CARES Act
North Central University acknowledges that the institution has signed and returned the Certification and Agreement in order to receive federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Funds to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. NCU will be awarding a minimum of 50% of the funds received from the CARES Act to provide Emergency Student Grants directly to students, with plans to designate the remaining funds throughout the upcoming year. NCU began awarding funds to students beginning June 1, 2020.
CARES Act details and how to apply
The Federal CARES Act is meant to provide economic assistance to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. NCU has received funds to assist with university expenses and to provide emergency financial aid grants to students. NCU received a total of $1,046,000 of emergency funding. Fifty percent ($523,000) of the funds will be utilized by the university for COVID related expenses. The other fifty percent ($523,000) of the emergency funds are specifically for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to assist students with expenses caused by COVID-19 pandemic to help with tuition, housing, food, childcare, or other expenses they have incurred. NCU will use these funds to provide assistance to as many students as possible at their level of need. The CARES Act directed colleges and universities to prioritize students with the greatest financial need. NCU’s first priority will be to provide funding to our students with the greatest financial need based on FAFSA information including those eligible for a Pell Grant, MN State Grant, or federal work-study funds along with students suffering extreme financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Students who filed a FAFSA for the 2019-2020 school year and who also meet basic eligibility criteria for federal financial aid are eligible to apply for the Emergency Financial Aid Grant. Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Education does not allow these funds to be used for international students, undocumented students, or non-matriculated students. NCU does have a small portion of Give Day funds still available for students who do not qualify for the Emergency Financial Aid Grant.
Students who wish to apply for the Emergency Financial Aid Grant can apply here. Students will be asked to provide detailed hardship information and request a specific amount of funds. If approved, the funds will be sent directly to students via check to your current address. Students may use these funds on expenses directly incurred by COVID-19 such as technology needs, health care, course materials, rent, food, moving expenses, or expenses indirectly affected such as future term tuition, housing expenses, etc.
An application review committee will make determinations regarding the grant funds. Awards could range from $100 to $4000 but will likely average around $1000 to $2000. The committee will evaluate the student’s financial need based on the FAFSA information and the student’s significant hardship caused by COVID such as inability to pay for food or rent due to loss of employment, medical expenses, and tuition.
As of December 31, 2021, all of the HEERF funds that have been granted by the Federal government to NCU have been awarded to those students who are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.