The Coronavirus Assistance, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided more than $14 billion in support for higher education. Of that, Cornell University was allocated $12,800,980, based on both total enrollment and the number of enrolled students eligible for Federal Pell Grants. Cornell University signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education a Certification and Agreement affirming 50% of those funds ($6,400,490) would be distributed in grants to students who incurred unexpected expenses due to the COVID-19 emergency and campus closures (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care).

As of April 21, 2021, Cornell distributed a total of $6,400,490 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants to 3,979 students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. CARES emergency student grant funds were not contingent upon future enrollment and were passed through the University’s Student Information System, PeopleSoft, in full and were not applied to or used to offset any charge, debt, tuition, fees, or other unpaid balance in a student account, nor were the funds encumbered in any manner by Cornell. Federal guidance has confirmed that the amounts distributed are not subject to tax or withholding. Students enrolled in direct deposit gained access to funds approximately three business days following the date of disbursement. For those not enrolled in direct deposit, the Office of the Bursar issued a check.

Student Eligibility Requirements:

Cornell University distributed all CARES Act student emergency grant funding under the requirement that all recipients of funds awarded under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act must be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

• To demonstrate eligibility for CARES funding, students must have submitted to Cornell a valid 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Based on this requirement, approximately 10,170 Cornell students demonstrated potential eligibility, as of March 2020.

The university’s chief aim in this distribution was to ensure that our highest-need students were able to continue pursuing their educational goals, including our Spring 2020 graduates whose final semester was disrupted by the pandemic. To establish a priority of awarding funds, Cornell University identified students as having the most significant financial need as those who were either:

• undergraduate dependent students with an expected parent/guardian contribution or independent students with a personal contribution of less than $18,000 during the 2019-2020 academic year, or
• graduate and professional students with federal loan borrowing history.

Based on the following priority indicators, established by Cornell, 5,130 potential receipts were identified CARES Act emergency grant fund recipients.

Typical award values for CARES awards ranged between $300 and $2,500. Amounts were adjusted for any student who received emergency funding through the University’s Access program or housing/dining or other refunds and were based on each student’s specific calculated expected contribution.

Beginning 3/22/2021, Cornell expanded initial CARES Act award eligibility for graduate student borrowers from the Ithaca and Cornell Tech locations whose loan borrowing in 2019-2020 exceeded the combined total of funds received from graduate tuition awards, graduate fellowships and stipends, and primary federal EFC to account for a longer timeline of expenses incurred as a result of the Spring 2020 COVID campus disruption through the start of the Fall 2021 semester under the following circumstances:

• If the eligible graduate student previously received HEERF funds, the student was eligible to receive an additional $1,031.39
• If the eligible graduate student had not previously received HEERF funds, the student was eligible to receive a total of $1588.34 minus any Access Awards they earlier received as assistance for the COVID disruption. This represents the initial award amount of $556.95 plus the additional amount of $1,031.39.

Eligible students received a notice of grant eligibility and were asked to review the proposed award and certify that they incurred not-otherwise reimbursed covered expenses in at least the amount of the award. Students were able to (1) accept that award amount; (2) accept a lesser amount that more accurately reflects their unreimbursed expenses; or, (3) accept no funds if they did not incur reimbursable expenses.

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 approved $22.7 billion in additional support for higher education. Of that, Cornell University was allocated $18,512,730 using a formula based on total enrollment, distance and in-person education, and the number of enrolled students eligible for Pell Grants. The CRRSAA required that institutions receiving funding under section 314(a)(1) provide the “same amount” of funding in financial aid grants to students that it was required to provide under the CARES Act.

As of September 13, 2021, Cornell University distributed $6,400,490 in HEERF II funds under the CRRSAA to 2,060 students following the requirements and discretion provided to institutions under the law, prioritizing students with exceptional need. Funds were available for use in assisting with any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arose due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care. Funds were not restricted to expenses associated with the closure of campus in the Spring 2020 semester and were not contingent upon future enrollment. Funds were passed through the University’s Student Information System, PeopleSoft, in full and were not applied to or used to offset any charge, debt, tuition, fees, or other unpaid balance in a student account, nor were the funds encumbered in any manner by Cornell. Federal guidance has confirmed that the amounts distributed are not subject to tax or withholding. Students enrolled in direct deposit gained access to funds approximately three business days following the date of disbursement. For those not enrolled in direct deposit, the Office of the Bursar issued a check.

Student Eligibility Requirements:

Cornell University identified students with exceptional need as those who:

• Met the criteria for CARES Act Emergency Student Grant Funds, but for whom CARES Act funding was unavailable; or
• Self-identified as having high financial need by self-reporting emergency expenses and demonstrating eligibility for Cornell Grant funds OR provided an explanation of their financial circumstance; or
• Updated September 13, 2021: Undergraduate students who submitted a 2021-2022 FAFSA or Profile Application (or who qualified for continuing student Profile rollover) who met one of the following formulas:
  • Students identified as Dependent on the FAFSA or Profile: (49,500 minus Parent Contribution) divided by 15
  • Students identified as Independent on the FAFSA or Profile: (49,500 minus Student Contribution) divided by 15.
• Funding was first made available to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need who were either enrolled in the Fall 2021 semester or expressed their intent to enroll.

The American Rescue Plan Act, 2021 (ARP / HEERF III) provided an additional $40 billion in support for higher education. Cornell University was allocated $33,273,598 using a formula based on total enrollment, distance and in-person education, and the number of enrolled students eligible for Pell Grants, and was required to spend at least 50% for student emergency grants.

As of March 31, 2022, Cornell University distributed $16,636,800 HEERF III funds following the requirements and discretion provided to institutions under the ARP, prioritizing students with exceptional need. Funds were available for assistance with 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. Funds are not restricted to expenses associated with the closure of campus in the Spring 2020 semester and were not contingent upon future enrollment. Funds were passed through the University’s Student Information System, PeopleSoft, in full and were not applied to or used to offset any charge, debt, tuition, fees, or other unpaid balance in a student account, nor were the funds encumbered in any manner by Cornell. Federal guidance has confirmed that the amounts distributed are not subject to tax or withholding. Students enrolled in direct deposit gained access to funds approximately three business days following the date of disbursement. For those not enrolled in direct deposit, the Office of the Bursar issued a check.

Student Eligibility Requirements:

Cornell University identified students with exceptional need and eligible for HEERF III funds as those who:

• As Undergraduate students, submitted a 2021-2022 FAFSA or Profile Application (or qualified for continuing student Profile rollover) met one of the following formulas:
  • Students identified as Dependent on the FAFSA or Profile: (49,500 minus Parent Contribution) divided by 15
  • Students identified as Independent on the FAFSA or Profile: (49,500 minus Student Contribution) divided by 15; or
• Graduate and Professional students at Ithaca or Tech campuses who submitted a 2021-2022 FAFSA or Profile Application for financial assistance
• Funding was first made available to students with exceptional financial need who were either enrolled in the Fall 2021 semester or expressed their intent to enroll.

• Quarter 1: March 31, 2022
  • 2022 Quarter 1 Institutional HEERF Report (PDF)
  • 2022 Quarter 1 Institutional HEERF Report, updated October 10, 2022 (PDF)
  • 2022 Quarter 1 Student HEERF Report (PDF)
• Quarter 2: June 30, 2022
  • 2022 Quarter 2 HEERF Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report (PDF)
• Quarter 3: September 30, 2022
  • 2022 Quarter 3 HEERF Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report (PDF)
• Quarter 4: All Funds expended by quarter 3

• 2021 Quarter 1: March 31, 2021
  • March 31, 2021 Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF I, II, and III (a)(1) Institutional Portion, (a)(2), and (a)(3): No Quarterly Expenditures to Report
  • Cumulative total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act: 3,925
  • Cumulative total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act: $6,092,284.27
• 2021 Quarter 2: June 30, 2021
  • June 30, 2021 Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF I, II, and III (a)(1) Institutional Portion, (a)(2), and (a)(3) (PDF)
  • Cumulative total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act: 3,979
  • Cumulative total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act: $6,400,490
  • Cumulative total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA Act: Fewer than 10
  • Cumulative total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA Act: $2,679.28
  • Cumulative total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP Act: 0
  • Cumulative total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP Act: $0
• 2021 Quarter 3: September 30, 2021
  • 2021 Quarter 3 Institutional HEERF Reporting (PDF)
  • 2021 Quarter 3 Student HEERF Reporting (PDF)
  • Cumulative total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act: 3,979
  • Cumulative total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act: $6,400,490
  • Cumulative total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA Act: 2,060
  • Cumulative total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA Act: $6,400,490
  • Cumulative total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP Act: 5836
  • Cumulative total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP Act: $11,298,190
• Quarter 4: December 31, 2021
  • 2021 Quarter 4 Institutional HEERF Report (PDF)
  • 2021 Quarter 4 Student HEERF Report (PDF)

• CARES Act, HEERF I Initial Allocation Date: May 8, 2020
• June 7, 2020: $0 Disbursed - CARES HEERF I
• July 22, 2020
  • Cumulative Total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act: 3,388
  • Cumulative Total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act: $4,729,265.44
• 2020 Quarter 3: September 30, 2020
  • September 2020 Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting under CARES Act Sections 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion (PDF)
  • Cumulative total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act: 3,792
  • Cumulative total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act: $5,428,959.38
• 2020 Quarter 4: December 31, 2020
  • Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting under CARES Act Sections 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion submit: Final Report Submitted in 2020 Quarter 3
  • Cumulative total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act: 3,821
  • Cumulative total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act: $5,475,050.80