Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Maryland Today | Federal Aid Available for UMD Students Facing Pandemic-related Financial Hardships

As of Monday, 5,069 Terps had been awarded $5,069,000 using information from the 2019-20 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and another $5 million has been earmarked for students to access through the new UMD CARES Act Emergency Student Financial Aid Grant Application.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our students in so many ways, including financially,” said Patty Perillo, vice president for student affairs. “We are grateful for the vital support we’ve received from Congress to provide students with additional resources during this time.”
To be eligible to apply for a grant, students must be:

Currently or previously enrolled in a degree or eligible certificate program for the Spring 2020 semester on or after March 13.

Adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic campus interruption and with an emergency need.
A U.S. citizen or someone who meets the definition of an eligible non-citizen based on federal financial aid requirements.

Qualified under federal financial aid eligibility requirements.
Using the funds to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including food, housing, rent, utilities, course materials, technology-related needs, and health or child care.

Students who wish to apply must fill out the application and provide a statement about how the COVID-19 situation and the disruption of campus operations resulted in financial hardship.

The Office of Student Financial Aid will review applications and release decisions via email within seven to 10 business days. Emergency grants will be paid through the student billing process and can be viewed using the student financial aid portal. Applicants are encouraged to sign up for a direct deposit to allow faster access.

For more information, please visit this link.