Update: February 19, 2021
Please know all Federal Stimulus funds have been exhausted. The COVID-19 Grant funding was first come first served and we have distributed all of the funding that we received from the federal government. Please know that ˿Ƶ College is here to support its students. If you have continued concerns or questions about finances due to the impact of COVID-19, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Additionally, the CARE Team can potentially assist with some short term funds and resources to help with emergency housing, food, etc. We would encourage you to contact Financial Aid at finaid@daemen.edu to set up a time to speak with us or someone from the CARE Team to discuss additional options at kspicer@daemen.edu or sfennell@daemen.edu.
As we did in the spring of 2020 when the first federal stimulus was released, ˿Ƶ College will once again be awarding federal dollars to students in need. The disbursement of stimulus dollars that ˿Ƶ College will be receiving is to be used in part to assist students and their families for “direct payment of grants to students for their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care.” This time, however, access is expanded to students taking all of their courses online. Additionally, this time, students can "opt-in" to allowing any money received be used to cover current or past balances owed to the College.
We will be using the same committee structure as we did previously comprised of administrators from Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Diversity and Inclusion, and Financial Aid. The committee developed a simple, straightforward process for students who have been directly affected by COVID-19 to request funds. With the President’s encouragement, the application process is inclusive of all students who are US citizens, regardless of the modality in which they took their courses.
Below are some FAQ’s of the process and parameters being used. Please read carefully and note that the guidance from the US Department of Education continues to vary so changes could be made to this process and/or the criteria used based on revised guidance.
All current ˿Ƶ students who are US Citizens are eligible to apply for funds. This includes students who are undergraduate or graduate; full-time or part-time; residential or commuter; Amherst, Branch Campus or Online Students. Unfortunately, because these are federal funds, international students are not eligible to receive stimulus dollars.
It is possible, but not likely. While $936,473 (the portion allotted for direct aid to students) is a lot of money, it will go quickly and so a committee has been structured to review applications, the particulars of each student’s situation, and make a determination from there. To that end, it will be important for those who apply to clearly and concisely discuss the COVID-19 impact on their financial situation.
The primary goal of these funds is to help ensure that students who have been affected by COVID-19 can complete their degree at ˿Ƶ. The federal government has been very clear, these funds must be provided directly to students who have had disruptions in their education due to COVID-19 and can be used for items such as housing, food, books, child care, course materials, technology, and more. The College will use that criteria, as well as other factors such as whether or not a student still needs to finish their education at ˿Ƶ, existing income sources, etc.
No, that is not true. The Federal Government needed a formula to provide a portion of the money to colleges and universities to award to students to help them complete their education. The way they did that was based on a formula that used combined Pell grant status of students, FTE, and headcount. That said, an individual’s financial status before the event is inconsequential to the awarding of funds. Funds are awarded based on need and impact from COVID-19.
No, it is neither. It is essentially money that will be awarded to the student directly to pay their expenses. The student can use that to pay existing tuition or future balances at the college if they so choose, but once the funds are awarded, they will be provided to the student and they can pay their bills accordingly.
As we did last spring (2020), students will be able to have these funds electronically deposited into their account once they receive notification of dollars awarded. Students who do not have a bank account, or who have concerns about this, can be provided assistance to set-up a bank account at our partner bank, Lake Shore Savings, and receive a debit card and such. Students can also "opt-in" on the application form to have the funds directly applied to their outstanding bill. Student Affairs can assist students with those needs. In rare circumstances, the College can issue paper checks if needed, but this will take longer.
From application to disbursement of funds, the process should take about 4 weeks, probably less. You will receive a confirmation of your application, and a letter once a decision has been made regarding your request.
Students will receive an email to their ˿Ƶ account from our Federal Stimulus Account (COVID19-stimulus@daemen.edu) with a decision and detailed instructions.
Unfortunately, there is no appeal process with the distribution of these funds. We encourage students to be honest and forthright in their needs and requests. The committee will be working diligently to review all applications fairly and to provide the most funds to the most people.
There is not a deadline per se, BUT the funds are limited and are available on a “first-come, first served” basis, meaning that students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. This does NOT mean that the person who applies first gets the money first; it just means that once funds are gone, they are gone.
Last spring (2020), the US Department of Education suggested a maximum amount that could be awarded, but the College did not come close to that maximum. Doing so would have meant that only only 150 students would have received funds from this stimulus. We have many more students in need than that. Last spring, we were able to ensure that 775 students received funds, many of which was in the multiple thousands. ˿Ƶ’s goal is to provide as many funds to as many people as possible so we ask students to be reasonable with their requests. So while there is no maximum amount, it is highly unlikely that students will receive more than a few thousand dollars.
˿Ƶ College is now, and will always be, committed to our students’ success. With a limited amount of funds, it is likely that not everyone who applies will be able to receive funds. To that end, you may get all of your request, none of your request, or some of your request. Regardless, ˿Ƶ will not turn their back on a student. There may be other things we can do including emergency housing, food, use of CARE Funds, additional financial aid, and more. The bottom line- our students’ success is our number one priority.
Please know all Federal Stimulus funds have been exhausted. The COVID-19 Grant funding was first come first served and we have distributed all of the funding that we received from the federal government. Please know that ˿Ƶ College is here to support its students. If you have continued concerns or questions about finances due to the impact of COVID-19, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Additionally, the CARE Team can potentially assist with some short term funds and resources to help with emergency housing, food, etc. We would encourage you to contact Financial Aid at finaid@daemen.edu to set up a time to speak with us or someone from the CARE Team to discuss additional options at kspicer@daemen.edu or sfennell@daemen.edu.