CARES HEERF II: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

April 19, 2021 (updated)

In response to the global Covid-19 Pandemic, the U.S. Government has enacted the Higher Education Emergency Relief Act II to provide funding to students with exceptional need.  These grants to students may 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.

The new law authorizing universities to make student grants as part of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) says that the institution must document exceptional need for the student grantees. Please note that we need this to determine if you have the exceptional need required by law, such as Pell Grant Eligibility.

Program Eligibility: Applications are currently open for Enrolled Spring 2021 students in the College of Arts and Sciences, who have filed a FAFSA and received Title IV federal financial aid and for Enrolled Spring 2021 students in the School of Professional Studies, who have filed a FAFSA and received Title IV federal financial aid and a federal Pell grant.  

This is a special program that is separate from Trinity’s regular Student Emergency Assistance Program. Students may apply for the CARES HEERF II 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 CARES HEERF II emergency grants will be in amounts up to a maximum of $2,000 per full time student and up to $1,500 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.  Please note that these grants may be subject to federal and state income tax.  Trinity will issue CARES HEERF  II 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