HEERF I (CARES) GRANTS TO STUDENTS

In compliance with the Certification of Agreement for accepting CARES Act funding, Ramapo College of New Jersey is required to provide information about the award and how it was administered.  This information is provided below.

1. Ramapo College signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education (“the Department”) the Certification and Agreement on April 17, 2020. Ramapo College has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
2. Ramapo College has received $2,303,353 from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants awarded to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act in the first round (spring 2020) was $1,336,532 and in the second round (fall 2020) was $963,350.
4. The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act was 3,769 in the spring 2020 semester.  In the fall 2020 semester the number of eligible students was 2,736.
5. The total number of students who have been approved for an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act in the first round was 1,317 and 1,000 in the second round.
6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act can be found on the FAQ page under “How will grant amounts be determined?”  The awards were made in two rounds, the first in the spring 2020 semester, and the second in the fall 2020 semester.  The Office of Financial Aid took into consideration a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC), as determined from the 2019-2020 FAFSA, and used a tiered approach to guide award amounts.

The Office of Financial Aid used the following rubric as a guide in calculating awards.

*The student must have dependent(s) listed on FAFSA or provide documentation of dependent(s).

1. Ramapo College is required to publish “Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.” In addition to the information provided in the CARES Act Student Emergency grant web pages and Twitter, the College sent an email to eligible students (Email from CR) notifying them of the CARES Act Emergency grants, and applicants received either an award notification letter (CARES Act Approval letter) or denial letter (CARES Act Denial letter).

HEERF I (CARES) INSTITUTIONAL GRANT

Ramapo College received $2,303,352 from the U.S. Department of Education “to cover any costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus.”  The College used this funding toward lost revenue from on-campus housing.  The final report on this grant can be found here: Institutional Final Report HEERF I.

HEERF II (CRRSAA) & HEERF III (ARP) GRANTS TO STUDENTS

In compliance with the Certification of Agreement for accepting CARES Act funding, Ramapo College of New Jersey is required to provide information about the award and how it was administered.  This information is provided below.

(1) Ramapo College signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

(2) The total amount of funds that the institution was awarded from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs were $2,303,353 and $6,270,959 respectively.

(3) The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs as of December 31, 2021 were $2,299,269 and $5,991,000 respectively.

(4) The estimated total number of students at the institution that were eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs were 3,639 and 5,188 respectively.

(5) The total number of students who were awarded an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to date were 3,640 and 5,187 respectively.

(6) The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students received Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs were:

For CRRSAA, awarded in the spring of 2021, the Financial Aid Director determined the total number of Title IV (Pell) eligible students — those with exceptional financial need — who were enrolled at least part-time (taking 6 credits or more).  The number was 3,664 and consisted of graduate students and undergraduate students, entering freshmen, and transfers starting in the fall of 2021.  The Financial Aid Director then worked with senior leadership of the College to calculate equitable yet meaningful award amounts, with the final amounts being $850 for each of the 1,333 Title IV eligible students and $502 for each of the 2,331 non Pell eligible students.

For ARP, the Financial Aid Director awarded the funds in two rounds.  The first round used the following criteria:

The funds left over from the first round ($279,856) were awarded in the spring of 2022.  Recipients were 217 newly admitted students.  Awards were made using the following criteria:

(7) Ramapo College is required to publish “Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.”  In addition to information posted on the College’s web site, the College sent an email to notify students of their CRRSAA award (HEERF II Award Email C. Romano) and of their ARP award (Spring HEERF Awards Email FO).

The College is also required to publish quarterly reports which can be found below.

HEERF II & III Student, 2022 Quarter 2 Report: 00934400_HEERF_Q22022_071022

HEERF II & III Student, 2022 Quarter 3 Report: 00934400_HEERF_Q32022_101022

HEERF II & III Student, 2022 Quarter 4 Report (final): 00934400_HEERF_Q42022_011023

HEERF II (CRRSAA) INSTITUTIONAL GRANT

Ramapo College received $4,751,306 from the U.S. Department of Education HEERFII funding under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA).  The College used this funding toward lost revenue from on-campus housing, fees, and other student refunds.  The final report on this grant can be found here: Institutional Final Report HEERF II.

HEERF III (ARP) INSTITUTIONAL GRANT

Ramapo College received $6,240,160 in institutional funds from the U.S. Department of Education under the HEERF III American Rescue Plan (ARP).  The College used this funding toward lost revenue from on-campus housing, fees, and other student refunds.  The final report on this grant can be found here:  HEERF III Institutional Final Report