Helping students navigate the COVID-19 pandemic is a continuing priority to The University of Akron. The University recently received federal funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to distribute emergency grants to students whose lives and educations have been disrupted by pandemic.
“While our students have proven to be quite resilient, we are thankful that we have the ability to deliver funds that might help to alleviate some of the financial pressures they are experiencing,” said Dr. John Messina, vice president for student affairs. “It is our goal to distribute these funds as widely as possible to assist as many UA students as we can.”
UA received a total of $14 million in funds from the federal CARES Act to help mitigate financial impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Of this total, $7 million must be used to immediately assist current students experiencing financial hardships caused by the pandemic. These grants can be used for expenses such as housing, food, course materials, technology and child care. The University will automatically issue checks or directly deposit grants in the amount of $1,200 to just over 4,000 Pell recipient UA students who are enrolled in Spring 2020. The remainder of the funds will be available through an application process where eligible students can apply for additional grants valued up to $1,000.
The U.S. Department of Education developed eligibility requirements for grant recipients. To be eligible for funding, students must have been enrolled in Spring 2020 in a degree-seeking program as an undergraduate student, a graduate student, or law student and be eligible to participate in Federal Title IV programs. Title IV programs include federally funded aid such as the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Loans. Other eligibility requirements must also be met.
Applications for the additional grants will be considered on an ongoing basis until all funds are depleted, in the order applications are received. A committee will review applications on an ongoing basis and students can expect to receive the funds up to 10 days after approval.
UA students can learn about the eligibility guidelines and apply for funds online at CARES Emergency Assistance Grant.
Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476 or cboyd @uakron.edu.