About CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grant
In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Government has enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act which provides institutions of higher education with funding to provide emergency assistance to students experiencing expenses related to the disruption of campus operations from the coronavirus, including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care.
The CARES Act instructs schools to distribute the money to current, on-ground students.
What Does This Funding Cover?
The following is a list of expenses that can be considered for emergency grant assistance if they were related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus.
Food
Housing
Course materials
Technology
Health care
Child care
Eligibility
Consistent with U.S. Department of Education requirements, students who meet all criteria below are eligible to receive an emergency financial aid grant:
-Working towards a degree or certificate at Midwest Institute.
-Are actively enrolled beginning March 13, 2020, even if that course moved to an online format due to the pandemic, and those who will have started prior to June 30, 2020.
-Have a valid 2019-20 FAFSA on file with Midwest Institute’s Financial Aid Office or are eligible for Federal (Title IV) Financial Aid, the student must provide attestation. Title IV eligibility requires that student is meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
-Students must complete an online application and attestation form and acknowledge they have incurred qualifying expenses related to the disruption of Midwest Institute’s operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.
-The student must demonstrate need for costs incurred as a result of disruption of school operations due to COVID-19, including but not limited to food, housing, health care, course materials, technology, or child care
Per the U.S. Department of Education, international students, DACA students, and students enrolled exclusively in online courses are not eligible to receive CARES Act funding.
Cares Act Emergency Financial Aid grant FAQs
Q: How do I know if I am eligible to apply?
A: Students who meet all of the following criteria are eligible to apply: (1) working towards a degree or certificate at Midwest Institute; (2) enrolled in Spring 2020 in course(s) on March 13, 2020, even if that course moved to an online format due to the pandemic; (3) have a valid 2019-20 FAFSA on file with Midwest Institute’s Financial Aid Office; (4) Students must complete an online application and acknowledge they have incurred qualifying expenses related to the disruption of Midwest Institute’s operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Q: Who is eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants under the CARES Act?
A: Per the US Department of Education, only students who are eligible or could be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, may receive emergency financial aid grants. If a student has filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), then the student has demonstrated eligibility to participate. Students who have not filed a FAFSA but who are eligible to file a FAFSA also may receive emergency financial aid grants. The criteria to participate in programs under Section 484 of the HEA include but are not limited to the following: U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen; a valid Social Security number; registration with Selective Service (if the student is male); and a high school diploma, GED, or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting.
Q: Do I need to repay this grant?
A: No, money received through this fund does not need to be repaid. This fund does not impact nor replace any financial aid you may currently receive, and it is a one-time grant.
Q: I’m going to be a new student, can I apply?
A: Students who have enrolled and start classes prior to June 30, 2020, may be eligible.
Q: I submitted an application for an emergency financial aid grant. What happens next?
A: Students will be notified if they are approved or denied through email. If approved, funds will be disbursed by check that will be mailed to the student’s verified address on the application.
Q: How will I receive the grant money?
A: Emergency grants will be processed through paper checks.
Q: What if I currently owe tuition or other expenses to Midwest Institute?
A: The full amount of the emergency grants will be given directly to students and will not pay outstanding balances owed to Midwest Institute. Any outstanding balance owed to Midwest Institute remains the responsibility of the student and must be paid in full per the enrollment agreement.
Midwest Institute Cares Act Emergency Financial Aid Grants Report August 2020
Midwest Institute Cares Act Emergency Financial Aid Grants Report June 2020
Emergency Financial Aid grants Attachment A
Emergency Financial Aid grant Attachment B
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