Federal Funding Reports

As part of HEERF III-American Rescue Plan (ARP), The New School received $14,361,119—$7,191,689 of which supports students and $7,169,430 was designated for institutional support. A university advisory group comprised of students from the Student Senate and personnel from financial aid, student accounts, student advocacy, admissions, finance, and the provost offices convened to determine criteria and priorities for the distribution of the student funds. This cross-university advisory group was charged with identifying the criteria for distributing the funds to students. The university shared information about the process and distribution of the funds in November.

As we communicated at that time, $1.3 million was reserved to assist students in the spring 2022 semester. The advisory group prioritized grants for students who experienced financial hardship over the past year. Pell Grant-eligible students for the spring 2022 semester each received a HEERF III grant in the amount of $1,100.

Recipients of HEERF III funding for the first quarter of 2022 were enrolled, Pell-eligible students. There were 1,049 students who received the funding in the total amount of $1,155,689. 

The $7,169,430 designated for institutional support from HEERF III was intended to assist the university in covering expenses related to lost revenues associated with the pandemic. In Fall 2021, $5,361,236 of that total amount was used to erase tuition and fee balances for degree-seeking students from Spring, Summer, and Fall 2020 semesters. The remaining $1,808,194 was used to defray the significant costs associated with the safe reopening of campus for the Fall 2021 semester. These costs exceeded available federal funds and include, but are not limited to, COVID-19 testing, HVAC (ventilation) upgrades, personal protective equipment, and the delivery of virtual education.

For this second quarter of 2022, HEERF II disbursements used for emergency appeals totaled $169,305. At the time of the June 30, 2022, HEERF reporting period, there was $168,843 HEERF II balance remaining. This balance will be used for student emergency appeals until the funds are depleted in their entirety.

As of June 30, 2022, The New School was awarded a total of $12,188,375 for student emergency funds. This includes CARES Act (HEERF I) student funds ($2,498,343), HEERF II student funds ($2,498,343) and HEERF III student funds ($7,191,689). As of June 30, 2022, $12,019,532 has been distributed to students for emergency financial aid grants to students. $500,000 was allocated from HEERF II to the Emergency Appeal Fund, for the use of student emergency appeals related to housing, food insecurities and covid related expenses. A third of those funds remain.

In addition, The New School has received a total of $15,167,595 for institutional funds as of June 30, 2022. This includes CARES Act (HEERF I) institutional funds ($2,498,343), HEERF II institutional funds ($5,499,822), and HEERF III institutional Funds ($7,169,430). As of June 30, 2022, $15,167,595 has been used to cover room and board refunds to students ($7,998,165), write off student account balances ($5,361,236) and reimburse the university for lost revenues due to the pandemic, costs associated with COVID-19 protective equipment, and outreach costs to financial aid applicants ($1,808,194).

Review the Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report for the quarter that ended on June 30, 2022.

HEERF III-American Rescue Plan (ARP) provided The New School with $14.2 million, $7.1 million for student support and $7.1 million for institutional support. A university advisory group composed of students from the Student Senate and personnel from the offices of Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Student Advocacy, Admission, Finance, and the Provost convened to determine criteria and priorities for the distribution of the student funds, in the sum of $3,000 per eligible student. These $3,000 grants were given to students who demonstrated financial hardship over the past year using the following criteria: 

• Undergraduate U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens with verified, completed FAFSAs, with Expected Family Contribution below $20,000, on file with the Office of Financial Aid by October 1, 2021

• International students who were denied pandemic-related financial aid appeals before October 1, 2021 

• Graduate students who were not recipients of HEERF II funds and whose financial aid appeals with demonstrated need were denied before October 1, 2021

In total, $6,036,000 was disbursed to students. The remaining HEERF III funding will be used in spring 2022 for additional student grants.

The $7.1 million institutional aid from HEERF III was intended to help the university cover expenses related to and lost revenues associated with the pandemic. The university allocated $5.7 million to erase tuition and fee balances for degree-seeking students from the spring, summer, and fall 2020 semesters. The remaining $1.4 million was used to defray the significant costs associated with the safe reopening of campus for the fall 2021 semester. These costs exceeded available federal funds and include but are not limited to expenses for COVID-19 testing, HVAC (ventilation) upgrades, personal protective equipment, and the delivery of virtual education.

The New School received $8 million in funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II), of which $2.5 million was used this spring to directly support students who faced significant financial hardship as a result of the pandemic.

To help determine the distribution of the HEERF II funds, the university convened an advisory group of staff representatives from the offices of Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Student Advocacy, Student Success, and the Provost. Four students participated in the advisory group, including members of the University Student Senate, the Black Student Union, and the Diverse Abilities Coalition and a student representing Student Advocacy. 

The advisory group recommended that of the total amount allocated to students, $2 million be distributed through direct grants and $500,000 be added to the university’s Student Emergency Assistance Program to address urgent needs. 

The advisory group prioritized one-time grants for students nearing the end of their degree programs who experienced the greatest interruption over the past year. Eligible students received the $1,200 grants directly, and Pell Grant recipients received an additional $800, for a maximum of $2,000 in funding. 

Students were eligible based on two levels of requirements:

• Current seniors who applied to graduate in May 2021
• Current juniors who completed 80+ credits as of May 2021
• Current second-year graduate students

In addition, students had to meet all of the criteria below:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Have a completed, verified FAFSA form on file for Financial Aid
• Meet an EFC (Expected Family Contribution) below $15,000

In spring 2020, The New School received $2.498 million under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) for student aid and an equal amount under the CARES Act for institutional aid, for a total of $4.996 million. The university provided the required certification to the Department of Education acknowledging that it 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. According to federal guidelines, 6,304 of New School students were eligible for CARES Act awards, and as of October 10, 2020, 1,611 students have received an emergency financial aid grant from CARES Act funds, totaling $2.334 million in CARES Act funding distributed to students.

Eligible New School students were awarded grants according to self-identified need up to the maximum amount of $2,000 per student. The funds provided assistance to students facing unanticipated financial challenges related to housing, food, health care, course material, technology, and/or child care expenses.

To reinforce The New School’s commitment to all students, the university allocated $1 million in university funds to support students who did not meet federal criteria for CARES Act funds. These awards were capped at $750 per student to serve the greatest number of students possible.

In fall 2020, the Student Emergency Fund combined remaining federal CARES Act Funding from the spring; Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation funding; and Student Senate funding totaling over $300,000. Students were able to apply for one-time assistance of up to $1,000 to cover expenses related to housing, food, healthcare, course materials, technology, and/or childcare. These funds were exhausted by March 31, 2021. 

As of December 31, 2021 (as reported by January 10, 2022), The New School was awarded a total of $12,188,375 for student emergency funds. This includes CARES Act (HEERF I) student funds ($2,498,343), HEERF II student funds ($2,498,343), and HEERF III student funds ($7,191,689). As of December 31, 2021, $10,591,598 has been distributed to students for emergency financial aid grants to students.

In addition, The New School has received a total of $15,167,595 for institutional funds as of December 31, 2021. This includes CARES Act (HEERF I) institutional funds ($2,498,343), HEERF II institutional funds ($5,499,822), and HEERF III institutional Funds ($7,169,430). As of December 31, 2021, $15,167,595 has been used to cover room and board refunds to students ($7,998,165), write off student account balances ($5,361,236), and reimburse the university for revenues lost due to the pandemic ($1,808,194).