COVID-19 Financial Assistance
Report date as of Aug. 7, 2020 - Next update Sep. 21, 2020
ʦapp 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 ʦapp.
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 ʦapp 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 ʦapp 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 ʦapp under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
Estimated 14,562
5. The total number of ʦapp who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to ʦapp under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
14,167 ʦapp
6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which ʦapp 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 ʦapp must apply online through the ʦapp 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 ʦapp with the most financial need as determined by the 2019-2020 FAFSA and the ʦapp 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 ʦapp Cares application. Completion of the ʦapp 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 ʦapp for any component of the student’s cost of attendance.”
7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to ʦapp concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
- Email messages reminding ʦapp 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 ʦapp 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 ʦapp in the Canvas LMS.
- The following Email was sent to ʦapp who potentially would be eligible to receive this grant. It was also posted on the ʦapp COVID-19 Emergency Student Financial Aid website.
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 ʦapp who have been adversely impacted by the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. Following guidelines from the US Department of Education, ʦapp will disburse these cash grants to ʦapp who are most in need of financial relief due to the ongoing global pandemic. Qualifying ʦapp 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 ʦapp 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,
- The following text message was a follow up to the email sent out to ʦapp who did not submit an application for the grant. This text was also posted as an announcement to ʦapp in the Canvas LMS.
Federal CARES cash grants to eligible ʦapp ʦapp who demonstrate financial impact due to COVID-19. Apply at Text STOP to opt-out.
- As of July 1, 2020, eligible ʦapp 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 ʦapp with directions on how to apply.
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 ʦapp faculty and staff. As of July 8th, ʦapp has not yet expended these funds; however, the institution will report accordingly once the funds have been deployed.
