CARES Act Grant
The CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) provides federal funds for emergency financial aid grants to eligible students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the Coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student's cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care). The majority of funds received by Southern will be disbursed as direct emergency aid payments, while a small percentage is set aside for use as emergency grants to students over the next year.
To be eligible for a direct emergency aid payment, and any additional emergency grant relief under the CARES Act, students must:
- be a matriculated student
- not have been enrolled exclusively in online classes before the campus closure
- have not received a waiver of your tuition / course fees related to:
- CSCU Employee / employee's dependent
- high school students with charges completely waived
- Over 62 Exemption
Most of the funding will be issued via automatic payments to eligible students, with full-time, maximum Pell eligible students receiving $613, and full-time, non-Pell eligible students receiving $438. Part-time eligible students will receive a pro-rated amount.
The grant funding will be issued by direct deposit to the bank account on file. For students without direct deposit, a check will be mailed to the home address indicated in Banner. To avoid delay, students are encouraged to sign up for direct deposit. See instructions.
If you are eligible, there is no action needed on your part. The eligibility requirements are noted above.
The grant will be issued automatically via direct deposit to the bank account on file or a paper check mailed to the home address indicated in your SCSU Student Account on the date of payment.
You will see the disbursement on your eBill under Account Activity, listed as "CARES Act Grant.”
No. These payments are direct payments to students and will not be used to reduce a student account balance. You will receive the full amount of your CARES Act payment.
Guidance from the Department of Education regarding the CARES Act grant excludes students who were exclusively enrolled in distance education courses as of March 13, 2020, because the emergency financial aid grants to students are for expenses related to the disruption of campus due to the Coronavirus. Students who were enrolled exclusively in online programs would not have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the Coronavirus.
The grant funding will be issued by direct deposit to the bank account on file. For students without direct deposit, a check will be mailed to the home address indicated in Banner. To avoid delay, students are encouraged to sign up for direct deposit. See instructions.
Please check with your bank first to be sure it hasn't been direct deposited already. Student Accounts plans to begin distributing direct deposit payment immediately and printing checks for those who do not have direct deposit on May 14-15, 2020. If you can see the distribution on your eBill and still have not received the funds by May 25, 2020, please contact the Student Accounts Office at studentaccounts@southernct.edu.
For questions related to the status of a CARES grant distribution, please email the Student Accounts Office at studentaccounts@southernct.edu.