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HEERF III Grants Distributed to Students
11,430 YSU students have received block grant disbursements through funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.
The total amount of funding YSU received from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students is $25,718,908. For HEERF III Grants, the amount of funding is $15,342,446.
To date, $13,044,500 in HEERF III funding has been distributed to students using a block grant awarding approach.
The number of students we have estimated will be eligible for HEERF III grants is 11,650 due to the elimination of the FAFSA requirement and based upon the expanded student populations now eligible.
The total number of students that have received HEERF III grant disbursements from YSU to date is 11,430.
As mentioned above, YSU used a block grant approach to prioritize the release of HEERF III grant funds to students with exceptional financial need as required (Pell grant recipients) who were enrolled during the Summer and Fall 2021 semesters to assist them with expenses such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) and childcare since the COVID-19 pandemic continues to create financial challenges and disruptions.
Additional HEERF III block grants will continue to be awarded as emergency grants with priority given to newly identified Pell eligible students as FAFSA’s are completed or updated. The second round of priority block grants following Pell eligible disbursements were awarded to domestic students with financial needs, especially undergraduates, that are not Pell Grant eligible. The third and fourth rounds of block grants were awarded as emergency grants to domestic Graduate students and International students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
In addition to HEERF III Grant awarding, YSU has been conducting direct outreach to financial aid applicants about the opportunity to receive a financial aid adjustment due to the recent unemployment of a family member or independent student, or other circumstances. Communications to students using targeted emails, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships Dollars and Sense newsletter, the Division of Student Affairs - The Pulse newsletter, and with post cards mailed to their homes. The financial aid special circumstance review message expresses the following: If you, or your family, have experienced a financial hardship during the calendar year 2020, or 2021, please contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to discuss a potential reassessment of your federal and state grant aid eligibility.
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Swipe Out Hunger at YSU
YSU Student Government Association is proud to announce its first Swipe Out Hunger Week, November 15 through November 19. Programming will focus on educating the campus community about food insecurity issues on campus and in the greater Youngstown community, as well as collecting donations to directly support members of our community.
In conjunction with Swipe Out Hunger Week, the campus is encouraged to donate items to the Penguin Pantry. The Penguin Pantry is a collaboration with the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Advocacy and Support with the goal of serving our students by providing them with basic food and hygiene necessities. Details about needed items and donation processes can be found here. Additionally, residential students on meal plans will have an opportunity to donate some of their unused meals to a meal swipe bank that will then be made available to students in need.
Swipe Out Hunger Week kicks off with a panel featuring Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown on Monday, November 15 at 5:30 pm in Bresnahan I & II in Kilcawley Center. For a full schedule of events, follow SGA on Instagram: @ysu_sga.
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Student Union Renovation Updates
On October 19, WTW Architecture Firm conducted a full day of on-campus focus groups with a variety of constituent groups to assess the needs and interests of our campus. Eighty-seven people participated in this round of focus groups, providing important feedback and direction for the project.
WTW will return to campus on November 16 to tour additional campus spaces and conduct focus groups targeting student athletes, commuter students, and faculty. In December, the Student Union Steering Committee and a group of students will visit student unions at Bowling Green State University, University of Toledo, Kent State University, and University of Akron to explore design opportunities for YSU's future renovation. WTW will return to campus in early January to gather feedback from student leaders at the Student Leadership Retreat on January 7.
Questions regarding the renovation project and timeline can be directed to Joy Polkabla Byers, Associate Vice President for Student Experience: jlbyers@ysu.edu.
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Student Affairs Holiday Hours of Operation
See this link to the hours for both Veterans Day and Thanksgiving holidays.
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Find out about upcoming programs from the Division of Student Affairs!
Go to the
Events Calendar
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Free On-Campus HIV Testing
Thursday, November 18
2:00 - 5:00 PM | M-55 Parking Lot, adjacent to Beeghly Hall
YSU Campus Recreation is proud to partner with Equitas Health to provide free on-campus HIV Testing. The Equitas Health: Care for All Van will be parked in the M-55 Parking Lot for walk up testing, educational information, giveaways, and more.
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Help our Emerging Leaders Make an Impact!The Emerging Leader Program (ELP) is hosting its annual Giving Tree gift donation drive. All members of the YSU community are invited to participate and donate to those in need.
WHO WE HELP: YWCA has been able to make the holidays a little brighter for local children thanks to the generous spirit of individual community donors, organizations, businesses and corporations.
WHY WE HELP: The gifts we give to children in need are the only gifts that they will receive this holiday season.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?: The ELP's goal is to donate gifts to benefit 50 children this season and we need your help! Stop by the Giving Tree table in the Lower Arcade, Kilcawley Center to select a child's wish list. Tables will be set up between 11am and 1pm on the following dates: November 8-10, 12, 15-17, 23 and 30, as well as December 1 and 3.
Questions about the program can be directed to Caleb Queen, Coordinator for Student Involvement: mcqueen@ysu.edu.
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YSU Hosts Student Housing Fair
YSU students are invited to visit the Housing Fair for a fun and interactive way to check out local properties, meet landlords, and enter drawings for giveaways.
Tuesday, Nov. 9
10:00am - 1:00pm
Attorney Daniel L Rossi Room (formerly the Ohio Room)
Kilcawley Center
Sponsored by YSU and College Pads.
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