Cares Act Funding

Cares Act Funding

Gwynedd Mercy University has a limited amount of additional CARES ACT Emergency Grant Funding available to students in need.  To apply, students must have been enrolled in the 2019-2020 academic year and must be experiencing hardship related to COVID-19 disruption to campus operations.  To submit a request for additional funding, please complete this form and submit it studentbilling@gmercyu.edu. Funding is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.  It may not be possible to fund all requests.

In June 2020, GMercyU distributed CARES ACT funding to all eligible students.  Below are the details and FAQs on how that initial round of funding was allocated. 

How will the University distribute the CARES funding to students?

Beginning in mid-June, the University will distribute CARES Funding to eligible students to help defray education costs associated with the pandemic. If you already signed up for Electronic Funds Transfer since we implemented our new system on April 6, 2020, the payment will be sent directly to the account we have on file for you. If you have not yet signed up for Electronic Funds Transfer, we encourage you to do so no later than June 5. Instructions are located here. Otherwise, we will mail a check to your home address. Paper checks may be delayed if the University must remain closed during the summer months based on state or local requirements. 

How can I tell if I’m eligible for CARES funding?

On-campus undergraduate students who are eligible for Title IV federal financial aid will be eligible for funding under the CARES Act.

The University will automatically distribute CARES funding to all students who were enrolled in an on-ground undergraduate degree program in spring 2020 on or after March 12, 2020, and were eligible for Title-IV funding based on the results of their FAFSA.

Under federal guidelines, students enrolled in fully online programs are not eligible.

NON-FAFSA FILERS:

If you were enrolled in a campus undergraduate degree program and chose not to file your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), but believe you meet Title-IV eligibility requirements, you will have the option of submitting a FAFSA. Your completed 2020-2021 FAFSA must be submitted by June 5, 2020 in order to be considered for this funding.

To be eligible for Title-IV funding, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Have U.S. citizenship or be an eligible non-citizen
  • Have a valid U.S. Social security number
  • Be registered with Selective Service (for male students)
  • Have met Satisfactory Academic Progress standards
  • Are not currently in default for federal student loans

In order to verify that you meet these requirements, you will need to submit a FAFSA by June 5, 2020.

How much funding will I receive?

Based on current available information and federal guidelines, funding amounts will be as follows. Funding amounts are based on your Spring 2020 enrollment status.

  • Less-Than-Half-Time (fewer than 6 credits): $138
  • Half-Time (6-8 credits): $276
  • Three-Quarter-Time ( 9-11 credits): $414
  • Full-time (12 or more credits): $552

Funding will be sent to eligible students beginning in mid-June. For more information on CARES Act funding, please see below.

CARES Act: Required Public Disclosures

a) The University acknowledges that it has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004 of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

b) The total amount of funds that the University has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students was $836,538.

c) The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of May 22, 2020 was $0. The initial disbursement is anticipated before June 30, 2020.

  • October 6, 2020: The initial disbursement was made on June 10, 2020. As of October 6, 2020, $791,430 was disbursed to 1491 students based on the primary calculation. An additional $9,200 was awarded out of the Contingency pool of funds to 14 applicants.
  • December 31, 2020: As of December 31, 2020, no additional funds were disbursed based on the primary calculation. A total of $32,600 was awarded out of the Contingency pool of funds to 51 applicants.

d) The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is approximately 1,500.

e) The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of May 22, 2020 is zero. The first disbursement is anticipated before June 30, 2020.

  • October 6, 2020: The initial disbursement was made on June 10, 2020. As of October 6, 2020, $791,430 was disbursed to 1491 students based on the primary calculation. An additional $9,200 was awarded out of the Contingency pool of funds to 14 applicants.
  • December 31, 2020: As of December 31, 2020, no additional funds were disbursed based on the primary calculation. A total of $32,600 was awarded out of the Contingency pool of funds to 51 applicants.

f) The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act was based on enrollment status. 

CARES Act Policies & Procedures – Original (PDF)
CARES Act Policies & Procedures – September 30, 2020 (PDF)
CARES Act Policies & Procedures – December 31, 2020 (PDF)

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting under CARES Act – September 30, 2020 (PDF)
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting under CARES Act – December 31, 2020 (PDF)