Disclosures
HEERF I
- DigiPen acknowledges that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution intends to use no less than 50% of the funds received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
- DigiPen has received $480,976 from the Department of Education pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
- DigiPen has distributed all $480,976 of Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under HEERF of the CARES Act as of March 31, 2021.
- Approximately 663 students at the institution are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and are thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under HEERF of the CARES Act.
- 366 students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under HEERF of the CARES Act.
Listed are the expenditures DigiPen has used from the CARES Act Institutional Portion of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF):
HEERF II
- DigiPen acknowledges that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution intends to use 100% of the funds received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) of the CRRSAA to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
- Under the CRRSAA, DigiPen has received $638,800 from the Department of Education pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
- DigiPen has distributed all $638,800 of Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under HEERF of the CRRSAA as of June 30, 2021.
- Approximately 1,466 students at the institution are considered students under the Department of Education’s Final Rule, and are thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under HEERF of the CRRSAA.
- 383 students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under HEERF of the CRRSAA.
HEERF III
- DigiPen acknowledges that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution intends to use 100% of the funds received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) of the ARP to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
- Under the ARP, DigiPen has received $406,181 from the Department of Education pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
- DigiPen has distributed all $406,181 of Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under HEERF of the ARP Act as of June 30, 2022.
- Approximately 1,466 students at the institution are considered students under the Department of Education’s Final Rule, and are thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under HEERF of the ARP.
- 513 students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under HEERF of the ARP.
HEERF I Application and Eligibility Details
Deadlines
Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. HEERF funds will be awarded until exhausted and need to be awarded within one calendar year of the signing of the Certification and Agreement. ENC/EW retake grants funded by DigiPen will only be paid for the following semesters: summer 2020, fall 2020, and spring 2021. This only applies to ENC/EW grades that were earned in the spring 2020 semester and are being re-taken during these subsequent semesters.
Eligibility Criteria for Title IV Eligible Students
(Emergency Grant and ENC/EW Retake Grants)
- Be a current/matriculated student
- Completion of the FAFSA
- Title IV eligible. Students must:
- Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree or certificate program
- Not be enrolled in elementary or secondary school
- Be meeting satisfactory academic progress for currently enrolled students
- Not owe a refund on Title IV grants
- Not be in default on Title IV loans
- File a certification “as part of the original financial aid application process” that includes:
- A statement of educational purpose
- Student’s Social Security Number
- Be a U.S. citizen or national, permanent resident, or other eligible non-citizen
- Have returned fraudulently obtained Title IV funds if convicted of — or pleaded guilty or no contest to — charges
- Not have fraudulently received Title IV loans in excess of annual or aggregate limits
- Have returned fraudulently obtained Title IV funds if convicted of or pleaded guilty or no contest to charges. Not have fraudulently received Title IV loans in excess of annual or aggregate limits
- Have repaid Title IV loan amounts in excess of annual or aggregate limits if obtained inadvertently
- Have Selective Service registration verified (Title IV aid ineligibility for failure to register is in the Selective Service Act §3811(f))
- Have Social Security Number verified
- Not have a federal or state conviction for drug possession or sale, with certain time limitations
- Completion of a Momentum Program Application online
- Have been affected financially from the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19
Eligibility Criteria for Non-Title-IV Students
(ENC/EW Retake Grants Funded Solely with DigiPen Funds)
- Be a current/matriculated student
- Complete a Momentum Program Application online
- Have been affected financially from the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19
Award Determination of Momentum Program Funds
The COVID-19 Momentum Committee will review each application on a rolling basis as they are submitted. Items to be reviewed:
Which need categories were completed?
What is the total amount the student is requesting?
Is the student Title IV eligible?
What is the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)?
Are the student’s funds requests related to disruptions of campus operations due to COVD-19?
Emergency Grant for Non-tuition Related Expenses
Students who are determined to be Title IV eligible and have selected categories other than tuition will be awarded an Emergency Grant from the HEERF based on the charts below. The student’s award will be based on the chart below. Funds will be awarded until HEERF funds are exhausted.
Application responses are reviewed on a rolling basis by the COVID-19 Momentum Committee
Students are awarded funds based on the student’s EFC, total funds requested, and added student comments
| Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Range | Need Determination | Maximum Award Amount* |
|---|---|---|
| $0 — $6,000 | Neediest | $1,500 |
| $6,001 — $15,000 | Needy | $1,250 |
| $15,001 — $30,000 | Moderate Need | $750 |
| $30,001 — $45,000 | Low Need | $250 |
| $45,001 + | No Need/Lowest Need | $0 |
* Award is lesser of the maximum or amount requested.
Minimum award of $500 if EFC is $6,000 or lower.
Emergency Grant for ENC/EW Retake
Students who are determined to be Title IV eligible and have selected that they need to retake an ENC/EW course will be awarded with funds from the HEERF. Once all HEERF funds are exhausted, ENC/EW retake charges will be covered by DigiPen funds. Students who are not eligible for Title IV aid can still receive emergency grants for ENC/EW retakes through non-HEERF funds. To qualify for emergency grants for retakes, students must have received an ENC or EW grade and retake the course during the summer 2020, fall 2020, or spring 2021 semesters.
Students are awarded ENC or EW funds based on eligibility and ENC/EW tuition charge
- Summer 2020 class cost: $836 per credit
- Fall 2020 class cost: $1,087 per credit
- Spring 2021 class cost: $1,087 per credit
- Students who register for an ENC/EW retake class and have also registered for 16 or more additional credits will not receive reimbursement for the ENC/EW retake as the credits would be included in the flat rate of tuition.
HEERF II Application and Eligibility Details
Deadlines
Grants will be awarded in multiple ways including through an application for students who are in need of emergency grant funds. These grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. HEERF funds will be awarded until exhausted and need to be awarded within one calendar year of the signing of the most recent Certification and Agreement.
Eligibility Criteria
Students are able to use grants from HEERF II for any component of the cost of attendance or emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus including (but not limited to):
- Tuition
- Food
- Housing
- Healthcare (including mental health)
- Childcare
As of May 14, 2021, students no longer need to meet Title IV eligibility requirements to be eligible for a grant under the HEERF program. Any individual who is or was enrolled at DigiPen on or after March 13, 2020 may qualify for assistance.
Award Determination
Block Grants
The first round of grants was sent to students via check with the highest financial need according to their FAFSA.
- EFC 0 - 5,711 will receive $1,500
- EFC 5,712 - 10,000 will receive $1,000
- EFC 10,001 - 15,000 will receive $800
Tuition Assistance Grants
The second round of grants was made available to eligible students with an outstanding balance with DigiPen. These students were individually emailed with the details about their eligibility.
COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grants
The third round of grants was made available to students for expenses related to COVID-19 or any component of their cost of attendance. Students need to meet the following criteria:
- Completed a FAFSA (applicable only for those who applied prior to EDs final rule on 5/14 which opens up HEERF grants to as any individual who is or was enrolled (as defined in 34 CFR § 668.2) at an eligible institution (as defined in 34 CFR § 600.2) on or after March 13, 2020, the date of declaration of the national emergency due to the coronavirus (85 FR 15337).
- Have financial need. For those who have not completed a FAFSA, or are ineligible to do so, an affidavit is included in the application online stating that the student has financial need, which needs to be completed before a grant is issued.
- Complete an application online.
HEERF III Application and Eligibility Details
Deadlines
Grants will be awarded in multiple ways including through an application for students who are in need of emergency grant funds. These grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. HEERF funds will be awarded until exhausted and need to be awarded within one calendar year of the signing of the most recent Certification and Agreement.
Eligibility Criteria
Students are able to use grants from HEERF III for any component of the cost of attendance or emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus including (but not limited to):
- Tuition
- Food
- Housing
- Healthcare (including mental health)
- Childcare
As of May 14, 2021, students no longer need to meet Title IV eligibility requirements to be eligible for a grant under the HEERF program. Any individual who is or was enrolled at DigiPen on or after March 13, 2020 may qualify for assistance.
Award Determination
Block Grants
The first round of grants will be sent to students via check with the highest financial need according to their FAFSA.
- EFC 0 - 5,711 will receive $550
- EFC 5,712 - 15,000 will receive $600
- EFC 15,001 - 48,000 will receive $250
COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grants
The second round of grants is available to students for expenses related to COVID-19 or any component of their cost of attendance. Students need to meet the following criteria:
- Have financial need. For those who have not completed a FAFSA, or are ineligible to do so, an affidavit is included in the application online stating that the student has financial need, which needs to be completed before a grant is issued.
- Complete an application online.