Rockhurst University Required Reporting Pursuant to Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
On July 24, 2020, a total of $72,675 of Phase II – RUCare$ grants was distributed to 373 undergraduate and graduate students. The entirety of the $584,869 of student aid received by Rockhurst University under the Cares Act has now been distributed to eligible Rockhurst students in the form of Emergency Financial Aid Grants. This serves as the final required reporting under the Cares Act.
On June 12, 2020, Phase I – Immediate, Need-based grants totaling $512,200 was distributed to 801 Rockhurst University undergraduate and graduate students. A total of $72,669 of Cares Acts funds remain available to be distributed to Rockhurst students as Phase II – RUCare$ grants. The University is in the process of reviewing Phase II grant applications and expects to distribute all Phase II grants by July 31, 2020.
The guidance provided by the University to its students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants can be found here.
On April 20, 2020, Rockhust University signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the Recipient’s Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (The Act). The University subsequently received $584,869 in funds under The Act that will be distributed in its entirety to eligible students in the form of Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
As of May 20, 2020, no funds have yet been distributed to students. The University intends to distribute approximately $500,000 of the funds to eligible students by June 15, 2020, and the University intends to distribute the remainder of the funds to eligible students by July 15, 2020.
The University estimates that 1,550 of its students are eligible to receive funds under The Act. For purposes of The Act, eligibility is defined as “students eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.”
The University has determined that Emergency Financial Aid Grants under The Act will be awarded as follows:
· Phase I - Immediate, Need-based grants: These $200 - $1000 grants will be automatically distributed to those undergraduate and graduate students (enrolled in on-ground or hybrid Rockhurst University classes as of March 26) whose Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) on the 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) filing is at or below $12,000. The grant amount will be determined on a sliding scale based on the student’s EFC. Because these grants are automatic, there is no further action required by the grant recipients or their families. Approximately $500,000 of the Cares Act funds will be distributed to approximately 830 students in this manner.
· Phase II - RUCare$ grants: These grants will be distributed to students, upon request via an application process, who have incurred unexpected costs due to the sudden nature of the pandemic. RUCare$ grants will not exceed $500 and funding is not guaranteed. Approximately $85,000 of the Cares Act funds will be distributed in this manner.
The guidance provided by the University to its students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants can be found here.