Wright State to issue $14.5 million in new federal funds to help eligible students during pandemic

Wright State University will assist students impacted by the coronavirus pandemic by distributing more than $14.5 million in new federal funds over the next year.

Wright State will distribute $766,975 in emergency relief grants directly to 1,631 students who are enrolled in classes during the Summer 2021 Semester. Wright State began issuing the first round of funds beginning the week of June 28.

The university will distribute the remaining $13.84 million in federal funding to students who are enrolled during the Fall 2021 Semester and Spring 2022 Semester. That remaining funding will be dispersed after the start of each semester.

The federal funds may be distributed to students to help with emergency costs caused by the coronavirus pandemic, including for tuition, food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and childcare.

“We believe these funds will provide some financial relief to a broad range of our students who have experienced hardship as a result of COVID-19,” said Kim Everhart, director of financial aid.

The funding is provided through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) III, which distributes money to institutions to provide emergency financial aid grants to students, many of whom continue to face financial challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. HEERF III was part of the American Rescue Plan, which President Biden signed into law in March.

Wright State received a total of $14,508,548 from HEERF III to provide direct relief to students due to the pandemic. The university will also distribute to students an additional $104,156 remaining from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, which was passed in December 2021.

Undergraduate and graduate students and students enrolled in the Boonshoft School of Medicine and the School of Professional Psychology are eligible for grants from Wright State. The university will allocate grants based on each student’s FAFSA, prioritizing students with the greatest financial needs.

Wright State will automatically award the eligible students. Each student who receives funding will receive an email explaining the details of the funding.

Students who did not file a FAFSA may also apply for emergency grants by completing an application online.

Under the American Rescue Plan, eligibility was also expanded to include any student enrolled at Wright State on or after May 13, including degree- and non-degree-seeking students, DACA students, refugees, asylum seekers and international students.

More information is available on Wright State’s COVID-19 emergency financial aid website.

This is the third round of federal funding Wright State has received to help with costs associated with the pandemic. In 2020 and the spring of 2021, the university directly dispersed $10 million in federal funds to students affected by the pandemic.

As part of the American Rescue Plan, Wright State received an additional $14.2 million in federal funding to defray university expenses associate with the coronavirus.