CARES Act Report January 27

Report Date:  January 27, 2021 — Updated Final Report

1. An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
   
   The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign signed and submitted the Funding Certification and Agreement with the U.S. Department of Education on April 15, 2020.  The University agrees to use these funds to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.
   
   
2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Student.
   
   $15,724,089
   
   
3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).
   
   $15,724,089 – all student funds have been distributed. 
   
   
4. The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
   
   24,228 – Spring 2021
   
5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
   
   9,569
   
   
6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
   
   On April 17, 2020, a massmail was sent to all spring 2020 undergraduate, graduate and professional students notifying them of the Illinois Cares:  COVID-19 Support Program.  Students were directed to the Office of the Dean of Students website that provided information and a link to an application form for undergraduate students and an application form for graduate/professional students.  Students completed the application to document their COVID-19 related expenses.  The Office of Student Financial Aid reviewed and approved undergraduate applications.  The Graduate College reviewed and approved graduate/professional applications.  Students who applied and were approved for an emergency grant that did not meet subsequent guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Education were being provided emergency grants through institutional funds.
   
   For summer 2020, enrolled undergraduate students who submitted a spring emergency grant application and met summer need-based awarding criteria were awarded an additional emergency grant.  Undergraduate students enrolled for summer 2020 who had not previously applied for emergency grant funds, were Title IV eligible and had financial need were notified that they could apply for emergency grant funds through an online application.  The Office of Student Financial Aid reviewed and approved these applications. 
   
   Enrolled graduate/professional students with COVID-19 expenses were considered for supplemental summer block grant funding.  This Graduate College coordinated this process.
   
   
7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
   
   This is the announcement that was sent to students on April 17, 2020.

Illinois Cares: COVID-19 Support Program

April 17, 2020 9:24 AM

Dear Students,

We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic has created some very challenging circumstances for you. In particular, we understand that the rapid transition to remote instruction along with the Governor’s stay-at-home order have led to additional, unexpected financial challenges.

To help those of you with financial needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, we have created, using money from the federal CARES Act, through the University of Illinois System’s Students FIRST: COVID-19 Emergency Fund, the Illinois Cares: COVID-19 Support Program.

You can submit a request for a grant that does not need to be repaid of up to $1,000 to help with financial challenges associated with COVID-19. Students may request above $1,000 but only in cases of extraordinary need, and those requests will require additional documentation. If you lost your off-campus job, have additional medical expenses or have technology needs associated with the pandemic, we have funds that can help you.

The application for this program is here: http://odos.illinois.edu/community-of-care/emergency-dean-fund/.

You will be asked to describe the type of need that you have and the reason you are requesting financial support. Depending upon the situation, we might ask you for additional information or documentation.

If you are awarded funding, it will come to you in the form of a grant that will be processed through your student account and will be directly refunded to you so that you can use it based upon your need. If you currently have a balance due on your student account, the emergency grant will not be applied towards these charges.

If you have questions about this program, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at finaid@illinois.edu or 217-333-0100.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Jones
Chancellor

Andreas C. Cangellaris
Provost

This mailing approved by:
Office of the Chancellor

sent to:
Graduate Students & Undergraduate Students