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CARES Act 45-Day Report

July 7, 2020

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed on March 27, 2020, to address unmet financial and health needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Among its provisions, the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) awarded funds to institutions of higher education to address costs and financial needs arising from the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. Each institution must use no less than 50 percent of funds received under Sections 18004(a)(1) and 18004(c) of the CARES Act to provide direct, emergency financial aid grants to students.

The University of Central Florida completed and returned the Certification and Agreement Form for the CARES Act funding for student emergency grant relief on April 11, 2020. UCF acknowledges and certifies that no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act will be used to provide emergency financial aid grants to students. UCF submitted the CARES Act 30-Day Report May 23, 2020.

UCF’s CARES Act allocation for student emergency financial aid grants totaled $25,535,625. An online application period opened on April 29, 2020 and closed on May 19, 2020. To date the following number of awards have been made:

First CARES Act Application period APRIL 29 – MAY 19, 2020
Number of Applications Received 21,669
Number of Awards as of July 6, 2020 18,547
Total Amount Disbursed To Date $16,199,567
Estimated Number of Eligible Students 56,769
Maximum Grant Award – Pell Eligible $950
Maximum Grant Award – Non-Pell Eligible $900
   

For the first CARES Act emergency grant fund application cycle, the university assessed eligibility for CARES Act emergency grant funding. Specifically:

  • 2019-2020 FAFSA on file or eligible to complete a 2019-2020 FAFSA (students encouraged to complete a FAFSA)
  • Degree seeking and enrolled in Spring 2020 classes
  • Not enrolled in an exclusively online program
  • Not an international or undocumented student

The university established as an initial and tentative allocation that up to 75 percent of the available funding would be used for grants to Pell-eligible students (an estimated 20,033 students), with the balance to non-Pell-eligible students. UCF set initial maximum award levels of $950 (Pell-eligible) and $900 (non-Pell-eligible). The application asked students to explain how the disruption of moving to online learning due to COVID-19 impacted their academic performance and created financial needs. Students were asked to request funding in different areas (housing, food insecurity, utilities, etc.) for which they were experiencing financial impacts caused by COVID-19.

A full review of applications from the first CARES Act application was conducted. Applicants reported expenses and known economic need in order to determine the amount of funds each student received. Awards were posted and distributed directly to students via direct deposit or paper check. Students were notified via their official UCF email accounts.

UCF opened a 2nd CARES Act emergency grant application cycle June 24, 2020. The application closed July 5, 2020 with a total of 17,022 applications submitted. UCF has a remaining $9,336,058 CARES Act funding available to award. UCF assessed eligibility for CARES Act emergency grant funding for this application cycle using the criteria listed below:

  • 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 FAFSA on file (meeting all federal financial aid eligibility requirements)
  • Degree seeking and enrolled in Spring and/or Summer 2020 classes
  • Not enrolled in an exclusively online program
  • Not an international or undocumented student

An email notification was sent June 24, 2020 to all students informing them of the online application. The notification included a link by which to apply.

UCF will maintain the maximum award levels of $950 (Pell-eligible) and $900 (non-Pell-eligible) for each CARES Act award. The application asked students to explain how the disruption of moving to online learning due to COVID-19 impacted their academic performance and created financial needs. Students were asked to request funding in different areas (housing, food insecurity, utilities, etc.) for which they were experiencing financial impacts caused by COVID-19.

To assist all students who have submitted a CARES Act application (first and/or second round) the university is conducting reviews to ensure students who met the eligibility criteria were given an opportunity to receive funding. Students who received CARES Act funding for the Spring 2020 term and are also enrolled for the Summer 2020 term may be eligible to receive a 2nd CARES Act award. However, students who have not received an initial CARES Act award will be given first consideration for funding. UCF expects to begin making awards in response to the second round process within the next two weeks of this 45-day report.

The instructions informed students of eligibility requirements for receipt of CARES Act emergency aid grants, including financial aid eligibility. UCF expressed a desire to have students submit a FAFSA if they had not already done so. Students were provided information and instructions here.

CARES Act Updates