American Rescue Plan
What is the American Rescue Plan?
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) was signed into law on March 11, 2021, to provide economic relief from COVID-19. This new law gives the U.S. Department of Education approximately $39.6 billion in support to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Saint Joseph's in Lancaster is required to provide a minimum of $1,309,955 in ARP funds to distribute to students as emergency grants 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.
Who is Eligible for ARP Funds?
Students eligible for ARP funding at Saint Joseph's Lancaster location are those who were enrolled at the end of the refund period for each of the terms in the 2021 calendar year (Spring 2021, Summer 2021 and/or Fall 2021).
Applicants for Spring 2021 and/or Summer 2021 ARP funds must complete the COVID-19 relief fund application. The amount of each Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 award given will be based on the enrollment status for that given term (i.e. full-time, three-quarter-time, half-time, less-than-half-time).
Applicants for Fall 2021 ARP funds must also complete a 2021-2022 FAFSA, in addition to the COVID-19 relief fund application; though the FAFSA is not a federal requirement, it is how the College will determine financial need. The American Rescue Plan requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need in awarding financial aid grants to students, which is determined by the 2021-2022 FAFSA.
Please note, these funds are reserved for Saint Joseph's Lancaster students only (Dual Enrollment students are not eligible to receive these funds from Saint Joseph's in Lancaster). “Guest students” completing a 3+1 program need to apply for ARP funds through their home institution.
| Fall 2021 | Amount Per Student |
|---|---|
| Full-Time, Full Pell (EFC = 0) | $1800 |
| Full-Time, Partial Pell (EFC = 1-5846) | $1600 |
| Full-Time, No Pell (EFC > 5846 or null) | $1500 |
| Three-Quarter-Time, Full Pell | $1400 |
| Three-Quarter-Time, Partial Pell | $1300 |
| Three-Quarter-Time, No Pell | $1200 |
| Half-Time, Full Pell | $1100 |
| Half-Time, Partial Pell | $1000 |
| Half-Time, No Pell | $900 |
| Less-Than-Half-Time, Full Pell | $600 |
| Less-Than-Half-Time, Partial Pell | $450 |
| Less-Than-Half-Time, No Pell | $375 |
| Spring 2021 | Amount Per Student |
|---|---|
| Full-time (12+ credits) | $1000 |
| Three-quarter-time (9-11 credits) | $725 |
| Half-time (6-8 credits) | $500 |
| Less-than-half-time (0-5 credits) | $375 |
| Summer 2021 | Amount Per Student |
|---|---|
| Full-time (12+ credits) | $1000 |
| Three-quarter-time (9-11 credits) | $725 |
| Half-time (6-8 credits) | $500 |
| Less-than-half-time (0-5 credits) | $375 |
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Applicants for Spring 2021 and/or Summer 2021 ARP funds must complete the COVID-19 relief fund application. The amount of each Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 award given will be based on the enrollment status for that given term (i.e. full-time, three-quarter-time, half-time, less-than-half-time).
Applicants for Fall 2021 ARP funds must also complete a 2021-2022 FAFSA, in addition to the COVID-19 relief fund application; though the FAFSA is not a federal requirement, it is how the College will determine financial need. The American Rescue Plan requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need in awarding financial aid grants to students, which is determined by the 2021-2022 FAFSA.
All applications and 2021-2022 (for Fall 2021 funds) must be submitted by Wednesday, October 13, 2021.
-
Student Financial Services will review all complete applications and 2021-2022 FAFSAs by the middle of October. All applicants will receive an e-mail late-October informing them of their eligibility status.
-
Student Financial Services will review all complete applications and will correspond with students late-October.
Students signed up for Direct Deposit by the deadline of October 13th: Funds will appear in your bank account on file by the end of October.
Students not signed up for Direct Deposit: Funds will be mailed to your home address on file and will take up to two weeks to be received from the date the check is processed in late-October. Visit Self-Service to confirm that your address is accurate.
To ensure that funds reach you as quickly as possible, please make sure to sign up for Direct Deposit. If you have already signed up, log into your account on Self-Service to confirm the information is correct.
-
Payments will vary from student to student and will depend on the number of applicants. Eligible recipients will be notified late-October regarding their award amount.
-
Yes, students enrolled in multiple 2021 terms will be considered for funds they apply for each of the terms they were enrolled at the time of each semester’s census date (the end of the refund period).
Please note: Students applying for Spring 2021 and/or Summer 2021 funds ONLY need to complete the COVID-19 Relief Funding application (a 2021-2022 FAFSA is not required). However, students applying for Fall 2021 funds MUST file a 2021-2022 FAFSA in addition to the application.
-
If you have questions relating to taxes, we encourage you to talk with a personal tax professional about any tax implications relating to receiving these funds.
-
Wednesday, October 13, 2021.