CARES Act Communication to RU Students
Sept. 3, 2020
Required Reporting Pursuant to Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
On July 31, 2020, a total of $176,900 of Phase I – Immediate, Need-based grants was distributed to 230 SLCHS students. A total of $54,512 of Cares Acts funds remain available to be distributed as Phase II – RUCare$ grants. The University expects to distribute all Phase II grants by Oct. 15, 2020.
Aug. 17, 2020
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.
July 22, 2020
Dear Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences at Rockhurst University Students -
By now, you are probably aware of recent legislation known as the CARES Act (The Act) – the federal stimulus package passed for the sole purpose of easing the financial burden related to the COVID-19 pandemic – and the aid that it provides to institutions of higher education (IHE).
As is the case for many of our peer institutions, Rockhurst has received funding pursuant to The Act – Saint Luke’s College of Health Science’s (SLCHS) allocation totaled just under $463,000. In accordance with The Act, half of that amount will be distributed to SLCHS students (see below).
The Act instructs IHE to distribute grant aid to undergraduate and graduate students who have incurred expenses due to COVID-19 (examples of such expenses can be found below). The Act requires IHE to distribute the grants only to students who are Title IV eligible (i.e. eligible for federal financial aid) and who were enrolled in Spring 2020 semester on-ground or hybrid classes as of March 13, 2020 (students who were enrolled exclusive in online classes are not eligible for Cares Act grants). The Act encourages IHE to give special attention to students with unmet financial need. Financial data has informed the University as to how to distribute the grants in a fashion that will best meet the requirements of The Act and assist our students with the greatest financial need.
During the spring 2020 term, SLCHS was not yet a part of Rockhurst University. This distribution of CARES Act funds is specifically for SLCHS students (enrolled in Spring 2020 semester on-ground or hybrid classes as of March 13, 2020). New SLCHS students beginning in the summer 2020 or Fall 2020 terms are not eligible for these funds. Additionally, any Rockhurst University student that was in a pre-major curriculum at Rockhurst University during the spring 2020 semester, preparing for possible admission into a SLCHS program at a future date (e.g., pre-Nursing), is also not eligible for SLCHS CARES Act funds, but instead would have been eligible for those funds through Rockhurst University.
There will be two phases of grant distributions for eligible SLCHS students, as follows:
Phase I - Immediate, Need-based grants: These $200 - $1000 grants will be automatically distributed to those students (enrolled in on-ground or hybrid SLCHS classes as of March 13) whose Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) on the 2019-2020 FAFSA filing is at or below $12,000. The grant amount will be determined on a sliding scale based on the student’s EFC.
We expect approximately 250 SLCHS students will be awarded these immediate, need-based grants, and that this money will be distributed by the end of July via check. Because these grants are automatic, there is no further action required by the grant recipients or their families.
To ensure grant checks are received in a timely manner, students should make sure the university has their current mailing address which can be updated by going to the RU portal at my.rockhurst.edu and clicking on Rockweb and then on Personal Information.
Phase II - RUCare$ grants: We know many students have incurred unexpected costs due to the sudden nature of the pandemic. The Act encourages IHE to assist students who have incurred such costs, including (but not limited to):
Food
Housing and moving expenses (e.g. rent, storage)
Technology (e.g. internet, routers, computers, cameras, software)
Transportation (e.g. unexpected travel costs)
Child care
Medical expenses
Increased utility costs
Loss of income
Funding for these RUCare$ grants will come from both The Act funds and the University’s Love in Action Emergency Assistance Fund. Thanks to the generosity of the Rockhurst Community, the University’s Love in Action Emergency Assistance Fund can be used for a wider range of needs than The Act’s funds, and they are available to students who are not Title IV eligible. Information on how to apply for an RUCare$ grant will be sent in August via email to all Saint Luke’s College students. These RUCare$ grants will be no more than $500 and funding for these grants is limited and not guaranteed.
NOTE: The Immediate, Need-Based grants and the RUCare$ grants are NOT considered taxable income to the recipient. However, grant amounts will be reported in box 5 of IRS form 1098-T.
We hope this financial assistance will be of help to you. Even if your plans will be different from what you envisioned, we hope you will be able to spend time doing the things that bring you joy. And, to our graduates, may you find success wherever your next steps take you.
GERALD MOENCH
Chief Financial Officer
June 24, 2020
Dear Rockhurst Students –
We are now prepared to continue receiving applications for the Phase II – RUCare$ grants. Please click here to apply.
Because of the high number of applications we have received so far (and anticipate receiving) and the amount of time it will take to review all applications, we are establishing a grant application deadline of Tuesday, June 30. Please allow up to 30 days for your application to be reviewed and for grants to be awarded and received via check. All applicants will be notified, whether or not their grant request is awarded.
Please keep in mind that due to limited available funding, the maximum grant award is $500 and awards are not guaranteed. Additionally, please recall that if you are a dual-enrolled student with either RCN or KCU, then you are not eligible for RU CARES Act grants, but should inquire at RCN or KCU for eligibility through their CARES grant program.
Sincerely,
GERALD MOENCH
Chief Financial Officer
Rockhurst University
1100 Rockhurst Road
Kansas City, MO 64110
June 22, 2020
Dear Rockhurst Students -
The Phase I - Immediate, Need-based CARES Act grants were distributed to eligible students via check on June 12, 2020. Eligible students were contacted via email on June 9, 2020.
All undergraduate and graduate students who were enrolled in and attending on-ground or hybrid Rockhurst University classes as of March 26, 2020, whether or not Title IV eligible, can apply for a Phase II - RUCare$ grant here. Please keep in mind that RUCare$ grants will be no more than $500 and funding for these grants is limited and not guaranteed.
Sincerely,
GERALD MOENCH
Chief Financial Officer
Rockhurst University
1100 Rockhurst Road
Kansas City, MO 64110
May 22, 2020
Dear Rockhurst Students,
By now, you are probably aware of recent legislation known as the CARES Act (The Act) – the federal stimulus package passed for the sole purpose of easing the financial burden related to the COVID-19 pandemic – and the aid that it provides to institutions of higher education (IHE).
As is the case for many of our peer institutions, Rockhurst has received funding pursuant to The Act – the University’s allocation totaled just under $1,170,000. In accordance with The Act, half of that amount will be distributed to students (see below). The other half will be used to partially defray over $2 million of costs incurred by the University, primarily due to refunds of room and board.
The Act instructs IHE to distribute grant aid to undergraduate and graduate students who have incurred expenses due to COVID-19 (examples of such expenses can be found below). The Act requires IHE to distribute the grants only to students who are Title IV eligible (i.e. eligible for federal financial aid) and who were enrolled in Spring 2020 semester on-ground classes as of March 26, 2020 (students who were enrolled exclusively in online classes are not eligible for CARES Act grants). The Act encourages IHE to give special attention to students with unmet financial need. Financial data, as well as feedback from Rockhurst students and their families, has informed the University as to how to distribute the grants in a fashion that will best meet the requirements of The Act and assist our students with the greatest financial need.
There will be two phases of grant distributions for eligible Rockhurst students, as follows:
□ Phase I - Immediate, Need-based grants: These $200 - $1,000 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 FAFSA filing is at or below $12,000. The grant amount will be determined on a sliding scale based on the student’s EFC.
We expect approximately 800-900 Rockhurst students will be awarded these immediate, need-based grants, and that this money will be distributed by mid-June via check. Because these grants are automatic, there is no further action required by the grant recipients or their families.
NOTE: To ensure grant checks are received in a timely manner, students should make sure the university has their current mailing address which can be updated in Rockweb.
□ Phase II - RUCare$ grants: We know many students have incurred unexpected costs due to the sudden nature of the pandemic. The Act encourages IHE to assist students who have incurred such costs, including (but not limited to):
o Food
o Housing and moving expenses (e.g. rent, storage)
o Technology (e.g. internet, routers, computers, cameras, software)
o Transportation (e.g. unexpected travel costs)
o Child care
o Medical expenses
o Increased utility costs
o Loss of income
Funding for these RUCare$ grants will come from both The Act funds and the University’s Love in Action Emergency Assistance Fund. Thanks to the generosity of the Rockhurst Community, the University’s Love in Action Emergency Assistance Fund can be used for a wider range of needs than The Act’s funds, and they are available to students who are not Title IV eligible. Information on how to apply for an RUCare$ grant will be sent by mid-June via email to all Rockhurst students. These RUCare$ grants will be no more than $500 and funding for these grants is limited and not guaranteed.
NOTE: The Immediate, need-based grants and the RUCare$ grants are NOT considered taxable income to the recipient. However, grant amounts will be reported in box 5 of IRS form 1098-T.
We hope this financial assistance will be of help to you. Even if your summer plans will be different from what you envisioned, we hope you will be able to spend time doing the things that bring you joy. And, to our graduates, may you find success wherever your next steps take you.
Sincerely,
GERALD MOENCH
Chief Financial Officer
Rockhurst University
1100 Rockhurst Road
Kansas City, MO 64110
