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Federal CARES Act Spring 2020

Federal CARES Act Spring 2020

We do not yet have information on the distribution of additional emergency funds provided to institutions through the December 2020 Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act.  Please continue to check back at this page for updates on the future availability of emergency funds. 

The Federal Emergency Aid Grant for spring 2020

The University of Florida was allocated funds from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The CARES Act established and funded the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to provide emergency financial aid grants.These critical funds helped eligible UF students cover expenses related to unanticipated travel, additional technology requirements, or other needs related to an emergency situation.

Federal Emergency Aid Grant Reporting:

The University of Florida signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the Certification of Agreement on April 13,2020 certifying no less than 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act will be provided to students for Federal Emergency Financial Aid Grants. The University of Florida received $15,523,206.00 on May 1, 2020 for students to fund the Federal Emergency Financial Aid Grants.  The total amount of Federal Emergency Financial Aid Grants paid to students under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of September 23, 2020, was $15,523,206.00.  The estimated total number of students potentially eligible to participate in programs under section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to be considered to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under section 18004(a)(1) of the Cares Act was 43,364. The total number of unduplicated students who have received a Federal Emergency Financial Aid Grant under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act was 15,661 as of September 23, 2020.

Information on the institutional portion of CARES funds.

Federal Emergency Aid Grant criteria and eligibility:

1) UF initially made federal CARES Act funds available to undergraduate, graduate and professional students that had submitted a FAFSA with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $7,500 a year or less, and met all other Title IV eligibility requirements.

For these students, grant awards were tiered based on the student’s EFC. Students received an email with the link to the Federal Emergency Grant Certification Form that had to be completed.

2) Federal CARES Grant funds were then made available through an online Federal Emergency Aid Grant Application to the following groups of students:

  • UF enrolled students who have submitted a FAFSA and have an EFC greater than $7,500 a year, or
  • For UF enrolled students without a FAFSA to be considered, you must meet all of the qualifications below:
    • U.S. citizen or national, permanent resident, or an eligible noncitizen (you may be asked to provide documentation);
    • Have a valid Social Security Number;
    • Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or have completed homeschooling;
    • Do not owe an overpayment (refund) on Title IV grants;
    • Not be in default on a Title IV loan;
    • Registered with Selective Service (if male, you may be asked to provide documentation);
    • Have not been convicted for the possession or sale of illegal drugs;
    • Not in an online degree program;
    • And meet all other Title IV eligibility requirements.

Undergraduate, graduate and professional students who met eligibility requirements must have completed an online Federal Emergency Aid Grant Application to be considered for an award.  Award amounts were based on documented expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus up to a maximum of $1,000.

3) UF made CARES Act funds available to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students that had submitted a FAFSA, were enrolled summer 2020, had an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $0 and met all other Title IV eligibility requirements. The students received an email with a link to the Federal Emergency Grant Certification form that had to be completed in order for funds to be disbursed.

4) To meet the need of students who were not eligible for Federal CARES Act funds, UF used the Aid-a-Gator program for emergency fund requests. While the CARES Act did not allow funding to UF Online, International, and DACA students, they could apply for emergency funding through the Aid-A-Gator application.

UF Online, International, and DACA students were not eligible to receive CARES Act funding, but emergency funding was available through the UF Aid-a-Gator program.

Award amounts were based on documented expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus up to a maximum of $1,000.

Graduate assistants (this includes medical and veterinary residents), post-doctoral fellows and associates must apply as employees via the Faculty and Staff Aid-a-Gator program.

SFA is available to help students!
SFA can be reached via the OneStop or by telephone at (352) 392-1275 from 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding holidays and university closings). If students are experiencing any financial-aid related issues or concerns, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships to discuss financial aid options that might be available.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For additional information, visit the spring 2020
Federal Emergency Aid Grant Frequently Asked Questions.