- To receive funding from the CARES Act, a student must be eligible to receive Title IV federal student aid. This means that the student has filed, or could file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and is or would be found to be eligible to receive federal aid, such as Federal Direct Loans and/or federal grants. Thus:
- To be eligible for review for a potential CARES Act Emergency Grant a student must have a FAFSA on file for 19/20 and/or 20/21 at UVM that shows they are eligible to receive Title IV federal student aid. The student's FAFSA does not need to show that they have financial need or have any particular Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). If you have not filed a FAFSA for 19/20 or 20/21, you may file the 20/21 at www.fafsa.gov.
- CARES Act funding is not available as a replacement for lost income. It is to be used only to award emergency grants to students for eligible additional expenses they have incurred due to the disruption to campus operations and move to remote learning.
- Students who were enrolled in a Distance Education (exclusively online) program prior to the disruption to campus operations and transition to remote learning are not eligible for grants through the CARES Act.
- Schools may not apply CARES Act funds toward any outstanding balance a student may owe on their account. Awarded grants are to be paid directly to students regardless of any balance owed to the school. Please note that if you have a balance due and receive a grant through the CARES Act, you will still owe that outstanding balance to UVM.
- Grants from the CARES Act are awarded for the express purpose of covering qualifying expenses a student has incurred related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, for which they've indicated financial need on the UVM application, such as technology, course supplies, food, housing, travel, storage, personal supplies, dependent care, and healthcare.
CARES Act Emergency Grant Timeline at UVM
- Funding decisions are being made as quickly as possible; review of applications generally takes place every 1-2 weeks.
- Notification of an emergency grant award will be sent to the student's UVM email address. Once notification has been sent, a student should expect to see a direct deposit to their bank account on file within a week.
- Emergency grant funds will be released by direct deposit. Students must have a direct deposit account on file with Student Financial Services. To check that this is set up, change the account, or set it up please go to myUVM. Once logged in, click on the Student Financial Services tab, then click on Set Up Direct Deposit under the Student Account heading. The bank account and routing numbers are necessary in order to set up the direct deposit. This direct deposit must be set up separately from direct deposit for wages or stipends paid through Payroll.
- There is limited funding available and the CARES Act Emergency Grant application may be closed at any time. Submission of an application does not guarantee grant funding for the applicant.