American Rescue Plan Funding

Drexel University was awarded $18,919,385 from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to assist students with expenses related to disruptions of their educations due to the COVID-19 outbreak, such as unanticipated travel, additional technology requirements, or other needs related to an emergency situation.

Federal Emergency Aid Grant Reporting

Each institution receiving ARP funds is directed to comply with Federal regulations and submit reports outlining the distribution of these funds. At this time, Drexel University has begun distributing funds to students, prioritizing the distribution of funds to students who demonstrate excessive financial need in accordance with the Department of Education's guidance. This site will be updated appropriately as guidance is received and funds are distributed.

  1. The University received $18,223,273 on January 20, 2021, from the Department pursuant to the institution's Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
  2. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under ARP as of June 13, 2022 is $18,223,273; an additional $2,447,322 was distributed from remaining CRRSAA funding, for a total distribution of $20,670,595.
  3. 19,582 full-time students enrolled in the fall 2021 quarter and semester were 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 ARP.
  4. As of June 13, 2022, 10,091 students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the ARP.
  5. The University will award ARP funds to eligible students who previously submitted an application to confirm and attest to having been impacted by Covid-19. In addition, eligible students may receive funds via direct deposit or mailed check based on demonstrated need. Grants will be distributed to eligible students in three rounds based on demonstrated need in the below amounts.
    • Round one was distributed based on demonstrated need in spring 2021. Grants were awarded in the below amounts.
      • Pell eligible students who demonstrate need:
        • over $30,000 will receive $6,000;
        • between $20,000-$30,000 will receive $5,000;
        • between $15,000-$20,000 will receive $4,000;
        • between $10,000-$15,000 will receive $2,000;
        • between $5,000-$10,000 will receive $500.
      • Undergraduate students who are not Pell eligible and who demonstrate need:
        • over $30,000 will receive $3,345;
        • between $20,000-$30,000 will receive $2,345;
        • between $15,000-$20,000 will receive $1,000;
        • between $10,000-$15,000 will receive $750;
        • between $5,000-$10,000 will receive $500.
      • Graduate students who are not Pell eligible and who demonstrate need:
        • over $30,000 will receive $750;
        • between $10,000-$30,000 will receive $500.
    • The second round of funds were distributed in the spring of 2022 to those students who were not eligible based on their demonstrated need in the 2020–2021 academic year but showed demonstrated need in the 2021–2022 academic year. Grants were awarded in the below amounts.
      • Pell eligible students who demonstrate need:
        • over $30,000 will receive $6,000;
        • between $20,000-$30,000 will receive $5,000;
        • between $15,000-$20,000 will receive $4,000;
        • between $10,000-$15,000 will receive $2,000;
        • between $5,000-$10,000 will receive $500.
      • Undergraduate students who are not Pell eligible and who demonstrate need:
        • over $30,000 will receive $3,000;
        • between $20,000-$30,000 will receive $1,800.
      • Graduate students who are not Pell eligible and who demonstrate need:
        • Not eligible.
    • The third round of funds were distributed in the summer of 2022 to those students who were eligible based on demonstrated need in the 2020-2021 academic year. Grants were awarded in the below amounts.
      • Pell eligible students who demonstrate need:
        • over $20,000 will receive $545
      • Undergraduate students who are not Pell eligible and who demonstrate need:
        • Not eligible
      • Graduate students who are not Pell eligible and who demonstrate need:
        • Not eligible
  6. Eligible students will be notified of fund availability via letter, postcard, email, and  DrexelOne Announcement.
  7. More details regarding the University's receipt and distribution of ARP Funding can be found below.

FAQs

  • Enrolled, full-time, degree seeking students at Drexel University may receive awards under ARP.
  • Had expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, child care, or other related expenses.
  • Per Federal government requirements, ARP funding distribution will prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, in awarding financial aid grants to students. However, students do not need to be only Pell recipients or students who are eligible for Pell grants.
  • The Department of Education (DOE) issued guidance does not specifically address or clarify the eligibility of international and DACA students. The University is monitoring for any changes to these guidelines and regulations that address graduated students. If there is additional information released regarding eligibility, the University will notify students via their Drexel email.
  • Unfortunately, the ARP does not allow these funds to be used for PhD and certificate students.

The Department of Education (DOE) issued guidance does not specifically address or clarify the eligibility of international and DACA students. The University is monitoring for any changes to these guidelines and regulations that address these students. If there is additional information released regarding eligibility, the University will notify students via their Drexel email. In the meant time, international students can apply for support through Drexel's Student Emergency Fund.

Yes, you may be eligible for funding. The federal government has expanded the eligibility for ARP funding to include remote and online learners.

No. Both the ARP funding and institutional funding are limited.

Federal emergency grants will NOT pay any existing charges owed to the University, unless a student provides written permission to the University to apply these funds toward existing charges. Students may, however, use these funds to pay for any expenses related to their cost of attendance, including but not limited to tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care.

Information about applying for these funds will be emailed to eligible students when funding becomes available. If you previously received funds from the CARES or CRRSA Acts and are eligible for funds from the ARP you do not need to reapply for this funding. Funds will be directly deposited in to the account on record with Drexel Central.

If you did not previously receive CARES or CRRSA Act funding, you will need to confirm that you have been impacted by COVID-19 by completing the short application that was emailed to you. Once an application is reviewed and a decision is reached, funds will be directly deposited to the account on record with Drexel Central.

PhD and certificate students are not eligible to receive funds from ARP; however, a separate application is available for these students seeking emergency funds through Drexel's Student Emergency Fund.

The Department of Education (DOE) issued guidance does not specifically address or clarify the eligibility of international and DACA students. The University is monitoring for any changes to these guidelines and regulations that address these students. If there is additional information released regarding eligibility, the University will notify students via their Drexel email. In the mean time, a separate application is available for these students seeking emergency funds through Drexel's Student Emergency Fund.

Yes, full-time graduate students that meet the eligibility criteria are welcome to apply for ARP funding.

No. The Department of Education does not require a FAFSA to be on file to receive ARP funding.

Under the American Rescue Plan, the U.S. Department of Education has allocated $6.5 million from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to Drexel University to provide emergency grants directly to students. The emergency grants will assist students "to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, including eligible expenses under a student's Cost of Attendance (COA), such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care."

Students should receive funds within 7–10 business days of submitting their complete application.

You would not have to repay the amount awarded to you. The ARPt funds are designed to be a grant, not a loan.

The University awarded ARP grants to on campus students who fell into one of the following categories: (1) Pell grant recipients; (2) undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who did not receive a Pell grant but who had at least $15,000 of unmet institutional need. Unmet institutional need is defined as direct cost (tuition, fees, room, and board for resident students or tuition and fees for commuting students) minus Expected Family Contribution or EFC, minus all grant, scholarship, subsidized loan, federal work study, and graduate assistantship financial aid awards. The EFC that was used is derived from the CSS Profile if it was submitted for 2020–2021. If it was not submitted, the EFC is taken from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The University will award ARP funds to eligible students who submit an application in two amounts. Those students receiving a federal Pell Grant and all other eligible students with a demonstrated need above $20,000 will receive $1,000, while all other eligible students with a demonstrated need between $15,000 and $20,000 will receive $500.

The IRS issued Higher Education Emergency Grants Frequently Asked Questions that clarifies that ARP aid should be treated as a "qualified disaster relief payment" and not be treated as taxable income. Each financial award you receive from the federal government and other sources will have separate and unique tax consequences for your federal tax return. Visit the IRS website for assistance.

Yes, students are still considered full-time, enrolled students while on co-op, so they are welcome to apply for ARP funding.

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