Dear Student:
Gettysburg College is now accepting applications via the survey link below for emergency grants to students under the CARES Act.
Please note: Emergency relief funding is limited and disbursements will be based on the number of survey applications received. If you do not need the funds please consider indicating so on the survey so that the limited funding can be disbursed to those students with the most need.
Please read the following information carefully before submitting a survey response. Responses must be received no later than 5pm on Friday, July 3rd for funding consideration.
CARES Act Student Emergency Grants
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act which was passed by Congress and signed into law in March provides Gettysburg College with $828,017 in higher education emergency relief funding to be distributed directly to eligible students in the form of emergency grants to cover expenses incurred related to disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.
What expenses can be considered for emergency funding?
The following is a list of expenses that can be considered for CARES Act emergency grant assistance if they were incurred in “direct relation to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus”:
- Food
- Housing
- Course materials
- Health care
- Child care
- Technology-related expenses (such as having to buy a computer or internet service when courses were moved online)
- Transportation (such as having to come back to campus to pick up belongings)
Eligibility
Per the Department of Education, only students who are or could be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), may receive CARES Act funded emergency financial aid grants. If a student has filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), then the student has demonstrated eligibility to participate in programs under Section 484 the HEA.
The College has a FAFSA on file for you. As long as you meet the College’s satisfactory academic progress policy, are currently enrolled at Gettysburg College and have incurred an additional expense listed above during the spring 2020 semester you are eligible to request an emergency grant.
How to Request Funds
Currently enrolled students who were also enrolled during spring 2020 and have a FAFSA on file with the College are receiving this email directly from the Student Accounts office and should complete and submit the survey application by Friday, July 3rd to be included in the funding calculation.
Funding Amounts
A student who completes and returns the survey will receive an amount based on their official expected family contribution (EFC).
The specific amount will be determined and emailed to you based on the number of survey applications received.
Distribution of Funds
Funds will be placed on the student’s Gettysburg College account and immediately disbursed either via direct deposit or paper check.
The timing of this distribution will be based on when the College is approved by the federal government to draw down the funds. The College anticipates this distribution to occur in July but will be in contact with students who submit the survey application to share funding amounts and anticipated date of distribution.
If you have not setup direct deposit through the Student Accounts office (separate from any information provided for student employment) you should follow the instructions here (PDF). If you are unsure if you have setup direct deposit you can review your setup for direct deposit by logging into the Student Center and selecting “Enroll in Direct Deposit Refund.”
Additional Information
- Emergency relief funding is limited and will be awarded to eligible students meeting the criteria above.
- The funding is not considered financial aid and may not meet a student’s full financial need.
- This is one-time funding and is not renewable.
- Please see the Internal Revenue Service for taxation questions.
Survey Application
Form for students with a FAFSA on file
Survey questions
- Please provide your Gettysburg College email address below. Gettysburg College Student Accounts Office will use it to contact you for fund distribution purposes. Please make sure you type it correctly. (Text line input)
- Do you want to request a CARES Act emergency grant? (Yes, No)
- Did you incur any additional expenses listed below as a direct result of the disruption of campus operations (students moving to on-line courses and leaving campus) due to the coronavirus? (Check all that apply)
- Food/Groceries
- Housing/Rent/Utilities/Mortgage
- Course materials
- Technology (Internet services, online books, equipment, software/hardware, hotspot Internet devices, laptop, etc.)
- Health care/Medical expenses/Health insurance (co-pays)
- Childcare/Dependent expenses
- Transportation (Gas/Uber, vehicle repairs, insurance, etc.)
- Please provide any additional comments. (Text area input)