Consumer Information

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act (enacted December 27, 2020) provided additional Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF II). A portion of these funds were designated to be spent as emergency funds for students. The HEERF II allocations were in addition to the initial HEERF I funds received as part of the CARES Act in April 2020.  On January 17, 2021, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (Mines) received the Grant Award Notification (GAN) for the HEERF II Institutional Funds. The GAN for the HEERF II Student Funds was received on February 9, 2021.

CRRSA HEERF II Student Funds Award: $727,849

CRRSA HEERF II Institutional Funds Award: $1,537,094

Total CRRSA HEERF II Student and Institutional Funds Awards: $2,264,943

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The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act (enacted March 11, 2021) provided additional Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF III). A portion of these funds were designated to be spent as emergency funds for students. The HEERF III allocations were in addition to the initial HEERF I and II funds received as part of the CARES Act in April 2020 and CRRSA Act in December 2020.  On May 20, 2021, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (South Dakota Mines) received the Grant Award Notification (GAN) for the HEERF III Student and Institutional Funds.

ARP HEERF III Student Funds Award:  $2,010,101

As of Wednesday, December 29, 2021, South Dakota Mines has made 2238 awards and disbursed the full $2,010,101 in HEERF III Student Funds.  We regret that no further assistance under HEERF III is available.

The awarding of HEERF III Student Funds was accomplished in 5 phases.

     Phase 1 assisted students who gave us permission to use HEERF III funding to reduce or eliminate unpaid account balances owed to South Dakota Mines going back to spring 2020 through spring 2021.  No application was required.

     Phase 2 assisted students who had filed the 2021-2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), who were Pell Grant eligible and had an unmet need (estimated cost of attendance minus Expected Family Contribution minus all forms of aid) for fall 2021.  As required, permission to apply funds to unpaid account balances were obtained.

     Phase 3 assisted students who had filed the 2021-2022 FAFSA and had an unmet need for fall 2021.  As required, permission to apply funds to unpaid account balances were obtained.

     Phase 4 assisted students who had filed the 2021-2022 FAFSA. This phase also gave students the opportunity to provide information about COVID related special circumstances or COVID related Cost of Attendance adjustments.  When possible adjustments to Federal Aid or Cost of Attendance were processed or the information was used to offer HEERF III funding.  As required, permission to apply funds to unpaid account balances were obtained.

     Phase 5 assisted students who did not file the 2021-2022 FAFSA or were international students.  These students were asked to provide statements regarding COVID related impact on personal and/or family finances.  As required, permission to apply funds to unpaid account balances were obtained.

ARP HEERF III Institutional Funds Award:  $2,008,839

Total ARP HEERF III Student and Institutional Funds Awards:  $4,018,940

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Notice: As of May 27, 2021, South Dakota Mines has fully exhausted our CRRSA Act and HEERF II Student Assistance Grants allocation; as a result, we regret that no further assistance under these programs is available.

1. The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act (enacted December 27, 2020) provided additional Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF II). A portion of these funds were designated to be spent as emergency funds for students. The HEERF II allocations were in addition to the initial HEERF I funds received as part of the CARES Act in April 2020.  On January 17, 2021, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (Mines) received the Grant Award Notification (GAN) for the HEERF II Institutional Funds. The GAN for the HEERF II Student Funds was received on February 9, 2021.

2. South Dakota Mines was allocated $727,849 for Student Assistance Grants.  The intent of South Dakota Mines was to fully award these funds to eligible students.

3. Per our records and based upon the limitations initially imposed on who was eligible for assistance, over 2000 students at South Dakota Mines were initially determined to be potentially eligible to receive funding from this program.

5. Per information available in our records, South Dakota Mines potentially eligible students were evaluated based on high Unmet Financial Need and prioritized in the order of Federal Pell Grant eligible students, students with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) that fell within the Federal Pell Grant EFC range (included both graduate and undergraduate students) and then by all other students with high Unmet Financial Need.

6. As of May 27, 2021, 631 HEERF II awards were processed for disbursement to 630 eligible students.  Our full $727,849 allocation has been fully exhausted.

7. Students with a zero-balance owed to South Dakota Mines received their funding by direct disbursement to them via their designated requested refund method (check or Direct Deposit).  These students were notified by e-mail from David Martin, Financial Aid Director, to their South Dakota Mines e-mail account of the award, the source of the funding and the approximate date they could either see the funds in their designated Direct Deposit account or receive the check.

8. Students who had an unpaid balance owed to South Dakota Mines that were being considered for funding were sent an e-mail requesting their permission to apply the funds to their unpaid balance. They were informed that if the amount of the award was more than what they owed, they would receive a refund of the difference. However, if after the funds were applied they still owed a balance on their account, they were directed to contact the Student Accounts/Cashiering Services office to pay the balance owed.  They were also informed that if they chose not to give South Dakota Mines permission to apply the offer to their unpaid balance, they would receive a direct refund.  Once their response was received, offers were processed and funds disbursed as they requested.

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Notice: South Dakota Mines has fully exhausted our CARES Act Student Assistance Grants allocation; as a result, no further applications are being accepted for CARES Act Student Assistance Grants.

1. On April 23, 2020, Dr. James Rankin, South Dakota Mines President, signed the Certification and Agreement to participate in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act relative to Student Assistance funding.  By signing the document, he certified that South Dakota Mines has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

2. South Dakota Mines was allocated $727,849 for Student Assistance Grants.  The intent of South Dakota Mines was to fully award these funds to eligible students.

3. As of November 6, 2020, $727,849 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants, under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, had been processed for disbursement to eligible students at South Dakota Mines.  As a result, South Dakota Mines has fully disbursed our CARES Act Student Grants to eligible students.

4. Per our records, 1448 students at South Dakota Mines were determined eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

5. As of November 6, 2020, 577 Emergency Financial Aid Grant awards were processed for disbursement to 525 eligible students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

6. South Dakota Mines notified eligible students of the availability of CARES Act Student Assistance via an e-mail from our president.  Three reminder notices were sent to eligible students who had not previously applied.  Students were informed that the assistance was coming from the U.S. Federal Government, why the assistance was being offered, and what qualified as an allowable expense they incurred due to campus closure and the move to online course delivery and how to apply through our online application. Students were asked to select one or more of the following areas eligible for assistance and then provide a requested amount and a brief description of the expenses incurred:

• Temporary relocation for new housing arrangements
• Living expenses (food, rent, utilities, incurred due to moving out of campus housing)
• Extra living expenses for a previously shared apartment or house in the Rapid City area that you now have sole responsibility for
• Technology not previously needed due to the switch to all online classes
• Health care that you are now fully responsible for
• Childcare
• Other expenses incurred due to campus closure not noted above

7. Completed applications were received electronically and reviewed by a committee that determined if the expenses incurred fell under the requirements of the CARES Act.  Students were notified of the approval and an approximate date of the assistance disbursements.  Students were also notified if clarifying information was needed before a final decision was made. Based upon the approved allowable expenses that students had incurred, they were free to use the CARES Act Student Assistance Grants as best met their needs.  Students were also informed if their request was not approved by reason of not meeting the requirements of the CARES Act.

8. Students who received the e-mail notification from Dr. Rankin or subsequent reminders from David Martin, Financial Aid Director, were eligible to click on a link and complete the CARES Act Student Assistance Application.  Since we have exhausted our allocation, the online application is no longer available.

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