HEERF III

Allowable expenses include costs for attending college and emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as an outstanding institutional balance, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care. 

The HEERF III grant is funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP), ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 national emergency. Allowable expenses include costs for attending college and emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as an outstanding institutional balance, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care.

The Student Emergency Assistance Fund, is made available through contributions made by donors. Approved amounts are considered an additional financial aid resource for the purpose of packaging financial aid awards. Students must be degree or certificate seeking, in academic good standing, have encountered an unexpected financial hardship, and are in need of assistance with books and supplies through the Owens bookstore, or with non-educational related expenses, such as, mortgage, utilities, personal automobile expenses, public transportation, medical bills, and child care. The use of emergency assistance does not cover assistance with tuition related expenses. For more information about the Student Emergency Assistance Fund, please visit https://www.owens.edu/sfs/emergency/.

Follow the steps provided below to view the status of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III Grant Application  A status of Completed indicates that the application has been approved.  

1. From the Ozone home page, click on the Financial Aid Summary.
2. Click on View Financial Aid Details.
3. Click on Financial Aid Awards and select the desired aid year.
4. On the General Information or Award Overview tab, information about the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund will be listed near the top of the page.

Detailed instructions for navigating the Financial Aid information in Ozone is available here https://www.owens.edu/financial_aid/ozone-brochure.pdf.

For information on reporting the HEERF III grant, please visit the IRS website.  Please contact your tax preparer if you have additional questions.

Owens Community College processes and distributes refunds to BankMobile on Fridays. If you are expecting a refund, you should receive it in the manner you selected within 3-5 business days after a refund appears on your student account.

This award will automatically be applied to your student account.  You will receive a refund based on the refund preference you have selected with BankMobile.  Please note, you should receive it within 3-5 business days after a refund appears on your account. For information about BankMobile and setting a refund preference, please view the Refunds section of the Student Accounts website at https://www.owens.edu/student-accounts/deferred.html. 

No, this fund does not affect your financial aid eligibility. It is a one-time grant.

Yes, a student may use the HEERF III funds to satisfy an outstanding balance on the student’s account, but must provide written (or electronic) affirmative consent. On the HEERF III application select the option to authorize Owens Community College to use your HEERF III grant to pay any existing account balance.

On March 11, 2021, the federal government enacted American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP), Public Law 117-2 in response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The ARP Act established and funded the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) to provide Financial Aid Grants to students to be used for allowable financial expenses incurred as a result of COVID-19 crisis.

Students with actual credit hours for Spring 2022 greater than zero, has a confirmed identity on file, and a regular student, not non-matriculating for Spring 2022.

As of January 31, 2022, students with enrolled Spring 2022 credit hours will receive an auto award. Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) amounts were based on expected family contribution as determined by the 2021-2022 FAFSA® to prioritize students demonstrating exceptional financial need.

This award will automatically be applied to your student account on Monday, January 31, 2022.  You will receive a refund based on the refund preference you have selected with BankMobile.  For information about BankMobile and setting a refund preference, please view the Refunds section of the Student Accounts website at https://www.owens.edu/student-accounts/deferred.html. If assistance is needed with setting up your refund preference, please contact the Student Service Center at (567) 661-2387.

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Applications submitted will be reviewed and decisions made within 5 business days of receipt.

If you have any questions, please contact the Student Service Center at (567) 661-2387 or email your Student Financial Services Advisor using your Owens student email account. Your Student Financial Services Advisor’s contact information is made available on the Advisor card located in your Ozone account.

Additional information and resources related to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak is available at https://www.owens.edu/covid19/.

Students enrolled in Spring 2022 classes on January 31, 2022, who meet eligibility criteria and who had exceptional financial need as of January 31, 2022 will be awarded funds automatically.

The automatic awards were based on the following eligibility criteria:

• Students with actual credit hours for Spring 2022 greater than zero.
• Student has a confirmed identity on file.
• Student is a regular student, not non-matriculating for Spring 2022.

Refunds will be posted on the Account Summary by Term located on the Tuition and Fee Information card in your Ozone account. Students will see HEERF III Payment and HEERF III Refund. If you are expecting a refund, you should receive it in the manner you selected within 3-5 business days after a refund appears on your student account.

Yes, the maximum amount is $1,500. Please note, this amount does not include any funds a student may have received through the automatic award process. And, that amount of an automatic award does not figure in to the $1,500 limit. 

No, this fund does not affect your financial aid eligibility. It is a one-time grant.

The funds do not need to be repaid and are designed to be a grant, not a loan.