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Resources » CARES Act Student Grants and Disclosures

CARES Act Student Grants and Disclosures

CARES Act Grants

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenging financial situations for College Unbound students. The federal government’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and its Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) allocates emergency relief funding for eligible college students across the country to address pressing needs of students due to the disruption of campus operations.

 

College Unbound determined that all its degree-seeking students incurred negative financial consequences after the issuance of a presidential proclamation on March 1, 2020 declaring the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a national emergency. College Unbound students experienced significant hardship including unemployment, underemployment, unexpected child care expenses, additional food costs, increased health care costs, and unanticipated expenses related to distance education due to the shift to online education during the fall 2020, spring 2021 and summer 2021 semesters to ensure the safety of students and compliance with federal, state and local regulations and guidelines. In Fall 2021, the college recognized that with its students who were parents faced a particular need for child care as many schools and child care centers faced an uncertain fall semester. Accordingly, the college, provided students with children needing child care the opportunity to apply for money under the CARES Act.

 

Eligible College Unbound degree-seeking students will receive a grant under the CARES Act to cover qualified expenses incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants, which do not have to be repaid, will be sent directly to students. Grants appear on student accounts but are not applied to any outstanding tuition costs and do not affect a student’s eligibility for federal or institutional aid. There are no fees associated with applying for or receiving a COVID-19 relief grant.

 

Eligibility Requirements for Fall 2020 Semester

You are eligible to receive funds if you meet the following requirements:

  • Have a completed FAFSA for 2020-2021 and submitted all required verification documents  
  • Are a degree-seeking student
  • Were enrolled in at least one credit as of 12/18/2020
  • Making Satisfactory Academic Progress as of the end of Summer 2020
  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
 

Eligibility Requirements for Spring 2021 Semester

 

You are eligible to receive funds if you meet the following requirements:

 

  • Have a completed FAFSA for 2020-2021 and submitted all required verification documents  
  • Are a degree-seeking student
  • Are enrolled in at least one credit in Spring 2021 as of 2/1/2021
  • Making Satisfactory Academic Progress as of the end of Fall 2020
  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
 

Eligibility Requirements for Summer 2021 Semester

 

You are eligible to receive funds if you meet the following requirements:

 

  • Have a completed FAFSA for 2020-2021 and submitted all required verification documents  
  • Are a degree-seeking student
  • Are enrolled in at least one credit in Summer 2021 as of 7/13/2021
  • Making Satisfactory Academic Progress as of the end of Spring 2021
  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
 

Eligibility Requirements for Fall 2021 Semester

 

You are eligible to receive funds if you meet the following requirements:

 

  • Have a completed FAFSA for 2021-2022 and submitted all required verification documents 
  • Are a degree-seeking student
  • Are enrolled in at least one credit in Fall 2021 as of 8/23/2021
  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
  • Complete an application for a child care grant demonstrating the need for funds to cover the cost of child care to pursue your studies
 

Ineligible Students

You are not eligible to receive funds if you are one of the following:

  • Were enrolled in exclusively online classes prior to March 13, 2020
  • Currently in default of a federal student loan
  • A non-degree student
  • A previous student
 

About the Awards

  • The maximum amount a student can receive for Fall 2020 is $450.
  • The maximum amount a student can receive for Spring 2021 is $450.
  • The maximum amount a student can receive for Summer 2021 is $250.
  • The maximum amount a student can receive for Fall 2021 is $300.
  • The award is a one-time payout per term.
  • CARES Act funds will be paid to eligible students until funds are exhausted.
  • The award is not a loan and does not have to be paid back.
  • The award will not be applied to an outstanding tuition balance. 
  • There are no fees associated with receiving the award.
  • Per IRS guidelines, the CARES Act will not appear on a student's 1098-T and are not included in a student's gross income.
 

Receiving the Award

Funds will be sent directly to the student via mail by check. Please ensure your address is correct in MyCU. Once logged in navigate to the main menu in the upper left > My Info > Address/Phones

Questions?

Please contact financial aid at [email protected]

Disclosures

1. College Unbound (CU) acknowledges it signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the Certification and Agreement, and gives the assurance that CU 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. The total amount of funds CU received from the U.S. Department of Education for distribution to students is $123,772.
 
3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students as of September 30, 2021, is $134,250 (includes funding from institutional portion).
 
4. The estimated total number of students at CU 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 is 134.
 
5. The total unduplicated number of students who received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant as of September 30, 2021 is 168.
 
6. The methods used to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the CARES Act:
 
The following eligibility criteria apply:
  • All CU students enrolled for the fall 2020 semester were considered to have incurred expenses due to the disruption of campus operations based upon the mid-semester switch to online learning, with the exception of those students who were already 100% enrolled in online courses of which there were none;
  • All CU students enrolled in the summer 2020, fall 2020, spring 2021 or summer 2021 semesters are considered to have incurred expenses due to the disruption of campus operations due to the continued online delivery of courses and remote delivery of instruction, course materials and student services. Students enrolled in Fall 2021 were provided the opportunity to apply for grant to cover expenses related to child care as child care operations remained disrupted; 
  • Students must be matriculated in as a degree-seeking student at CU during one of the affected semesters;
  • Students must demonstrate Title IV financial aid eligibility by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and meeting all applicable qualifications;
  • Students may not receive funds for previously reimbursed expenses;
  • The maximum award for the Fall 2020 semester was $450;
  • The maximum award for the Spring 2021 semester was $450;
  • The maximum award for the Summer 2021 semester was $250;
  • The maximum award for the Fall 2021 semester is $300.
 
7. The instructions, directions, or guidance provided by CU to all students concerning the CARES Grants were sent via CU email, by text message when possible and published on the CU website. Information was also shared with staff and faculty, including those serving as academic advisors.
 
 
 
 
 
Amounts Awarded
 
In the fourth quarter of 2020 (9/1/2020-12/31/2020), the total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to 121 students under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act was $54,450. Amounts were disbursed using the above criteria.
 
In the first quarter of 2021 (1/1/2021-3/31/2021), the total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to 123 students under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act was $55,800. Amounts were disbursed using the above criteria.
 
In the second quarter of 2021 (4/1/2021-6/30/2021), the total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to 3 students under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act was $1,350. Amounts were disbursed using the above criteria.
 
In the third quarter of 2021 (7/1/2021-9/30/2021), the total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to 77 students under the CARES Act was $22,650. Amounts were disbursed using the above criteria.