CARES HEERF III: American Rescue Plan Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III

August 31, 2022

Currently, the CARES III Application is open to new Spring 2023 NEW undergraduate applicants or returning students who have not previously received a CARES III grant.  We are no longer accepting supplemental grant applications from students who already received a CARES III grant. 

August 5, 2021

Good news!  The federal government has made more funding available to help students through the pandemic!  The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III), authorized by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan (ARP), provides support for students and universities for financial challenges that have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  These funds are in addition to earlier pandemic relief programs in 2020 (CARES Act and CRRSAA grants) that provided emergency grants and institutional support.  A portion of the ARP relief also made it possible for Trinity to pay down some student balances that previously accumulated during the pandemic.

Students now have the opportunity to receive additional emergency grants.  To take advantage of this program, students must have what the regulations call “exceptional need” which students must attest to on the form below.  Students may use these grants to pay for your expenses such as tuition, housing, books, food, childcare, transportation, healthcare (including mental health) or other pandemic-related expenses.

Students may voluntarily designate a portion of the grants to pay all or part of your tuition balance.

Note that these grants through the ARP program are not taxable.

Eligibility:

Currently, the CARES III Application is only open to Spring 2023 NEW undergraduate applicants or returning students who have not previously received a CARES III grant.   We are no longer accepting supplemental grant applications from students who already received a CARES III grant. 

Previous updates: Applications are open as of August 5, 2021 for Fall 2021 undergraduate students who are currently enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences and School of Nursing and Health Professions.  Applications open on August 30, 2021 for Fall 2021 undergraduate students in the School of Professional Studies.  As of February 1, 2022 applications are now open for new Spring 2022 undergraduate applicants for full grant amounts.  If you received a CARES III grant in the Fall, you can reapply, if you have extraordinary financial needs, but eligibility is reduced from the full amount of the previous grant.

Please note that under the new rules of the ARP program, there is no citizenship requirement for these grants, hence, undocumented students (DACA recipients, DREAMers) may apply for and receive these grants as well as permanent residents, asylum seekers and international students.

Students may apply for the ARP grants even if they received other emergency grants previously. Trinity may take into consideration the amount of previous grants in determining the amount of this grant.

The ARP emergency grants will be in amounts up to a maximum of $2,500 per full time student and up to $1,000 per part time student.  Students must attest to the need for the grant for the purposes required by the law in the box below, acknowledge the payment method and sign as indicated.  Trinity will issue CARES HEERF III grants to students either by direct deposit or paper check. Students can select the method of payment by using the payment portal in Self-Service.

Questions? Contact Dr. Karen Gerlach, Vice President for Student Affairs at Gerlachk@TrinityDC.edu

CARES III: Emergency Relief Fund Application (August 2021)

  • Your ID is a 9 digit number, formatted like: P000123456. Please use this format to provide your ID number. You can look up your ID number on Starfish or Self-Service.
  • Applications are being accepted from currently enrolled undergraduate students. By checking below, you are confirming that you are currently enrolled.
  • The American Rescue Plan (ARP), Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) directs us to prioritize and document students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants or are undergraduates with extraordinary financial circumstances in awarding emergency financial aid grants to students. We need this to determine if you have the exceptional need required by law. I understand this requirement.
  • Please provide the total amount you are requesting for this grant. Trinity may provide you a total HEERF grant of up to $2,500 for full-time students / or up to $1,000 for part-time students to support your exceptional need. As of March 15, 2022, the CARES III Application is open only to NEW applicants who have not previously received a CARES III grant. We are no longer accepting supplemental grant applications. I request a grant of the following amount to support my needs.
  • Please indicate the amount of your grant that you want to be applied to the balance owed to Trinity - you can indicate a portion of your total grant or up to the full amount of the grant. If you are not certain, please contact Enrollment Services at 202-884-9530 to determine your current balance, so that you do not list an amount that is greater than your balance.
  • I affirm that I need a grant under the ARP: HEERF III Higher Education Emergency Relief Program for expenses related to the total cost of attendance at Trinity or due to coronavirus, including tuition, food, housing, books, transportation, health care (including mental health care) or child care. Please type your full name in the box below to certify your understanding and acknowledgement of the grant.
  • Trinity will issue HEERF III grants to students either by direct deposit or paper check. Students will be provided further instructions on payment methods in their HEERF III Grant Confirmation email.