As required by Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act, P.L. No. 116-136 (03/27/2020.)
1. On April 10, 2020, Chancellor Dean Van Galen signed the Recipient’s Certification and Agreement – Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. UW River Falls is committed to providing no less than 50% of the funds received under section 18004(a)(1) in the form of direct grants to students to assist with expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care related to the disruption of campus operations due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
2. On April 22, 2020, UW River Falls received the first installment of funding under section 18004(a)(1) in the amount of $2,213,733 for the express purpose of making Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
3. As of May 8, 2020, $384,375 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants were distributed students.
4. As of May 8, 2020, 4,058 students met the eligibility requirements to receive funding under Section 484 of Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended). This number does not include students enrolled wholly in a program of distance education who are excluded from eligibility for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
5. As of May 8, 664 students have received Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
6. To receive an Emergency Financial Aid Grant, students must:
a. Complete a brief application form stating that they experienced financial expenses as a result of the disruption of campus operations, and identifying the category of allowable cost incurred;
b. Submit a signed FAFSA for either the 2019-20 or 2020-21 academic year;
c. Pass all U.S. Department of Education database matches and be determined eligible for Title IV aid;
d. Be admitted to the University as a degree-seeking student for spring semester 2020; and
e. Have been enrolled in at least 1 credit hour of instruction on or after March 11, 2020.
7. Emergency Financial Aid Grant awards were pre-determined, ranging from $225 to $750. Award amounts assume that certain categories of students experienced differential financial expenses due to the disruption of campus operations. * Eligible students were assigned an amount based on the following criteria:
a. An Expected Family Contribution as determined by the FAFSA that is within or exceeds eligibility for the Pell Grant;
b Full-time or Part-time enrollment load at the time of the campus disruption; and
c. Housing arrangements for Spring Semester 2020 (residing on campus, off campus or with parents.)
d. The following table displays the resulting Emergency Financial Aid Grant distribution formula:
|
EFC Within Pell Eligibility |
EFC Exceeds Pell Eligibility |
||
|
Full Time |
Part Time |
Full Time |
Part Time |
On Campus |
$750 |
$375 |
$650 |
$325 |
Off Campus |
$650 |
$325 |
$550 |
$275 |
With Parents |
$550 |
$275 |
$450 |
$225 |
8. Student information about applying for grants is published on our Financial Aid website:
https://www.uwrf.edu/FinancialAid/Federal-Emergency-Grant.cfm
https://www.uwrf.edu/FinancialAid/Federal-Emergency-Grant-Q-A.cfm
*The U.S. Department of Education used similar logic to eliminate students enrolled wholly in programs of distance education from eligibility for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.