The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress with overwhelming, bipartisan support and signed into law by President Trump on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act provides stimulus and financial support to many sectors of the economy, including higher education. A portion of the funding package earmarked for colleges and universities is explicitly directed to provide emergency grants to students who were impacted by the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 health emergency.
Current degree-seeking students who were enrolled in on-campus classes during the spring 2020 semester (as of March 13, 2020) and are eligible to receive federal financial aid are eligible to request CARES Act funds. Students who meet these criteria must also confirm that they incurred expenses related to the disruption of campus operations.
If you have not filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and feel you are eligible for federal financial aid, you still have time to complete the FAFSA. Once you complete the FAFSA, continue to review your financial aid requirements in the Costs and Aid tab of your TUportal because you might have student eligibility requirements to complete before you can request CARES Act funding.
In accordance with guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, international and undocumented students are not eligible to receive CARES Act grants. Please also note that any students who were enrolled in online-only programs prior to the suspension of in-person teaching are not eligible for CARES Act grants.
While we understand that each and every student has experienced an upheaval of their day-to-day life as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to ensure that students with the most need are prioritized for these emergency funds. For this reason, students who received Federal Pell Grants for the spring 2020 semester are being automatically awarded CARES Act grants.
Federal Pell grant recipients who are eligible for CARES Act funding will see a $800 grant disbursed to their student account on Tuesday May 12, 2020 and the refund will begin to generate by Wednesday May 13, 2020. The Office of Student Financial Services will also email all Federal Pell grant recipients on Tuesday May 12, 2020 to advise that the funding has been disbursed. And you can visit TUpay Student Choice Refunds (Costs & Aid Tab in TUportal) for the status of your refund.
Federal Pell grant recipients who are eligible for CARES Act funding also received an additional $200 grant disburse to their student account on Thursday May 28, 2020. The refund generated and an email notification was sent.
Eligibile Federal Pell grant recipients that are matriculated students at Temple Japan will also see the $1000 USD grant disbursed to their student account, however it will take a few more days for the disbursement to be finalized and the standard currency conversion to Yen. Temple Japan students will receive an email from the Office of Student Financial Services with more information.
As required by the legislation, CARES Act funds may be used only to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (this includes expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child-care expenses).
Students who are already eligible for federal financial aid based on their 2019-2020 FAFSA can apply for a CARES Act grant using an online form that will be available to eligible students in TUportal.
The deadline to complete the TUportal form to request CARES Act funds is May 15, 2020.
Expenses you incurred as a result of the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 health emergency, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare and child care. Here are some examples:
Awards will be determined on a case-by-case basis and relative to available funding at the time of the request. Depending on the number of requests received, the expected minimum grant will be $400. Students will be notified of the exact amount in their TUportal student account (TUpay).
Requests for CARES Act grants will be reviewed following the May 15, 2020 deadline. Once your request is reviewed and approved, you will see the grant disburse through your student account and processed as a refund. If you are already signed up for direct deposit, the funds will be deposited in your account within three to four days. If you are not registered for direct deposit through TUpay, you will receive a paper check in the mail to your permanent address on file with the university. Student Financial Services encourages all students who are eligible for CARES Act funding to sign up for direct deposit in order to receive the funds as quickly as possible.
Under the CARES Act, institutions must identify students who have incurred expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible students will be notified to complete the form in TUportal.
The amount of each grant will be determined on a case-by-case basis of need and the extent the loss of services impacted the student's continued pursuit of their education. The minimum grant will vary depending on the number of requests received, and is expected to be about $400.
CARES Act grants will be available on a first-come basis and so long as funds are available. Our intention is to assist as many students as possible while being sensitive to need, in accordance with the U.S. Department of Education's guidance.
Without the FAFSA on file, we have no way of knowing if you are eligible to participate in federal financial aid programs. The criteria for eligibility include but are not limited to: 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. Additionally, the student must not be in default or in a loan overpayment and must be making satisfactory academic progress (SAP), or on an approved SAP appeal/plan.
If you do not have a FAFSA on file, we recommend you file the FAFSA now. We will review your financial aid file during the processing of the CARES Act grant request and may request additional documentation so that we can assist you to establish your eligibility.