HEERF III Student Funding Disbursement

Dear Howard University Community, 

We are proud of our campus and the progress that we have been making to protect our community from the far-reaching ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the circumstances we all face, our student body grew to nearly 12,000 students this year, with the majority of the Howard University student body returning to continue their education. However, we understand that the pandemic’s economic impact continues to be felt acutely by many in our community.  

 

In an effort to support our students’ consistent and evolving financial needs, the University will be distributing the third round of funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), in the amount of $11 million dollars. Once this latest round of funding is distributed, Howard will have provided a total of $38 million in additional need-based financial support to students since March 2020. This does not include the $169 million that the University paid in institutional and donor funded aid this year.   

 

HEERF funding is a component of the American Rescue Plan (ARP). This money will go directly to students who are facing urgent needs to help them afford tuition and fees, food, housing, technology, childcare, medical (including mental health care) and other expenses.  

 

A total of 11,949 students will receive an average of $834 through this round of HEERF funding. Some students will receive more, and others will receive less, based on their economic circumstances, as guided by the FAFSA form on file. Students can expect to receive the funds within the next two weeks. The two-week period gives our students enough time to update their banking information in Bison Web to ensure the funds are deposited to the correct account. Please do so as soon as possible. 

 

We are committed to matriculating a diverse student body from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. One’s personal finances should never be a barrier to receiving a Howard education. However, we recognize that affording the cost of tuition is not the only obstacle students encounter that may prevent them from matriculating to Howard in the first place or from graduating on time. Especially throughout the pandemic, when students were encountering heightened hardship, Howard reinforced its commitment to supporting students’ needs. 

 

Our University has taken numerous efforts to increase college affordability, which include alleviating student debt, waiving fees, providing direct cash payments, offering emergency housing and meal assistance, and other supportive services.   

 

We also understand that students will need additional support beyond the financial grants we are able to provide. If any students are facing hardship, we encourage you to please contact the Division of Student Affairs at 202-806-2100 or via email at StudentAffairs@howard.edu. 

  

While life may have retained some sense of normalcy as we returned to campus for the start of the Fall 2021 semester, we continue to live in uncertain times. On behalf of myself and the entire administration, we are deeply appreciative of all the hard work that our students, faculty and staff exert on a daily basis under difficult circumstances.  

Excellence in Truth and Service,  

Wayne A. I. Frederick  
Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery  
President