COVID-19 Financial Assistance

FAU Cares Act Reporting
Report date as of Sep 30, 2020 - Next update Dec. 31, 2020

 

FAU CARES ACT
  1. An acknowledgement 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.

     

  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.

      14,166 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.



  • 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.
  • 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.
  • August 24, 2020:
  • August 27, 2020:
  • September 3, 2020:
  • September 11, 2020:
  • September 18, 2020:
  • September 22, 2020:
  • 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.
  • September 25, 2020:
  • 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


 


Hispanic Serving Institution Funding

 

HIS Funding

 

 

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.


 



 Last Modified 10/20/20