Coronavirus Relief (Federal CARES Act) Student Grants

Emergency Student Grants

In March 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide financial assistance to university students through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).

At least 50% of Coppin’s CARES funds are available as emergency financial aid grants for Coppin students. You do not need to repay a CARES grant. Each grant must be certified and agreed to by a Coppin authorized official. Covid-19 has disrupted so many lives, including those in our Coppin community. Eligible students experiencing financial challenges because of Covid-19’s impact on regular campus operations can use these monies to cover coronavirus-related expenses including:

Food
Housing
Course materials
Additional technology requirements
Unanticipated travel
Health care
Child care
Other expenses related to Covid-19 disruptions

CARES funds cannot be used to pay any unpaid bills owed to Coppin State University, and do not count toward any recipient’s financial aid package.

Who is eligible for a CARES Act emergency student grant?

Any student seeking CARES funds must have been enrolled as of Spring 2020, in a CSU degree program that was transitioned online due to Covid-19. If you are currently enrolled in a program offered completely online prior to Covid-19, you are not eligible.

Per the Act, there are additional eligibility requirements. Students must also:

be eligible, now or in the future, to participate in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA)
have filed their 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by June 30, 2020

Students who meet the Title IV eligibility criteria as of March 13, 2020 automatically receive CARES funds. Students should have begun to receive funds by June 1, 2020.

Not sure if you qualify for Title IV federal financial aid? Learn more on Types of Financial Aid age.

CARES Grants Award Process

The U.S. Department of Education made a recommendation to distribute funds to the most needy students first. CSU based our distribution on this recommendation, and has started awarding funds to students taking on-campus classes. We determined these students have the most need because they are directly affected by Covid-19 related campus disruptions. We are providing a predetermined amount to all eligible students based on credit load status.

The State of Maryland issues checks that are then sent to students via mail. The State sends grant monies to your student address on file, so make sure that information is accurate and current!

Your Spring 2020 enrollment status as of March 13, 2020 determines the amount of CARES funds you receive.

Students should have received CARES monies by June 30, 2020.

You do not need to take any additional actions if you meet all the criteria. You will automatically receive a CARES grant.

A CARES grant does not reduce your financial aid for academic years 2019-2020 or 2020-2021. Also, a CARES grant does not need to be repaid.

No. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), you should not include a CARES grant in your reported gross income because CARES grants “are qualified disaster relief payments under section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code.”

Coppin maintains a Student Emergency Fund to assist students in times of crisis. If you do not qualify for CARES funding and have higher expenses because of Covid-19 related campus disruptions, you may be eligible for an award from this existing Fund. Coppin makes these awards on a case-by-case basis, and may consider your grade point average (GPA), matriculation rate and/or any other documentation to make a decision.

Here’s what you need to know to apply for awards through the Student Emergency Fund: