CRRSAA Act of 2021 | Administrative Services

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021

Montana Technological University has received $838,100 in federal funding from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations ACT of 2021 (CRRSAA) which provides direct aid to students in the form of grants to help ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic.  $408,500 unexpended from the HEERF I Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act has also been awarded under the new provisions of the CRRSAA Act for a total of $1,246,600 granted to students to pay for higher education expenses or emergency costs due to COVID-19.

As of March 29, 2021, this allocation has been awarded.  No additional funds are available at this time.

CRRSAA grants may be used for:

• any component in a student’s cost of attendance
• for emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus, such as:
  • tuition
  • food
  • housing
  • health care (including mental health care)
  • child care

Under the CRRSAA Act, Montana Tech is required to prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who are eligible to receive Pell Grants, in awarding financial aid grants to students.  However, students do not need to be Pell recipients or students who are eligible for Pell grants in order to receive a financial aid grant.  In addition, the CRRSAA explicitly states that financial aid grants may be provided to students exclusively enrolled in distance education. 

There is no application process to apply for CRRSAA grants.  All eligible Montana Tech students will automatically receive a grant.  CRRSAA grants will be issued in the form of a check and mailed to the student’s billing address in OrediggerWeb.  These are direct payments to students.  If you have a balance owing to Montana Tech, you may use these funds to pay your outstanding balance.  However, these funds will not pay the balance directly. 

The following eligibility requirements for awarding grants to students per the policy adopted by Montana Tech on March 24, 2021:

• Prioritize students with high need as defined by the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) reported on a FAFSA that has been verified if selected for verification by the Central Processor or by Montana Tech.
• Must be enrolled at Montana Technological University for the spring 2021 term as of 4:00 AM on March 22, 2021.
• Students on consortium agreements with Montana Technological University as the host school were excluded.
• International, non-U.S. citizens, Jump Start (dual enrollment), continuing education and non-degree or non-certificate seeking students were excluded.