HEERF I

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
May 2020

The University of Rhode Island was allocated $5,619,342 in emergency aid to students as a result of Congress passing the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The emergency aid is to assist eligible URI students who incurred “expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.”

Once the CARES Act was passed into law, the Department of Education provided guidance to higher education institutions regarding implementation and awarding of the funds. The University used this guidance, along with guidance from the National Association of Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) to award students based on the following criteria and information.

May 27, 2020

The University of Rhode Island acknowledges that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education the certification and agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The University has used, or intends to use, the mandated amount of no less than 50% of its HEERF1 (Section 18004(a)(1)) funding to provide emergency student grants.

Eligibility

The funds will only be awarded to students for “expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.
The initial funds will be awarded to a group of students who were enrolled in the Spring 2020 semester who had a completed FAFSA on file with the University as of May 1, 2020 for the 2019-20 academic year.

The Department of Education provided guidance that students enrolled in programs that are 100% online are ineligible to receive these funds.

The funds were awarded beginning in May 2020 to students for “expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.

The initial funds were awarded in a block grant to a group of students who were enrolled in the Spring 2020 semester who had a completed FAFSA on file with the University as of May 1, 2020 for the 2019-20 academic year.

Students Selected and Dollar Amount

As a result of this guidance, and working on the premise that so many of our students were impacted this semester and have “expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses”, URI will be awarding the emergency financial aid funds from the CARES Act to the following groups of students, and under the following conditions:

Initial Award Group

Full-time (12+credits) undergraduate students enrolled in the Spring 2020 semester with a 2019-2020 completed FAFSA with URI, and with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA less than $25,500 will receive CARES Act funds in the amount of $800. Part-time students enrolled in 6-11 credits with a 2019-2020 completed FAFSA with URI, with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA less than $25,500 will receive $400 in CARES Act funds. With this block grant model, the University will support more than 6,800 students with this plan.

The awards will be posted in e-Campus under the student’s spring 2020 financial aid account. Students in this group will receive an email from Enrollment Services asking them to log in to their account to accept or decline the award.

Important Note: Students should accept the CARES Act fund amount offered in e-Campus if they had “expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.” Student’s acceptance of this amount confirms that they had such expenses. If a student did not incur expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, they must decline the grant offer.

Secondary Funds

The University recognizes that additional students may have “expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.” These students, if not chosen in the original block grant model, may submit an application.

Timeline

Students in the initial group will receive an email if they have been selected to receive an award starting Thursday, May 28, 2020. Awarded students will also see the award, titled Federal Cares Act Grant in their spring 2020 financial aid account. The deadline to accept or decline this award is Tuesday, June 9, 2020.

Students will be asked to accept or decline the amount. For students who accept the amount, the award will be processed and refunded to the student based on their chosen delivery preference. Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to have correct address and contact information in e-Campus.

The award offer will remain available for a specific period of time, which will be outlined in the email notice. Awards not accepted by the deadline will be canceled so the funds can support other students.

As a reminder, by accepting the offer, students are confirming they have incurred “expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.” Students who have not incurred such expenses should decline the award.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are students who just graduated from URI eligible to receive this grant?

Yes, students who were enrolled in the Spring 2020 semester are eligible if they met the criteria above.

Once I accept my award in e-Campus, how long will it take to receive the funds?

Funds will take a few days up to a few weeks depending upon what method of refund you chose. For students who accept the amount, the award will be processed and refunded to the student based on their chosen delivery preference.

If I did not receive an award but had eligible expenses, can I appeal/apply?

Yes, any student who did not receive an award may apply using the form that will become available on June 9, 2020. All criteria above must be met.

How do I know if I received an emergency grant?

You will receive an email. You can also check your spring 2020 financial aid award to see if you have an award titled Federal CARES Act Grant.

I did not get an award, can I call someone to appeal?

No, but any URI student who did not receive an award may appeal/apply using the form that will be available June 9, 2020.

I owe an outstanding balance to URI. Can these funds be applied to that balance rather than send me a refund?

No, per the requirements, the funds will be refunded directly to you.

I am enrolled in a fully online program. Am I eligible for the CARES funds?

No. You are not eligible for CARES Act funds if you were enrolled exclusively in an online program.

Is the money I receive taxable?

According the IRS, “Emergency financial aid grants under the CARES Act for unexpected expenses, unmet financial need, or expenses related to the disruption of campus operations on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as unexpected expenses for food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, or childcare, are qualified disaster relief payments under section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code. This grant is not includible in your gross income.”

If I or a parent lost my job as a result of COVID-19, can this be used as a reason to get a refund?

Unfortunately no, the funds will only be awarded to students for “expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.”

How will/did URI determine the amount students will receive?

URI followed the CARES Act and the U.S. Department of Education guidance which encourages universities to distribute funds to as many eligible students as possible.

I am a newly admitted student and was not enrolled at least part time in the Spring 2020 at URI, am I eligible to apply for these funds?

No. Students who were enrolled at URI in the Spring 2020 semester are eligible if they met the previously mentioned criteria.

NOTE: This allocation of funding has been disbursed in its entirety as of March 31, 2021.

March 31, 2021 $5,619,342 in CARES Act funds have been disbursed to 7,199 students.
January 4, 2021 $5,441,000 in CARES Act funds have been disbursed to 6,980 students.
December 31, 2020 $5,437,000 in CARES Act funds have been disbursed to 6,971 students.
October 21, 2020 $5,057,400 in CARES Act funds have been disbursed to 6,493 students.
August 5, 2020 $4,818,400 in CARES Act funds have been disbursed to 6,186 students. The secondary funding application is still available for students who incurred expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, or child care, during the spring 2020 semester.
June 18, 2020The University has disbursed $4,351,800. 5,500 students have accepted their CARES award, 40 have declined. 1,609 awards remain in offered status. A reminder has been sent to these students. Since the June 9 application was posted, 484 students have submitted an application. Approximately 12,900 students are eligible to participate for 2019-20.
June 9, 2020 Students who did not get an award in the initial award group, may submit a secondary funding application.
May 28, 2020 Initial Award Group: 6,811 awards offered to students, email notifications sent, award posted to student accounts to accept/decline. June 9, 2020 date established for those to complete an application if they had expenses and were not in the initial award group.