**** This program has expired and the information below is archived for reporting purposes听 听****
CARES Act/HEERF Emergency Grant Fund
The听Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security听(CARES)听Act听is听federal legislation that听established and funded the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), which has provided the 91社区听with $2.9 million for听emergency financial aid grants to students听to help cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to听the听coronavirus.听
The Department of Education听has established eligibility guidelines that students must meet in order to be听eligible for听an award.听听听
- Students must have filed a听Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)听for the 19/20 academic year听and met听Title IV eligibility听requirements听
- Students must have been enrolled in a degree seeking program at听91社区听听
Grants range听from $200 to $800听depending upon enrollment听status听and听Pell Grant听eligibility.听Students displaced from University housing were听awarded听an extra听$200.听听听
Under Department of Education guidelines, some听students are not eligible for an award听such as听international students, DACA students,听students who took all distance education听and students who were not meeting general Title IV eligibility听requirements.听听听
The CARES Act does听not听allow the University to apply funds to听a听student鈥檚听past due balance.听
**All CARES Act Grants (HEERF I) have been distributed, and funding has been exhausted.**
FAQ鈥檚听
- Do I have to repay a CARES Act grant?听These funds are a grant, not a loan. There is no requirement to repay the grant funds.听
- Will this funding reduce my financial aid?听This is a one-time grant that does not reduce financial aid.
- How will the CARES grant impact my taxes?听As with all financial assistance, federal grants received will have separate and unique tax consequences for your individual federal tax return. Visit the听听for more information听
- Where can I go if I have more questions?听If you have any additional questions, please email听finaid@usi.edu.