ARP Funding for Students
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act provides financial aid grants to current Ridgewater students (including students exclusively enrolled in online courses and international students) to help support any component of the student’s cost of attendance or to help cover any expenses due to coronavirus, such as the loss of employment, food or housing insecurity, health care (including mental health care) or child care. In making financial aid grants to students, the College is required to focus primarily on providing assistance to students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants or undergraduates with extraordinary financial circumstances. Students are not required to be eligible for Title IV student financial aid to receive ARP funding.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Must be a new or returning student actively enrolled for Spring Semester 2022 in any online, hybrid, or face-to-face credit.
- Have a high school diploma or GED certificate;
- Must NOT BE one of the following:
– Enrolled as Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
– Enrolled via Concurrent Enrollment/College in the Schools
– Receiving senior citizen tuition rates
– An employer-paid student
– Non-credit student
– Currently incarcerated
*Additional criteria may apply under the types of ARP grants available.
TWO TYPES OF ARP GRANTS FOR STUDENTS:
(1) Pandemic Relief Grants – no action required
Pandemic Relief Grants were distributed automatically to eligible students based on financial need information from the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on February 2, 2022. No application was required. A student must have been Pell eligible or have an EFC (estimated family contribution) of $5,846-$20,000 to have qualified for Pandemic Relief Grants. Pandemic Relief Grant amounts ranged from $600-$1200 per student. Students who were qualified to receive Pandemic Relief Grants received an email from the Financial Aid office with more specific information on their grant. To check the status of automatic ARP grants, students can log in to eServices click on Financial Aid, and view Awards.
(2) Emergency/Financial Assistance Grants – application required
The second type of grant available under ARP was the ARP Emergency grants. The application for the ARP Emergency grants closed at 11:59pm on Wednesday, 2/23/22. Students had to submit an application for these grants and meet eligibility requirements. Individual awards for students would be as high as $1,000, depending on the number of applications submitted. Students had to explain how they have been negatively impacted by COVID as it relates to their personal financial situation.
- Wednesday, February 9, 2022 – ARP Emergency Grant application opens
- Wednesday, February 23, 2022 – ARP Emergency Grant application closes at 11:59pm and review period begins
- Wednesday, March 9, 2022 – ARP Emergency Grant applicants are notified of their application status (awarded/denied) by 4:30pm
If you do not qualify for this federal grant and are in need of assistance, please check our Student Resources page for additional options and contact information.
ARP Funds Disbursed
Updated Feb. 8, 2022
| Awards | Fall Students | Fall Amount | Spring Students | Spring Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARP Base | 1432 | $1,573,400 | 1364 | $1,495,000 |
| ARP Emerg Grant | 419 | $419,104 | ||
| ARP Vaccine | 89 | $8,900 | 63 | $6,300 |
