UACCB Emergency Financial Aid Grant (CARES Act) FAQ

UACCB is partnering with the United States Department of Education to distribute Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES Act) funding to students in financial need due to unexpected expenses related to the spring 2020 disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. 

 

The CARES Act requires institutions to provide the emergency financial aid grants directly to students. The grants must be awarded in accordance with the CARES Act.  The grants are made only to students who are or could be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). Students who have not filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), but who are eligible to file a FAFSA, may receive emergency financial aid grants. The FAFSA may be completed at www.fafsa.gov. The criteria to participate in programs under Section 484 of the HEA include but are not limited to the following: U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen; a valid Social Security number; registration with Selective Services (if the student is male); and a high school diploma, GED or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting.  

Eligible students must have a FAFSA on file or must complete a 2019-2020 FAFSA and be compliant with all federal aid requirements. Federal aid requirements for student aid include, but are not limited to, meeting financial aid satisfactory academic progress, not have a loan in default or grant overpayment, or have a federal or state conviction for drug possession or sale, with certain time limitations. 

Students who were enrolled exclusively in an online program on March 13, 2020, the date of the President’s Proclamation, “Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak,” Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 53 at 15337-38, are not eligible for emergency financial aid grants. Students who were enrolled exclusively in online programs would not have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.

 

The emergency financial aid grants to students are for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus. CARES Act funds can be used for expenses including food, housing, course materials, technology (including computer and internet access), health care and child care.

 

The amount of the award will be based on the number of credit hours in which a qualified student was enrolled on March 13, 2020. To determine eligibility, the student certification must be completed and submitted with a priority deadline of May 20. If you have questions regarding eligibility or about this process, please contact Kristen Cross (kristen.cross@uaccb.edu) or Jennifer Sinele (Jennifer.sinele@uaccb.edu) or call the UACCB financial aid office at 870-612-2036.

 

Assistance is granted without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, age, gender, disability or nation origin.