DISTRIBUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION RELIEF FUNDS:  We recognize that many students continue to experience unexpected financial hardships due to the COVID-19 crisis.  Three bills, The Coronavirus Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSSA), and American Rescue Plan (ARP) were passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020, December 27, 2020, and March 11, 2021 respectively.  MSOE has received additional funding from CARES, CRRSSA, and ARP for direct emergency grant payments to students whose lives have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The goal is to get these grants distributed to students as quickly as possible. Funds will be directly deposited to their bank account or sent via mail if direct deposit is not set up with MSOE. The grant is intended for academically related emergency expenses that were incurred due to COVID-19.  Some examples include expenses related to food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare, and childcare.  The receipt of these funds will serve as verification that the student has financial needs in one or more of these areas.   If you have additional questions about the Emergency Grants, please contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@msoe.edu or by calling 414-277-7223. 

The following reporting outlines how much MSOE has distributed in Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds.

• ARP REPORTING UPDATE (12/31/2021): The Department of Education requires that schools receiving ARP Funding publish on their website information about Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) allocations. These reports are included below.
  • Covering Quarter Ending 12/31/2021 (12/15/2021) - Final Report
  • Covering Quarter Ending 9/30/2021 (9/24/2021)
  • Covering Quarter Ending 6/30/2021 (6/30/2021)
  • 30 Day Reporting 6/15/2021
• CRRSSA REPORTING UPDATE (6/30/2021): The Department of Education requires that schools receiving CRRSSA Funding publish on their website information about Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) allocations. These reports are included below.
  • Covering quarter ending 6/30/2021 (6/28/2021) - Final Report
  • Covering quarter ending 3/31/2021 (3/31/2021) - Final Report
  • 30 Day Reporting 2/16/2021
• CARES ACT REPORTING UPDATE (6/30/2021): The Department of Education requires that schools receiving CARES Act Funding publish on their website information about Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) allocations. These reports are included below.
  • Covering quarter ending 6/30/2021 (6/28/2021) - Final Report
  • Covering quarter ending 3/31/2021 (3/31/2021)
  • Covering quarter ending 12/31/2020 (12/31/2020)
  • Covering quarter ending 9/30/2020 (10/5/2020)
  • 30 Day Reporting 5/18/2020
• QUARTERLY BUDGET & EXPENDITURE REPORTING FOR HEERF I, II, and III (3/31/2022): The quarterly budget and expenditure reports for Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds will be provided here on a quarterly basis. Please click the link(s) below to access a PDF of the report.
  • Covering Quarter Ending 6/30/2022 for HEERF
  • Covering Quarter Ending 3/31/2022 for HEERF
  • Covering Quarter Ending 12/31/2021 for HEERF
  • Covering Quarter Ending 9/30/2021 for HEERF
  • Covering Quarter Ending 6/30/2021 for HEERF II
  • Covering Quarter Ending 3/31/2021 for HEERF II
  • Covering quarter ending 3/31/2021 for HEERF I
  • Covering quarter ending 12/31/2020 for HEERF I
  • Covering quarter ending 9/30/2020 for HEERF I

• UPDATE REGARDING EXPANSION OF SNAP BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS (4/9/2021): Due to recent legislation, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was expanded for the duration of the national  public health emergency.  The new provision temporarily expands eligibility criteria to students who are enrolled in institutions of higher education. In addition to meeting all other SNAP eligibility criteria, students with an expected family contribution (EFC) of $0 on their FAFSA, or those who are eligible for federal work-study may apply for enrollment in SNAP under the temporarily expanded criteria. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that students seeking to enroll in SNAP should apply in the state they are currently living and attending school in.   For information about your EFC of work study eligibility, please contact the Financial Aid Office. To apply or determine if you are eligible to apply, please contact your local SNAP office, which can be found at the directory here. 
• INFORMATION ABOUT STUDENT LOANS: The U.S. Department of Education has also put out some helpful information on Financial Aid for Students, Parents, and Borrowers. Please visit their page here to learn more about forebearance, interest accrual, and other implications of federal student aid.
• COVID-19 SCAMS AND FINANCIAL AID: The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators has noted that there is a rise of consumer protection complaints and scams related to debt relief and COVID-19. Please be wary of any communication regarding debt relief, and please review any information regarding loans or student debt relief at official sources. You can view their news release here.
• NOTARIZED DOCUMENTS FOR FINANCIAL AID: Students who are unable to turn in person or get notarized the Identity and Educational Purpose Statement, or the Citizenship Affidavit, are encouraged to reach out to our office at the information below. We have alternative steps to assist you in getting this turned in promptly and without delay.
• SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS POLICY UPDATE: MSOE's Financial Aid Office has made accommodations in regards to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy in light of Pass/Fail coursework, for students to maintain their eligibility for Financial Aid. Please review the update and our Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy here.

If you have any questions, or wish to reach out to us, please visit our Financial Aid page here for further contact information and options presented during COVID-19.