Federal CARES Act Financial Assistance for Students
In Spring 2020, Stevens received approximately $1.5 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to assist eligible students experiencing unexpected financial challenges that occurred as a result of the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including food insecurity, housing, course materials, learning technology needs, health care and child-care expenses. Assistance through the CARES Act may not be used for university charges, such as tuition, fees, room, and board.
Eligibility
Emergency grants must be awarded in accordance with federal guidance, which requires that recipients are eligible for Title IV (federal) financial aid. To be eligible, students must currently have a 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file at Stevens, have submitted all required documentation (as applicable) and must meet all satisfactory academic progress standards for Title IV aid.Graduate students who are enrolled in programs offered through "StevensOnline", international and undocumented students, and students who are not Title IV eligible may not apply. In addition, students must meet the following criteria to be considered for a grant:
Enrolled in the Fall 2020 semester as an undergraduate or graduate student in a Stevens degree program
Have and be able to demonstrate financial hardship caused by or because of the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, based on expenses related to their cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child-care expenses.
How to Apply for Cares Act Grants
Stevens has provided two applications for students to apply for CARES Act grants; one for off-campus housing relief and the second for emergency assistance for expenses such as food insecurity, course materials, learning technology needs, health care, child-care expenses and housing expenses not related to off-campus leases. Students may file both applications if they qualify. Applications will be reviewed and funding decisions made inthe order in which applicatiosn are received, and students will be notified via email when a decision has been made on their application. Priority will be given to students who have not previously received funding from the CARES Act and who apply by Friday, September 4, 2020.
1. Off-campus Housing Relief Application
Students who (a) are enrolled in a degree program for the Fall 2020 semester, (b) meet the eligibility requirements for Title IV federal assistance as stated above, (c) have or can demonstrate financial hardship due to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-10 pandemic and (d) have incurred expenses related to off-campus husing for the Fall 2020 semester, and in each case are required to attend classes remotely (and are not permitted on campus), may be considered for a CARES Act Student Emergency Assistance grant for Housing Relief in an amount up to $2,500 provided that:
the student will not live in their off-campus housing during the fall 2020 semester and will remain with family or at another address for the entire fall 2020 semester; and
the student has not been able to secure an acceptable subtenant, may not sublease under their lease or has terminated their lease and incurred an early termination fee.
CARES OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING RELIEF APPLICATION
2. Student Emergency Assistance Grant
Students who (a) are enrolled in a degree program for the Fall 2020 semester, (b) meet the eligibility requirements for Title IV federal assistance stated above, and (c) have or can demonstrate financial hardship due to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in each case have incurred unexpected costs such as food insecurity, course materials, learning technology needs, health care, child-care expenses or housing expenses which are not related to off-campus leases (as described above) may apply for CARES Act Student Emergency Assistance grants.
FAQs
This section addresses the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, intended to assist eligible students experiencing unexpected financial challenges as a result of the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CARES STUDENT EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE GRANT APPLICATION
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