A helping hand: UTRGV to offer HEERF Cash Grant in spring

Students have another HEERF Cash Grant to look forward to in the Spring 2022 semester.

UTRGV is estimating that all students at the university next semester will be able to receive the grant, according to Griselda Castilla, UTRGV’s associate vice president for Strategic Enrollment. 

The cash grant will be similar to the one offered at the beginning of this semester in that two different grant amounts will be available.

“By federal rules, we have to give priority to the neediest students,” Castilla said. “Students that have done a financial aid application and have a zero estimated family contribution, they will receive $850.”

“All other students who have done a financial aid application and have an estimated family contribution of a dollar or more, or have not done the FAFSA, they will get $750.”

The university was able to keep the amounts and process the same as the previous Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Grant thanks to available funds.

“From the federal allocation that we received from the federal government to support our students due to COVID-19, we did have some funds available to continue to offer this grant to our students for the Spring ’22 semester,” she said. “Because we know our students continue to face financial challenges, we knew it was important that we issued these cash grants to them this spring semester as well.”

Castilla said that funding and the university’s commitment to support students are the main motivators for offering another grant.

Students do not have to apply to be eligible.

“They just have to have established enrollment with UTRGV,” she said. “So, they had to have been enrolled with us in any term between March 202o forward. So, of course, that covers all of our continuing students.”

Incoming students who will be new to UTRGV in Spring 2022 can still receive the cash grant. However, they would have to first establish enrollment.

“For that small group that will be starting with us this spring semester, we do have to wait until after the spring census date, after the 12th class day of the spring semester, so that we can issue those funds to them,” Castilla said. “But, for the most part, students will start receiving the cash grant that following Monday after the first day of class.”

Students are still able to submit their financial aid application for the 2021-2022 academic year.

“So, if students have not submitted their application, it’s not too late,” Castilla said. “They can still submit that financial aid application so that we can receive it and determine whether they receive the $850 or the $750 come that first week of classes.”

The cash grants help new students prepare for college, according to biology freshman Alondra Ramos.

“Well, for me, I used it on getting a new computer and things like that,” Ramos said. “So, I did use it for, like, materials and stuff since I was just entering college.”

New students are often in need of new supplies, she said.

“I know that some people might just be entering, and they still don’t have certain materials,” Ramos said. “They probably need that money.”

She said she already submitted her FAFSA, and that she should qualify again for the $850.

The HEERF Cash Grant alleviates financial stress for students as they continue their education, according to counseling graduate student Victoria Martinez.

“When I was first going to grad school, I was really nervous about how I was going to make it financially,” Martinez said. “But, having the HEERF Grant … just helped me with anxiety and financial stress.”

She said she was hoping for another cash grant soon.

“It was just a great help,” Martinez said. “It makes that college experience more positive when you don’t have that extra financial stress on you.”

Castilla said it was good to see some positive responses from students about how the funds help with food, books or other expenses that they may have.

“We know that it’s not just tuition and fees that our students have to worry about,” Castilla said. “They have to worry about, you know, food, putting gas in their vehicles, buying software and other supplies that they may need for their courses. So, these funds are for them to use as they need.”

Students with an account balance will also be given the opportunity to apply those funds toward their balance.

“More than anything, I want to make sure that students know that these funds are coming their way,” Castilla said. “We want our students to know that we are here to support them.”For more information about the Spring 2022 HEERF Cash Grant and distribution, go to www.utrgv.edu/ucentral and click on the HEERF tab.