the State University of New York (SUNY) that takes into consideration a student's status as full or part-time and their EFC range.

HEERF II student award chart for Summer 2021


Fashion Institute of Technology has determined an estimated 2,519 students at the institution are 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 students under Section 314 (a)(1) of CRRSAA Act.

Eligibility

To be eligible at the time of distribution, a student must have been enrolled in credit bearing courses at census for the spring 2021 term, filed a 2020-2021 Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), and had a valid EFC ranging from 0 - 5,711.

HEERF II Student Aid funds may be used by students 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 childcare. Students deemed eligible for an Emergency Grant will receive an email notification regarding their award. CRRSAA Grant funds will be auto-refunded regardless of any outstanding account balance. The funds will be distributed by paper check or sent electronically for those enrolled in E-Refund.

Remaining funds will be distributed to students who have been enrolled in credit bearing courses at the final census date for the summer 2021 term, filed a 2020-2021 Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), and had a valid EFC ranging from 0 - 5,711.

Repayment

There is no requirement for repayment of a Federal CRRSAA Act Grant.

Impact on Financial Aid

This funding will not have any effect on your current or future financial aid eligibility.

For additional inquiries, please contact the HEERF Fund committee by emailing [email protected].

Student Communications

Subject: CRRSAA- Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II) Information

Dear FIT Student,

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Education has provided a second HEERF grant, through the CRRSAA Act, to assist students during the qualifying emergency. FIT was awarded $3,517,700 dollars in HEERF II funding for the sole and exclusive purpose of providing emergency grants to eligible degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students.

Eligible students are those who have already filed the 2020/2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and met other SUNY/Federally mandated criteria including the following:

  • At the time of the student HEERF II/CRRSAA Grant notification and disbursement, a student must have been an eligible degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student registered in coursework on or after the census date for the award term spring 2021 to be consider for HEERF II funds. The census date for spring 2021 was February 23, 2021.  No student can be eligible for the HEERF II/CRRSAA Grant before the census date for the award term of the HEERF II Funds.
  • At the time of HEERF II/CRRSAA Grant notification and disbursement, a student must have an EFC below the Pell threshold (EFC < = 5,711 for 2020-2021 Financial Aid year) as determined by a FAFSA on file with FIT for the award term of the HEERF II/CRRSAA. FAFSAs selected for verification, the Pell-eligible EFC must be verified prior to notification and disbursement, if the verification group could change the EFC.
  • Eligible students do not need to satisfy all of the criteria for being eligible for Title IV financial aid. However, a student must satisfy all Title IV financial aid eligibility criteria that are required to generate a valid EFC from their 2020/2021 FAFSA (i.e., non-rejected FAFSA) and a student’s FAFSA C-flags for citizenship must be cleared (if exists). You may determine what your EFC is by logging into your FAFSA at fafsa.gov.
  • Students enrolled in a study-abroad program, and satisfy all other eligibility criteria, are eligible as long as FIT remains the home campus and is the campus responsible for awarding Title IV financial aid for the award term of the HEERF II Grant. Students matriculated in online academic programs are also eligible if they satisfy all eligibility criteria.  As per SUNY’s discretion to choose, FIT has determined that non-matriculated, non-degree, and visiting students will not be eligible for the grant.
  • Eligible students for a HEERF II/CRRSAA Grant will automatically be notified by the FIT Financial Aid Services Office via their FIT email address. Award recipients may also choose to decline the HEERF II Grant. Students may not appeal for additional grants from the HEERF II/CRRSAA Grant fund.  Students who demonstrate exceptional need, as determined by the college, may also receive an award.  

Please note that DACA and international students are not eligible to receive the HEERF II/CRRSAA Grant.  

HEERF II Student Aid funds may be used by students for any components 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) and/or childcare.

Funds will be refunded 100% to the student. Due to FIT operations being remote for the spring 2021 semester, it is recommended that you sign up for the E-Refund option immediately if you do not already have a E-Refund account. To do so please read the following instructions:

  1. Log in to MyFIT https://myfit.fitnyc.edu/
  2. Click on the Student Tab.
  3. Click on Pay Student Account and View E-Bill.
  4. Click on the tab for eRefunds.
  5. Click on Set Up Account.
  6. Fill out the form and save your information.
  7. Make sure your bank account number is correct and up to date as this is where your refund will be routed.
  8. When a refund is sent to your account, a notification will be sent to your FIT email address.
  9. If you do not have an E-Refund account, you will receive a check by mail which will significantly delay receipt of your grant. 

Should you have any immediate questions, please contact the Financial Aid Services Office at [email protected].

Best,

Catherine O’Rourke
Interim VP for Enrollment Management and Student Success

SUBJECT

Dear Student,

You are receiving this email because you are eligible for the CRRSAA/HEERF II stimulus funding from The Fashion Institute of Technology.

Please read this email carefully.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, funds have been made available through the CRRSAA Act to award emergency grants to students for expenses related to any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus. Eligible expenses include tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or childcare. FIT has deemed you eligible to receive an emergency grant in the amount of $xxxxx. This is not a loan, and the emergency grant will not need to be paid back and will not affect your financial aid award amounts for the academic year 2021-2022. Students must understand it is their responsibility to decline the award immediately if they will not incur expenses that meet or exceed the amount of their emergency grant. These funds will be automatically awarded and 100% refunded to you. If you wish to decline this award, please notify the college by email at [email protected].

Funds will be refunded 100% to the student. Due to FIT operations being remote for the spring 2021 semester, it is recommended that you sign up for the E-Refund option immediately if you do not already have a E-Refund account. To do so please read the following instructions:

  1. Log in to MyFIT https://myfit.fitnyc.edu/
  2. Click on the Student Tab.
  3. Click on Pay Student Account and View E-Bill.
  4. Click on the tab for eRefunds.
  5. Click on Set Up Account.
  6. Fill out the form and save your information.
  7. Make sure your bank account number is correct and up to date as this is where your refund will be routed.
  8. When a refund is sent to your account, a notification will be sent to your FIT email address.
  9. If you do not have an E-Refund account, you will receive a check by mail which will significantly delay receipt of your grant.

Should you have any immediate questions, please contact us at [email protected].

Best Regards,

Mr. Dindyal
Director of Financial Aid Services