Financial Aid
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
MSU-Northern CARES Act Student Emergency Funding (HEERF) Report
View MSUN’s HEERF (I, II & III) quarterly Sections 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion
and 18004(a)(2) report for:
June 30, 2024 | March 31, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023 | Sep. 30, 2023 | Jun. 30, 2023 | Mar. 31, 2023, Updated: Jun. 8 2023
Dec. 31, 2022, Updated: Jun. 8 2023 | Sep. 30, 2022, Updated: Jun. 8 2023 | Jun. 30, 2022, Updated: Jun. 8 2023
Mar. 31, 2022
Dec. 31, 2021| Sep. 30, 2021 | Jun. 30, 2021 | Mar. 31, 2021
Dec. 31, 2020 | Oct. 30 2020
COVID-19 CARES Act Funding Student Information (HEERF II)
Dear Students,
Montana State University-Northern has received additional Higher Education Emergency Relief Grant (HEERF II) funding from the Department of Education as part of the CARES Act. Institutions must make financial aid grants to students, which can 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, such as students who receive Pell Grants, and authorizes grants to students exclusively enrolled in distance education.
Sincerely,
MSU-Northern Financial Aid Office
HEERF III Funding
| Reporting Date | Students Receiving Grants | Funds Distributed | Estimated Eligible Students | Certification & Agreement Signed | Total Received | Total To Distribute Directly to Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/31/2021 |
738 |
$662,861.00 |
865 |
5/16/2021 |
$2,738,622.00 | $1,422,634.00 |
| 9/30/2021 |
914 |
$845,581.00 |
921 |
5/16/2021 |
$2,738,622.00 | $1,422,634.00 |
| 10/31/2021 |
921 |
$877,003.00 |
926 |
5/16/2021 |
$2,738,622.00 | $1,422,634.00 |
| 11/30/2021 |
922 |
$945,129.00 |
926 |
5/16/2021 |
$2,738,622.00 | $1,422,634.00 |
| 12/31/2021 |
923 |
$957,838.00 |
927 |
5/16/2021 |
$2,738,622.00 | $1,422,634.00 |
| 01/31/2022 |
996 |
$1,437,760.00 |
1008 |
5/16/2021 |
$2,738,622.00 | $1,472,634.00* |
| 02/28/2022 |
1012 |
$1,472,160.00 |
1020 |
5/16/2021 |
$2,738,622.00 | $1,472,634.00* |
| 03/31/2022 |
1012 |
$1,472,634.00 |
1020 |
5/16/2021 |
$2,738,622.00 | $1,472,634.00* |
The Financial Aid Department examines a list of all students weekly. From that list, students meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress, who have also confirmed their attendance for the semester automatically received HEERF III funding. The Financial Aid office will review special circumstance requests on a case-by-case basis for funding needed above the criteria levels listed below.
Per Department of Education requirements, Financial Aid will prioritize awards by exceptional need. For the Fall 2021 semester, students with an EFC of 5486 or less, enrolled in 7 or more credits will receive $1,200. Students with an EFC of 5486 or less, with 6 credits or fewer credits will be awarded $600.00. All other students, taking 7 or more credits, will be awarded $800, and those in 6 or fewer receive $400.
For the Spring 2022 semester, the Financial Aid Department prioritizes awards by exceptional need. Students with an EFC of 5486 or less, enrolled in 7 or more credits will receive $800. Students with an EFC of 5486 or less, with 6 credits or fewer credits will be awarded $400.00. All other students, taking 7 or more credits, will be awarded $600, and those in 6 or fewer receive $300. The HEERF III funds will be disbursed to students until the award is exhausted.
MSU Northern will distribute funding to students using the student account module of Banner, via an x-feed. The Financial Aid Department will be determining the eligible students and award amounts. The Business Office will make certain that these funds will not pay outstanding balances unless the student gives written consent.
* The University granted an additional $50,000 of institutional funds to be distributed directly to students.
HEERF II Funding
| Reporting Date | Students Receiving Grants | Funds Distributed | Estimated Eligible Students | Certification & Agreement Signed | Total Received | Total To Distribute Directly to Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2/27/2021 |
6 |
$2,600.00 |
642 |
2/19/2021 |
$1,158,740.00 | $455,629.00 |
| 3/27/2021 |
349 |
$201,200.00 |
642 |
2/19/2021 |
$1,158,740.00 | $455,629.00 |
| 4/28/2021 |
441 |
$258,950.00 |
642 |
2/19/2021 |
$1,158,740.00 | $455,629.00 |
| 5/27/2021 |
590 |
$334,640.00 |
642 |
2/19/2021 |
$1,158,740.00 | $455,629.00 |
| 6/28/2021 |
644 |
$409,581.00 |
652 |
2/19/2021 |
$1,158,740.00 | $455,629.00 |
| 7/27/2021 |
648 |
$449,745.00 |
653 |
2/19/2021 |
$1,158,740.00 | $455,629.00 |
| 08/31/2021 |
652 |
$455,629.00 |
653 |
2/19/2021 |
$1,158,740.00 | $455,629.00 |
The Financial Aid Department examined a list of all students enrolled on March 1, 2021. From that list, students 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 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act were extracted. All eligible students were sent an email and text (where available) with a link to the HEERF II application. Students will complete the application, and Financial Aid personnel will review them to determine eligibility for the funds.
During resource evaluation in May, 2021, MSU-Northern Financial Aid decided to remove barriers for the remaining eligible students. The application requirement was waived and HEERF II funds awarded to all eligible students who had not yet applied, but were enrolled and meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), during the Spring semester.
Per Department of Education requirements, Financial Aid will prioritize awards by exceptional need and will require a FAFSA to be on file to determine need and citizenship. Students with 6 credits or less will be awarded $300.00. Students with ZERO EFC’s (full Pell-grant eligibility/highest need) will be awarded $800.00 and all other students, taking 7 or more credits, will be awarded $500.
All students enrolled and meeting SAP in the Summer 2021 semester were also awarded HEERF II funds without the application requirement. Students with a ZERO EFC were awarded $550, and all others were awarded $450. Credit load was not taken into consideration for Summer.
MSU Northern will distribute funding to students using the financial aid module of Banner. The Financial Aid Department will be determining the eligible students and award amounts. The Business Office will make certain that these funds will not pay outstanding balances unless the student gives written consent.
HEERF I Funding
| Reporting Date | Students Receiving Grants | Funds Distributed | Estimated Eligible Students | Certification & Agreement Signed | Total Received | Total To Distribute Directly to Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/27/2020 |
351 |
$236,000.00 |
678 |
4/27/2020 |
$911,298.00 | $455,629.00 |
| 6/27/2020 |
405 |
$271,350.00 |
678 |
4/27/2020 |
$911,298.00 | $455,629.00 |
| 7/27/2020 |
426 |
$286,050.00 |
678 |
4/27/2020 |
$911,298.00 | $455,629.00 |
| 08/27/2020 |
438 |
$294,450.00 |
678 |
4/27/2020 |
$911,298.00 | $455,629.00 |
| 09/27/2020 |
510 |
$344,500.00 |
678 |
4/27/2020 |
$911,298.00 | $455,629.00 |
| 10/27/2020 |
534 |
$360,950.00 |
678 |
4/27/2020 |
$911,298.00 | $455,629.00 |
| 11/27/2020 |
550 |
$371,800.00 |
678 |
4/27/2020 |
$911,298.00 | $455,629.00 |
| 12/27/2020 |
551 |
$372,500.00 |
678 |
4/27/2020 |
$911,298.00 | $455,629.00 |
| 01/27/2021 |
561 |
$453,600.00 |
678 |
4/27/2020 |
$911,298.00 | $455,629.00 |
| 02/27/2021 |
564 |
$455,629.00 |
678 |
4/27/2020 |
$911,298.00 | $455,629.00 |
The Financial Aid Department examined a list of all students enrolled on March 27, 2020 (date CARES Act signed). From that list, students 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 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act were extracted. All eligible students were sent an email and text (where available) with a link to the HEERF application. Students completed the application, identifying which unforeseen circumstances they faced due to the disruption on campus, related to COVID-19, and returned them to the Financial Aid office. Financial Aid personnel reviewed the applications to determine eligibility for the funds. Eligible students enrolled in 6 credits or less were granted $350, and those enrolled in 7 or more credits were granted $700.
MSU-Northern posted the following information to students on the Financial Aid page of the website, and a link to this page was made available to eligible students via email and text (where available). MSU-Northern signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement on April 17, 2020, and intends to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
COVID-19 CARES Act Funding Student Information (HEERF I)
Dear Students,
Montana State University-Northern has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Grant funding from the Department of Education as part of the CARES Act. This funding is available to qualifying students for assistance with expenses that have been incurred due to the disruption of campus operations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please review the full details on the provided CARES Act FAQ document. After review and confirmation of eligibility, should you decide to apply, please do so by completing the CARES Act Funding Application (you will need to download the document prior to completing in order to save and send to Financial Aid). Applications, for eligible students, will be processed until the funds are exhausted.
Sincerely,
MSU-Northern Financial Aid Office
