CARES Act

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CARES Act Emergency Relief Funds for Students

The Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020 is intended to provide economic relief for individuals impacted by the pandemic.

Under CARES, the U.S. Department of Education was authorized to provide funding to institutions of higher education to award in the form of emergency financial aid grants to students. These emergency grant funds will be available to eligible Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) students who are experiencing unexpected expenses, including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care. In keeping with federal guidance, MVSU will prioritize students with the greatest financial need. 

WHAT IS THE CARES ACT?

The Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020 is intended to provide economic relief for individuals impacted by the pandemic.

Under CARES, the U.S. Department of Education was authorized to provide funding to institutions of higher education to award in the form of emergency financial aid grants to students. These emergency grant funds will be available to eligible Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) students who are experiencing unexpected expenses, including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care. In keeping with federal guidance, MVSU will prioritize students with the greatest financial need.

HOW CAN CARES FUNDS BE USED?

CARES funds are specifically intended to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19.

AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR CARES FUNDS?

Eligible Students:

Students must have filed an application for financial aid (FAFSA) and met aid eligibility requirements

  • Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Residential
  • Degree Seeking
  • Teacher Certification

Ineligible Students

Subject to further clarification or change

  • Distance – your program of study was 100% online prior to March 13, 2020 when the President of the United States declared a national emergency related to COVID-19
  • Non-Degree
  • Certificate
  • International
  • Non-Eligible Citizens

 Please note that students in the Dual Enrollment program and transient students are not eligible for these funds.

IF I AM AN ELIGIBLE STUDENT AND I HAVE FILED AN APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL AID (FAFSA), HOW DO I APPLY FOR CARES FUNDING?

You may access the CARES application by clicking here. This application is for spring 2020.

IF I AM AN ELIGIBLE STUDENT BUT HAVE NOT FILED AN APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL AID, MUST I FILE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR CARES FUNDING?

Yes. Eligible students must have filed an application for financial aid. You can apply for financial aid for 2019-2020 at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID?

To be eligible to receive federal student aid, you must:  

  • Be a citizen or eligible noncitizen of the United States.
  • Have a valid Social Security Number. (Students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau are exempt from this requirement.)
  • Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or have completed homeschooling. If you do not, you may still be eligible for federal student aid if you were enrolled in college or career school prior to July 1, 2012. Be enrolled in an eligible program as a regular student seeking a degree or teacher certificate.
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
  • Not owe a refund on a federal student grant or be in default on a federal student loan.
  • Register (or already be registered) with the Selective Service System, if you are a male and not currently on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.
  • Not have a conviction for the possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, work-study, or loans). If you have such a conviction, you must complete the Student Aid Eligibility Worksheet to determine if you are eligible for aid or partially eligible for aid.

MVSU MOVED ALL COURSES ONLINE FOR SPRING AND SUMMER 2020; DOES THAT MAKE ME A DISTANCE STUDENT?

No. You are considered a distance student if your program of study was 100% online prior to March 13, 2020 when the President of the United States declared a national emergency related to COVID-19.

IF I AM AN ELIGIBLE STUDENT AND HAVE NOW COMPLETED AN APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL AID, CAN I APPLY FOR CARES FUNDING NOW?

Yes. As soon as MVSU receives your application for financial aid and MVSU determines that you meet aid eligibility requirements, the application for CARES will be made available to you.

HOW WILL I KNOW THE CARES APPLICATION HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO ME?

The CARES application will be available on May 15, 2020. You can click here to access the form.

WHEN WILL MVSU START APPLICATION REVIEWS FOR CARES?

It will start May 18, 2020. CARES funds are specifically intended to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19, including food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care.

HOW LONG WILL THE APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS TAKE?

The rate of application submissions will affect review processing time, but the preliminary goal is that the review of a complete, submitted application would occur within 7 to 10 business days.

HOW WILL CARES FUNDS BE DISBURSED TO ME?

CARES funds will be disbursed using Bank Mobile, if you have not selected a refund preference with Bank Mobile, contact Student Accounts at 662-254-3016 or via email at studentaccounts@mvsu.edu to receive a temporary personal code.

DOES THIS FUNDING AFFECT MY OTHER FINANCIAL AID?

No. This is an emergency grant to help you manage unexpected expenses related to the coronavirus, and it will not have any impact on other financial aid you may be eligible to receive.

WHAT IF I STILL HAVE AN ACCOUNT BALANCE?

Any CARES Act funding awarded to you will be paid to you directly, and it will not cover any outstanding balances owed to Mississippi Valley State University. Any outstanding balance owed to MVSU will remain the responsibility of the student.

ARE THE EMERGENCY GRANTS TAXABLE?

No. CARES Act emergency financial aid grants are “qualified disaster relief payments under section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code” and should not be included as part of gross income. Click here for more information.