Additional Financial Support for Emerson Students
Dear Emerson Faculty and Staff,
Yesterday, the Student Financial Services team sent a reminder to students about additional financial support that may be available to them. Because so many of you engage directly with students, we hope that you’ll consider sharing this information with your students. Many of our students are not aware that they can apply for additional assistance, so we would appreciate the Emerson community’s help in spreading the word.
Below are some of the ways that students can apply for additional assistance through the new Student Financial Services (SFS) Portal:
Tuition Increase Offset Fund
The College will continue to offset the 2 percent tuition increase for continuing undergraduate students and their families with demonstrated financial need and/or changing financial circumstances. This fund was introduced in the 2020-2021 academic year, and we are pleased to inform you that it is available again for 2021-2022. Applying for this fund can be done in three easy steps:
1. Go to the SFS Portal
2. In the Supplement Funding Application section, click on the purple “Apply for Increase Offset Fund” button
3. When the new page opens, follow the instructions to complete and submit the form
HEERF III (American Rescue Plan)
Students who are or were enrolled in an institution of higher education during the COVID-19 national emergency are eligible for emergency financial aid grants from the Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEERF) Act, also known as the American Rescue Plan. You may be eligible for this aid even if you have not completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or are not receiving Title IV funding. Priority will be given to students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants or undergraduates with extraordinary financial circumstances. Our office may not know about your specific financial situation, so we encourage you to apply for this funding. To apply, please complete the following steps:
1. Go to the SFS Portal
2. In the Supplement Funding Application section, click on the purple “American Rescue Plan Application” button
3. When the new page opens, follow the instructions to complete and submit the form
Changes to Your Family’s Financial Situation
The 2021-2022 FAFSA takes federal income tax information from 2019 into account when calculating your financial need. We know that the last two years have caused significant changes in income for some families, and that the FAFSA may no longer accurately reflect financial need. If you or your family’s financial situation has changed significantly from what is reflected on your 2019 federal income tax return (for example, if you (or a parent) have lost a job or otherwise experienced a drop in income), you may be eligible for additional financial aid funds. If you have not already done so, complete the 2021-2022 FAFSA. After you receive your financial aid award, if it does not align with your actual financial need for support, you can submit an appeal by doing the following:
1. Go to the SFS Portal
2. In the Supplement Funding Application section, click on the purple “Start a Financial Aid Appeal” button
3. When the new page opens, follow the instructions to complete and submit the form
In addition, the Office of Student Success is available to help support students with questions spanning many areas. Students with any questions are strongly encouraged to reach out to both the Office of Student Success and the Office of Financial Aid at the contact information below; we are here to help!
Office of Financial Aid
617-824-8655 (option 2)
Office of Student Success
617-824-8650
Thank you for all that you do to help our students remain engaged and a part of this amazing community.
Sincerely,
Ruthanne Madsen
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