Large portion of COVID-19 grants not accepted by USU students, second disbursement begins
Almost $1 million in grants from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act offered to students at Utah State University were never accepted by eligible students.
On Wednesday, the university made its second disbursement from the federal CARES Act totaling almost $2 million. Students were notified by email July 6 if they were eligible to receive a $300 technology grant from this distribution.
The first round of disbursements were sent out during the week of May 11. The university made the grants, around $5 million, available to students. Only $4.1 million were accepted and disbursed to 6,318 students, according to a recent press release from the university.
“We want to make sure everyone who is eligible knows they are eligible,” USU public information officer Emilie Wheeler said. “Our students who currently qualify have been notified, but we understand many have not filled out a FAFSA and would need to in order to determine eligibility.”
Students must fill out the 2020-2021 FAFSA in order to receive funds from the CARES Act.
“Because we had quite a bit of money left over from the last disbursement, we are asking students to go back and see if they have funds available to them,” Wheeler said. “Just check to make sure you didn’t forget to click accept, for example.”
As part of the COVID-19 relief program from the federal government, USU received $17,428,745 in the spring of 2020. Half of that, approximately $8.7 million, must be made available to students.
What happens to the money offered to students but not accepted by students? According to USU Vice President Robert Wagner, the university has up to one year to spend the $8.7 million.
“The guidelines from the CARES Act allows us one year to make the money available to students,” Wagner said. “We are going to do our best to spread the money out.”
Wagner added that they are hoping to have funds available for students attending USU in the spring 2021 semester, as well.
“We recognize that COVID-19 is an ongoing, evolving situation,” he said. “We want to help students meet any continuing challenges.”
The $300 grant students are currently eligible to receive is meant to help with “technology barriers.”
“In the spring, we offered more money ($500-$800) from the CARES Act, because so many students were inconvenienced by the disruption of the semester,” Wheeler said. “Students had to pay for plane tickets home or experienced a job loss. Now, because most courses will have some sort of online format in the fall, we want to make sure students have access to technology.”
According to Wheeler, many USU students do not have access to high speed internet or may need help buying a laptop or online class materials. The hope is that the $300 will relieve some stress for incoming students.
The funds are on a first come, first served basis, she added. Students who did not receive an email may also apply through a separate application.
Undocumented and international students are not eligible for CARES Act funds. However, the university has provided a separate grant application for students who fall into that category.
“We are happy to disperse these funds to students,” Wagner said. “We know students are struggling and we want all our students to continue their education.”
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