HEERF SSARP Funding

Supplemental Support Under the American Rescue Plan (SSARP)

by Authority of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA)

THE APPLICATION FOR SPRING 2023 IS NOW CLOSED

FUNDS FOR THE SSARP GRANT ARE DEPLETED AT THIS TIME.

IF ADDITIONAL FUNDS ARE RECEIVED, WE WILL SEND OUT NOTIFICATION

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), much like CRRSAA, has authorized Arkansas Tech University to provide student grants. These grants will provide the opportunity for students with exceptional need to directly receive funds through emergency grants to cover any component of their cost of attendance¹, or for costs that have arisen due to coronavirus such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or childcare.

Consistent with the requirement that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, the maximum amount of emergency assistance that is provided by this grant at this time is as follows:

· $750 for undergraduate students with an exceptional need, such as full Pell eligibility or extraordinary financial circumstances.
· $500 for undergraduate students eligible for some Pell Grant funds, but not the entire award.
· $250 for undergraduate or graduate students who have need but are not eligible for Pell Grants.

As an alternative, students can, on their application for these funds, elect to voluntarily provide consent to the university to apply the student's ARPA grant funds directly to their student account at Arkansas Tech University as opposed to the student receiving the funds directly. Please note - this consent is NOT a requirement for an eligible student to receive funds and it will not affect the student's application in any way. Students may decline to have this money pay their debt owed to Arkansas Tech University and it will not affect the student’s application for this grant. The student may still receive funds from the American Rescue Plan.

Students enrolled anytime from March 13, 2020, to now are eligible to apply, and do not have to be eligible for Title IV aid but must be able to show exceptional need. American citizens, permanent residents, refugees, asylum seekers, DACA recipients, other DREAMers, and similar undocumented students are eligible for funding.

Consistent with the requirement that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, the application will open to Pell eligible undergraduate students with exceptional need on January 4, 2023. To ensure priority consideration for funding, these students should complete the application by the priority deadline date of February 8, 2023.

Undergraduate students who are not Pell-eligible and graduate students may apply beginning February 9, 2023.

Once the priority deadline has passed, all other students who are not eligible for Pell Grants may apply. Applications will be processed in the order they are received and grants may continue to be awarded if funds remain.

Funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and may be exhausted at any time.

We also recognize that the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) information may not always accurately portray your current financial situation. If your financial situation has changed due to circumstances beyond your control, you may request a special consideration review of your financial aid eligibility based on those circumstances.

To apply for the spring 2023 round of funding, either:

Log in to OneTech.
Search for the American Rescue Plan card.
Submit the application as instructed.

If awarded, the funds will be processed through Tech's refund process. Processing time may take up to or more than two weeks. If you are signed up for direct deposit, your grant will be deposited directly into your account. If you are not signed up for direct deposit, your grant will be sent to the mailing address on the system. You can sign up for direct deposit at least two days prior to award. Once you receive these funds, they are to be used for components of your cost of attendance or for emergency costs that have arisen due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health), or childcare.

If you voluntarily consented to have your grant pay your Arkansas Tech bill, it will be processed and credited to your student account.

Application for the ARPA grant is not a guarantee of funding.

To sign up for direct deposit, a student should:

Log in to OneTech.
Search for the Student Account Quick Links card.
Click on Enroll in Direct Deposit in the center of the card.

The funding each school receives is limited, so the grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is depleted.

The final deadline to apply for SSARP funding at Arkansas Tech University was expected to be 5:00 pm March 14, 2023, however, funds were depleted prior to this date, so the application was closed on February 15, 2023. If we receive additional funds in the future, we will send out notification.