The University of Idaho will receive $6.9 million through the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-IHE/Student Aid and half of it, $3,452,648, is to be given to students. UI has not yet decided what specific criteria students have to meet or when to expect the funds.
UI Director of Communications Jodi Walker said a decision is expected to be made soon, though she could not provide any additional information.
The CARES Act’s higher education relief, which was released April 9, provides funding to students who are facing financial challenges, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Students cannot apply for assistance directly from the Department of Education so for students, it is their university’s responsibility to determine how the funds are distributed.
According to an Idaho State Board of Education press release, Idaho’s public schools are expected to receive more than $36 million.
The press release said half of that money must be used as a financial aid grant to students who are in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The institutions have discretion in how the grand funding is allocated to students,” the press release said.
Randi Croyle, UI’s director of Student Financial Aid Services, said her department is working on the best way to distribute funding, but was unable to comment with additional information.
While UI is still in the process of finalizing how the CARES Act will be distributed to students, down the road, Washington State University has published guidelines on how their minimum $10,884,27 will be distributed.
According to WSU’s student resource website, WSU students who are enrolled in specific WSU campuses will receive commination from WSU’s Student Financial Services beginning next week. Students must confirm they will use the cash grants for food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare or childcare in light of COVID-19.
WSU students will receive between $500 and $1500 and are eligible to apply for an emergency grant if they are in need of additional funding.
WSU also outlined they are assisting students with the greatest need and these students include:
- Undergraduate students who received a 2019-20 Federal Pell Grant
- Undergraduate students who did not receive a 2019-20 Federal Pell Grant and who had an expected family contribution (EFC) less than $12,000 for 2019-20
- Graduate students who had an expected family contribution (EFC) less than $5,500 for 2019-20
According to WSU’s website students who are not citizens of the United State do not qualify for CARES Act funding. This includes undocumented students and international students.
Alex Brizee can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @alex_brizee