CARES Act
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) — federal COVID-19 emergency student grant reporting for Jackson State University.
Emergency student grant funding
HEERF funds were allocated to Jackson State University through three federal acts to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) — HEERF I
In compliance with the provisions set forth under Section 4504 in Title II of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, Jackson State University will provide CARES Student Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the amount of $913.00. The intent of the CARES Act is to provide financial support to offset the cost for expenses incurred as a result of the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 crisis.
In accordance with the reporting requirements of Section 18004(e) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Jackson State University, an institution receiving funds under this section, is providing the following information:
- JSU acknowledges that the University signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement. The institution further certifies it will use a minimum of 50% of the funds, or $4,223,124 received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
- JSU received $4,223,124 from the Department pursuant to the University’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
- The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is shown below.
| Date | Amount Distributed |
|---|---|
| May 29, 2020 | $2,085,200 |
| July 22, 2020 | $915,850 |
| August 21, 2020 | $1,170,884 |
| October 26, 2020 | $2,709 |
| March 8, 2021 | $48,481 |
Grand Total: $4,223,124 for 4,625 students
Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) — HEERF II
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) is authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. In total, the CRRSAA authorizes $4,223,124 to JSU in support of emergency student grants, in addition to the $4,223,124 expeditiously provided last spring through the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136.
In accordance with the reporting requirements of Section 314(e) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Act, Jackson State University, an institution receiving funds under this section, is providing the following information:
- JSU acknowledges that the University signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement. The institution further certifies it will use a minimum of 50% of the funds, or $4,223,124 received under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
- JSU received $4,223,124 from the Department pursuant to the University’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
- The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA is shown below.
| Date | Amount Distributed |
|---|---|
| March 29, 2021 | $2,043,720 |
| April 5, 2021 | $346,680 |
| May 6, 2021 | $295,200 |
| June 18, 2021 | $1,537,524 |
Grand Total: $4,223,124 for 7,155 students
American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act — HEERF III
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) is authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2, signed into law on March 11, 2021, providing $12,084,745 to JSU in support of emergency student grants.
ARP funds for student emergency grants are in addition to funds authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA – $4,223,124), Public Law 116-260 and the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES – $4,223,124) Act, Public Law 116-136.
In accordance with the reporting requirements of Section 2003(e) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Act, Jackson State University, an institution receiving funds under this section, is providing the following information:
- JSU acknowledges that the University signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement. The institution further certifies it will use a minimum of $12,084,745 received under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
- JSU received $12,084,745 from the Department pursuant to the University’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
- The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA is shown below.
| Date | Amount Distributed |
|---|---|
| November 15, 2021 | $8,623,021.00 |
| November 24, 2021 | $567,081.30 |
| December 13, 2021 | $319,935.40 |
| February 7, 2022 | $534,918.50 |
| April 12, 2022 | $125,265.70 |
Grand Total: $10,170,221.90 for 6,007 students
CARES Act questions & answers
Select a question to expand its answer.
What is the CARES / Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) provided by the Federal Government?
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) are funds allocated for universities through three separate acts: Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. These acts were passed by Congress and signed into law to provide economic relief from COVID-19. One section of each act established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund and sent money to schools to use for emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the pandemic.
Who is eligible to apply for CARES Act funding?
Degree-seeking students enrolled in Spring 2020 who are eligible to apply for federal Title IV financial aid are eligible to apply for CARES Act funds.
*Students enrolled in fully online programs, international, and undocumented students are not eligible. Excluded are those who:
- are not currently eligible for financial aid;
- are not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards; or
- withdrew from the university.
Who is eligible to apply for CRRSAA funding?
Degree-seeking students enrolled in Fall 2020 who are eligible to apply for federal Title IV financial aid are eligible to apply for CRRSAA funds.
*Students enrolled as international students are not eligible.
Who is eligible to apply for ARP Act funding?
Degree-seeking students enrolled at Jackson State University during the Fall 2021 semester.
How Do I Apply?
Each round of HEERF fund distribution required a completed questionnaire, emailed to the student.
Funds are no longer available, as of 12/16/2021.
What expenses are eligible to be covered?
CARES Act funds only can be used to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19, such as:
- Food
- Housing (such as having to move off campus when residence halls close)
- Course materials
- Health care
- Child-care expenses
- Technology-related expenses (such as having to buy a computer when the student’s courses are moved online)
- Transportation (such as having to fly home because classes were cancelled or having to return from study abroad because of program cancellation)
How will CARES Act funding be distributed?
Funds will be paid via direct deposit.
Those without direct deposit will receive a check, mailed to the address on file with JSU.
How will students be notified if they are approved for funding?
Students will be sent an email notifying them if they are approved for funding.
How will JSU determine the initial amount awarded?
Spring 2020 CARES Act Initial Awarding: Students enrolled in face-to-face courses and are Title IV eligible received $913.00.
Fall 2020 CRRSAA Awarding:
- Title IV eligible students enrolled in 12 or more hours received $720.00.
- Title IV eligible students enrolled in less than 12 hours received $360.00.
Fall 2021 ARP Awarding: All students enrolled at JSU and who demonstrated financial need (through completed questionnaire) received a payment of $1,692.78.
Who do I contact if I have questions?
You can contact the financial aid office:
1-866-THEE-JSU (843-3578)
finaid@jsums.edu
Location: 1st Floor of B.F. Roberts building on the main campus
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund reporting
Institutional and student quarterly expenditure reports by year (PDF, opens in a new tab).
2025 HEERF Funding Reports
2024 HEERF Funding Reports
2023 HEERF Funding Reports
2022 HEERF Funding Reports
- HEERF Institutional Quarterly Report – March 31, 2022 PDF
- HEERF-I-CRRSAA Student Quarterly Report – March 31, 2022 PDF
- Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for all HEERF I, II, and III grant funds – June 30, 2022 PDF
2021 HEERF Funding Reports
- HEERF Institutional Quarterly Report – March 31, 2021 PDF
- HEERF-I-CRRSAA Student Quarterly Report – March 31, 2021 PDF
- HEERF Institutional Quarterly Report – June 30, 2021 PDF
- HEERF-I-CRRSAA Student Quarterly Report – June 30, 2021 PDF
- HEERF Institutional Quarterly Report – September 30, 2021 PDF
- HEERF-I-CRRSAA Student Quarterly Report – September 30, 2021 PDF
2020 HEERF Funding Reports
- HEERF Institutional Quarterly Report – June 30, 2020 PDF
- HEERF-I-CRRSAA Student Quarterly Report – June 30, 2020 PDF
- HEERF Institutional Quarterly Report – September 30, 2020 PDF
- HEERF-I-CRRSAA Student Quarterly Report – September 30, 2020 PDF
Department of Education Frequently Asked Questions
Units & resources
- Financial Aid Checklist PDF
- Financial Aid FAQs PDF
- Financial Aid Forms PAGE
- Rights and Responsibilities PAGE
- Parents and Families PAGE
- Creating a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) PAGE
- Tuition and Fees PAGE
- Financial Aid Status PDF
- When the Financial Aid Package Is Not Enough PDF
- Financial Aid Repeat Course Policy PDF
FAFSA & getting started
Students seeking federal financial aid are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Jackson State University’s priority deadline is April 15th each year.
Service Timeline for Submitted Documents
To prevent a delay in processing your documents, please be sure to:
- Verify documents are filled completely, legible, and signed.
- Check that documents that require a signature have HANDWRITTEN signatures; no typed or electronic signatures are acceptable.
- Verify that all documents contain the student’s name and J-Number.
*Business days do not include weekends, holidays, and all other unspecified days the University is closed.
Division of Financial Aid
Financial Aid Office
P.O. Box 17065
Jackson, MS 39217
Fax: (601) 979-2237