COVID-19 Financial Assistance

Report date as of DEC. 23, 2020 - Next update FEB 15, 2021

FAU Cares Act Reporting

1. An acknowledgment that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or 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.

FAU DOR

2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

   $11,214,937

3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).

   $11,214,937

4. The estimated total number of students at the institution 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 to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

   Estimated 14,562

5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

   14,167 students

6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

In order to receive emergency grant funding, eligible students must apply online through the FAU Cares application. Approved applicants will receive a cash payment through Direct Deposit (if established) or a paper check by mail. Applicants may be eligible for the grant if they meet all of the below criteria

  • Student must be currently enrolled for the spring 2020 semester as a degree seeking undergraduate or graduate.
  • Student must have completed a 2019-2020 FAFSA and meet all eligibility requirements for Title IV Financial Aid under Section 484 of the Higher Education Act.
  • Student must have been financially impacted due to disruption of academic operations caused by COVID-19.
  • Any student who was enrolled in an exclusively online program prior to the transition to remote instruction is not eligible to receive funds at this time.

Until May 15, 2020, priority consideration will be given to students with the most financial need as determined by the 2019-2020 FAFSA and the FAU Cares application. After May 15, grants will be disbursed to eligible applicants for as long as funds are available, assuming documented financial impact and a completed FAU Cares application. Completion of the FAU Cares application is not a guarantee of funding.

The University estimated that the average student would incur $706 of personal expenses during the period in which the university transitioned to remote instruction until the end of the spring semester. This figure is based on the most recent available Bureau of Labor Statistics data and components of the University’s existing 2019-2020 cost of attendance estimates for personal expenses. Rounding down from $706, the institution determined that each eligible student will receive a one-time flat payment of $700 to offset personal expenses incurred due to the disruption of campus operations. Per a statement issued by Secretary DeVos on April 30, 2020, these funds “may be used for grants to students for any component of the student’s cost of attendance.”

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

  • Email messages reminding students to apply for the grant were sent out on: May 14, 2020 and June 11, 2020

Emails and text messages were sent out to potential eligible students to apply for the emergency financial aid grants. CARES Act information was also included in a campus wide newsletter and as a global announcement to students in the Canvas LMS.

 

Subject: Apply Now - COVID-19 Emergency Cash Grant

Dear Students,

The Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has provided institutions of higher education across the country with emergency cash grant funding for students who have been adversely impacted by the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. Following guidelines from the US Department of Education, Florida Atlantic University will disburse these cash grants to students who are most in need of financial relief due to the ongoing global pandemic. Qualifying students should review eligibility criteria and additional terms and conditions at www.fau.edu/coronavirus/student-aid..

Grants will be awarded to additional recipients who apply until May 15, 2020, with prioritization according to FAU Office of Student Financial Aid records, including Pell eligibility, $0 estimated family contributions, and previously documented unmet need. After May 15, grants will be disbursed for as long as funds are available, assuming documented financial impact.

In order to receive this emergency grant funding, eligible students must apply online.

 

  • The following text message was a follow up to the email sent out to students who did not submit an application for the grant. This text was also posted as an announcement to students in the Canvas LMS.

Federal CARES cash grants to eligible FAU students who demonstrate financial impact due to COVID-19. Apply at links.fau.edu/cares Text STOP to opt-out.

 

  • As of July 1, 2020, eligible students who are registered for the Summer and Fall 2020 terms were invited to apply for the CARES Grant. An email was sent out to potential eligible students with directions on how to apply.

Eligibility criteria changed to include students who are meeting all Title IV eligibility criteria for the 2019-2020 year and who are enrolled in at least one degree applicable credit for the summer 2020 term (any part of term), even if they were not enrolled in the Spring 2020 term. Web content was updated to reflect change in eligibility criteria. Students who are not enrolled in summer but are enrolled for the Fall 2020 term remain eligible only if they were also enrolled for the Spring 2020 term and are meeting all Title IV eligibility criteria for the 2019-2020 AND 2020-2021 year. Newly identified eligible students were invited to complete CARES application with the above e-mail.

 

  • August 24, 2020:

Newly identified eligible students were invited to complete CARES application with the above e-mail. The e-mail invitation was first sent to newly identified eligible students with the most financial need (EFC below Pell cutoff of 5712) as determined by the Office of Student Financial Aid.

 

  • August 27, 2020:

Students in this population who did not yet apply were contacted via text message and invited to apply with the following message: Have COVID-related educational expenses (online classes, food etc)? If yes, apply now. Limited funds: Text STOP to opt-out.

 

  • September 3, 2020:

The e-mail invitation was sent to newly identified eligible students with an EFC below 10,000 (FAU’s cutoff for several institutional grant funds) who had not yet applied and had not yet been contacted in earlier campaigns.

 

  • September 11, 2020:

The e-mail invitation was sent to newly identified eligible students with an EFC below 10,000 (FAU’s cutoff for several institutional grant funds) who had not yet applied and had not yet been contacted in earlier campaigns.

 

  • September 18, 2020:

All eligible students (no EFC cutoff) who had not yet applied and had not been contacted in earlier campaigns were emailed and invited to apply

 

  • September 22, 2020:

All eligible students who did not yet apply were contacted via text message and invited to apply.

 

  • On September 23, 2020 the Office of Student Financial Aid sent the following e-mail communication to all fall enrolled students who were meeting all eligibility criteria but had not yet applied to complete the FAU CARES application and apply for HEERF. The e-mail campaign advised that the deadline to apply was September 25, or when funds were exhausted – whichever happened first. Web content was also updated to state that September 25 was the last day to apply.

Subject: Last chance to apply for emergency grant!

Attention Owl:

It’s your last chance to apply for an emergency financial aid grant! The application will close on Friday, September 25th or when funds are gone – whichever happens first.

If you have incurred COVID-related educational expenses such as the following, please apply now. Funds are limited and will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

  • * Technology purchases to equip the student for remote instruction
  • * Healthcare costs related to COVID-19 or related complications
  • * Moving costs due to leaving on-campus residence halls or off-campus apartments
  • * Food costs due to not having access to on-campus dining options
  • * Other possible unforeseen expenses due to public health concerns

In order to receive this emergency grant funding, eligible students must apply online.

 

  • September 25, 2020:

The FAU CARES application was modified to remove mention of HEERF emergency student financial aid grants. As of this time, the application is being used to evaluate students for other institutional scholarships and financial aid resources.

 

  • On September 29, 2020 the remaining allocation of emergency student financial aid grants were divided amongst students who were enrolled and meeting HEERF eligibility for the Fall 2020 semester and received a HEERF disbursement in the previous Spring or Summer 2020 semester. These students received the following e-mail from the Office of Student Financial Aid

Subject: Second Grant Disbursement from your FAU CARES Application

Dear Student,

Earlier this year, you received an emergency cash grant to assist you with expenses caused by the disruption of campus operations due to Coronavirus.

We understand that Coronavirus has caused ongoing disruption and financial impacts for students. We are disbursing to you an additional one-time direct cash grant of $162.87 to help offset your fall semester expenses.

This grant can be used for expenses related to technology, course materials, housing, health care, child care, food, or other personal expenses related to Coronavirus. It does not need to be repaid. If you have direct deposit set up, you will receive your disbursement in 3-5 business days. If you do not have direct deposit set up, you will be mailed a paper check which you should receive in 7-10 business days.

Thank you and be well!

The Office of Student Financial Aid

 

Hispanic Serving Institution Funding

Cares Letter

Florida Atlantic has received a total allocation of 1,645,667 for being a Developing Hispanic Serving Institution ($1,415,407) and Promoting Post-baccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans ($230,260). As our response to the pandemic is ongoing, the university continues to evaluate its needs and deploy resources where they can make the greatest impact for our students faculty and staff. As of July 8th, FAU has not yet expended these funds; however, the institution will report accordingly once the funds have been deployed.

 

U.S. DOE CARES Reporting

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