American Rescue Plan (ARP)
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) III
Supplemental
Student Grant Request

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) established and funded the Higher Education Relief Fund (HEERF III) to provide emergency financial grants to students.  An application process has been developed to try and provide additional funds to students to help cover additional emergency expenses due to coronavirus such as tuition, books, housing, food, health care (including mental), childcare and transportation.  The online application is for students to request additional grant funds for COVID emergency expenses.

Grant Amount

Grant Amounts will be determined on an individual student basis.

Grant Request Form Student Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

  1. Demonstrate Enrollment at the Time of Disbursement:
    • Be enrolled in at least 1 credit hour for Fall 2021 as of October 18, 2021.
    • Dual Enrollment and Continuing Education students are not eligible.
  2. Declare Exceptional Need or Significant Unexpected Expenses due to additional emergency cost(s) due to the coronavirus, such as tuition, books, food, housing, health care (including mental), childcare or transportation.

Application Process

Students who meet the eligibility requirements will have an application available through their MyNSU portal.  Students will only be able to complete one application.  Once the application has been submitted, no other changes can be made to the application.  Completing the application does not guarantee additional grant funding.

Information and Eligibility Requirements for the Additional American Rescue Plan (ARP) Supplemental Student Grant Request

Students may use the grants toward:

  • Any component of their cost of attendance
  • Emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as: tuition; food; housing; health care (including mental); childcare

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be enrolled for the Fall 2021 semester as of October 18, 2021
  • All regularly admitted students to the university beyond the Preparatory (High School Dual Enrollment) classification (this does not include Continuing Education Students).

Who is ineligible to receive HEERF III (ARP) grants:

  • Dual Enrollment and Continuing Education students

Amount of Awards

  • Grant Amounts will be determined on an individual student basis.
  • Students who have a balance with NSU will have the option to apply their Supplemental Student Grant Request towards any charges still owed to NSU.  This option will be included in the application that a student must complete to be reviewed for the award.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I required to complete an application process for Supplemental Student Grant Request?  All students wishing to apply for the Supplemental Student Grant must complete the online application for review.

Is there an application deadline?  Students wishing to apply for the Supplemental Grant Request must apply no later than October 29, 2021.  There is no extension to the application process.

Who is eligible to apply for the Supplemental Student Grant Request?  All students (excluding High School Dual Enrollment and Continuing Education students) are eligible to apply for supplemental funds.

Who is excluded from Supplemental Student Grant RequestHigh School Dual Enrollment and Continuing Education students are not eligible to apply for supplemental funds.

When will I be notified if my application was approved or denied?  Students who submit an application will receive an email on November 10, 2021, regarding an application decision

When will I receive payment? Processing will begin on November 11, 2021.  Students with Direct Deposit can expect to receive payments within 72 hours.

If I have a balance with NSU, will my Supplemental grant, if approved, be applied towards my balance? Students who have a balance with NSU will have the option to apply their supplemental grant funding towards any charges still owed to NSU.

If I am at my maximum Cost of Attendance (COA), am I eligible to receive funding?  Supplemental Grant funding will not count towards a student’s COA.

Am I eligible to apply if I am a currently enrolled as a Dual Enrollment Student?   No

Can International Students apply for Supplemental Grant Funding?  Yes, International students are eligible to apply for supplemental grant funding.

Does the money need to be repaid? No

If approved, how will I receive my Supplemental Grant Funding? Funds will be posted on your student account and paid in the form of a direct deposit.

How do I know if I have established direct deposit?  You can review direct deposit information within MyNSU.

If you have not established a direct deposit, you can sign up by submitting the direct deposit form by November 8th, 2021.  Please submit a voided blank check or a letter from your bank on your bank’s letterhead for your direct deposit request to be processed.

Please return this form to the Cashiers Office, 3rd Floor Student Services Center, or mail to Northwestern State University, Student Accounting & Cashiering, P.O. Box 5669, Natchitoches, LA 71497. You may also fax it to 318-357-5387.

Reporting Requirements

  • Total amount of ARP funds NSU will receive for student grants: $10,530,336
  • Total ARP grants disbursed to students as of November 11, 2021: $5,756,143
  • Total Number of students who received ARP grants as of November 11,2021: 8439
  • Total ARP grants disbursed to students as of October 8, 2021: $4,500,200
  • Total Number of students who received ARP grants as of October 8, 2021: 7633
  • Total ARP grants disbursed to students as of March 17, 2022 for Spring 2022 awards: $4,781,467
  • Total Number of students who received ARP grants as of March 17, 2022: 7347
  • Total Number of eligible students for ARP grants during Summer 2022: 3028
  • Total Number of ARP Supplemental Summer 2022 Applications: 872
  • Total Number of ARP Supplemental Summer 2022 Applications Processed: 39
  • Total Amount of ARP Supplemental Summer 2022 awarded: $17355
  • All available ARP funds (HEERF III) were distributed to students as of July 29, 2022

Notices to Students