Federal relief funds available for students

Rowan University is committed to providing financial aid to students in need, and all the more during the crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The most immediate source of aid has come from federal funding, which begins with the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

 

Beginning August 13, 2020, students will be able to again apply for assistance by completing the CARES Act Student Emergency Assistance Form posted on the Office of the Bursar’s website. All requests for assistance will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis with priority for funding given to first-time applicants. Applications will be processed until all funds allocated have been disbursed. The application for CARES will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2020 to allow for early semester distribution.

 

The maximum emergency assistance grant will be $2,000 per student. A team of professionals from the Offices of the Bursar and Financial Aid will review requests.  Funds will be disbursed to students through direct deposit to personal accounts on record or through a check mailed to the address on record. It can take up to three (3) weeks from the date of each student’s submission to receive payment.

 

In alignment with federal recommendations, Rowan will utilize a point system to help evaluate who is in most need and help determine how to distribute the funds based on a rubric that measures six (6) components of award. Students will self-disclose their “need” by answering a series of questions. The point system allows for 100 maximum points based on the following categories:

As per the federal requirements, all currently enrolled students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens with a valid Social Security number are eligible for the Higher Education Emergency Relief funding under the CARES Act. Students enrolled exclusively in an online program on or before March 13, 2020 are not eligible for this funding. International, undocumented, and DACA students are ineligible, as are students who are in a SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) denied status, students who have not registered for Selective Service (male only), and/or students who have defaulted on federal student loans. Additionally, Rowan University employees (except those hired as student workers) are also ineligible. At this point in time, funding from the CARES Act will be limited to those students who are registered for Fall 2020.

 

We are committed to helping you make the most of the investment you are making in your education. We encourage you to take advantage of the support available to you as soon as possible.

 

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Office of the Bursar by e-mail at bursar@rowan.edu.  

 

Sincerely,

 

Leonardo T. Freyre