April 30, 2020
NCCU Community:
In response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Congress passed the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Aid that provides $6.3 billion in direct support to institutions. North Carolina Central University was awarded $8.9 million for institution support and student assistance; there is $4,466,117 that has been designated specifically for student aid.
The university established a CARES Act Emergency Relief Aid Taskforce to review guidelines and establish criteria for disbursement of the student relief aid. Funding assistance will be offered to all students with a valid FAFSA who meet Title IV eligibility requirements to cover a student’s expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19, including, but not limited to the following:
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- Food;
- Housing, such as having to move off campus when residence halls closed;
- Course materials;
- Healthcare;
- Childcare;
- Technology-related expenses, such as having to purchase a computer when the student's courses are moved online; and
- Transportation, such as having to secure a flight to return home because classes were cancelled, residence halls were closed, or having to return from study abroad when the program is cancelled.
Students who are not eligible to receive funds from the CARES Act are international, DACA and exclusively online students. However, these students will be given consideration using the Student Affairs Emergency Funds (https://www.nccu.edu/forms/covid-19-fund-application) and NCCU Student Emergency Relief Fund.
Students will receive funding in the following three priority areas from the CARES Act Emergency Higher Education Relief Act and will be awarded up to $1,200:
Priority 1:
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- CARES Act Emergency Aid applicants who are Title IV eligible will receive up to $1,200.
Priority 2:
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- All eligible Title IV students (undergraduate, graduate, professional, and doctoral) who did not submit a CARES ACT Emergency Relief Aid application with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $0 to $5,576 (Pell Cut-off) will be offered up to $600.
Priority 3:
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- All eligible Title IV students (undergraduate, graduate, professional, and doctoral) who did not submit a CARES ACT Emergency Relief Aid application will be awarded $500 in EFC order beginning with $5,577 until the funds are depleted.
The nearly 6,000 Title IV recipient students who are awarded funds will receive the funds directly by direct deposit or check, however, the funds will not reduce or offset account balances. Additionally, prospective graduates who qualify and have submitted a CARES Act Emergency Aid Application will be included in the first batch of refunds. The deadline for submitting an emergency application is Monday, May 4, 2020. The process for awarding funds will begin immediately upon receiving the appropriation from the United States Department of Education. NCCU’s goal is to disseminate the funds within three to four weeks after receipt of the funds. CARES Act Emergency Relief Aid funds will not be reserved.
For questions related to student aid from the CARES Act Emergency Relief Aid, please contact the NCCU Office of Scholarships and Student Aid at 919-530-6180 or [email protected].
Sincerely,
Dr. Sharon Oliver
Director, Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid, and Chairperson, CARES Act Emergency Relief Aid Taskforce
