The University of Louisiana at Lafayette says they have received $12,686,007 through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The university says that at least 50 percent ($6,343,004) is to be used exclusively for the purpose of providing emergency financial aid grants to students for their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The University has updated their website and have begun the process for administering CARES Act Grants to students, which includes assessing student need, determining individual payments, and distributing funds. The university says that all this has been done according to federal guidelines.
Specifics and details regarding the process and disbursements are as follows.
Eligibility Requirements - All students will be notified as to their preliminary eligibility status for a CARES Act Grant via an email to their University-issued email addresses. The University estimates that approximately 9,700 students are eligible to receive funds. Students who have not received a notification by Thursday, May 28, should email finaid@louisiana.edu.
Eligible Students
According to the U.S. Department of Education, in order to be eligible, students must meet the requirements of Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended:
- be enrolled in at least one credit hour on March 13, 2020;
- be degree seeking;
- be a U.S. citizen or Title IV eligible noncitizen;
- have a valid Social Security number;
- be registered with Selective Service (if the student is male);
- have a high school diploma or GED; and
- be in good satisfactory academic progress standard status during Spring 2020.
The requirements listed above are verified through the federal financial aid application process; therefore, the University required all students who wished to be considered for a CARES Act Grant to have submitted a 2019-20 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by May 15, 2020.
Ineligible Students
According to the Department of Education, students who fit the following criteria are not eligible to receive the CARES Act Grant:
- enrolled in an exclusively online degree program;
- currently in default on a federal student loan;
- a dual enrollment student;
- an international student; or
- an undocumented student.
Submission of the Certification Form is part of the process to determine eligibility for the grant. The form is used for a student to attest to their need for the CARES Act Grant by certifying that they have incurred expenses related to the disruption of campus operations because of the coronavirus pandemic. Eligible expenses include food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare. To fill out a form, click here
Every eligible student who completes the Certification form will receive a CARES Act Grant. Unlike loans, grants do not have to be repaid. CARES Act Grants will be awarded based on registered hours as of March 13, 2020, and according to the following schedule:
Undergraduate students who are not Pell eligible
- Full-time students - Undergraduate students with 12+ hours - $400.00
- Part-time students - Undergraduate students with 6-11 hours - $300.00
- Less than half-time students with 1-5 hours - $300.00
Undergraduate students who are Pell eligible
- Full-time students - Undergraduate students with 12+ hours - $900.00
- Part-time students - Undergraduate students with 6-11 hours - $700.00
- Less than half-time students with 1-5 hours - $400.00
Graduate students
- Full-time students - Graduate students with 9+ hours - $400.00
- Part-time students - Graduate students with 5-8 hours - $300.00
- Less than half-time students with 1-4 hours - $300.00
UL Lafayette says that awards will be posted to students' University accounts and then disbursed directly to the student. Students should allow two to three weeks after submitting to receive the grant. They will receive an email when the grant is posted to their student account.
If students have set up direct deposit with the University, grants will be deposited into their designated bank accounts, otherwise a check will be mailed.
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