CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grants - FAQs
Please also read our CARES Act announcement.
Q. Am I eligible to receive a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) Emergency Financial Aid Grant?
A. Students who were enrolled for the spring 2020 term (Daytona and Prescott campus) or the January or March term (Worldwide campus) and, based on U.S. Department of Education guidance, meet all of the following criteria can apply:
- The student incurred expenses directly related to the disruption of campus operations due to Covid-19;
- The student is eligible to receive Title IV funding (e.g., U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens with a valid Social Security number and registration with the Selective Service, if applicable) as determined by having filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); and
- The student was NOT exclusively enrolled in distance education or online courses.
Q. I am new, incoming student for a future term (Summer or Fall for the residential term or May for the Worldwide campus). Can I apply for the Federal Emergency Grant?
A. No, only students enrolled for these terms are eligible to apply.
Q. Am I eligible to receive any additional assistance from the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act)?
A. The CARES Act does provide some relief to students, borrowers and parents. Each student’s specific situation may be different. Additional information can be found at https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/coronavirus.
Q. I didn’t file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Can I apply for the Federal Emergency Grant?
A. No, you must be eligible for Title IV funding as determined by having completed and filed the 2019-20 FAFSA. You may, however, file the FAFSA now and then apply for a CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grant. Filing a FAFSA makes you eligible but does not guarantee you will receive a CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grant.
Q. Can International students apply for the Federal Emergency Grant?
A. No, International students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grant, but are able to apply for the University’s Eagles Care Student Emergency Assistance Fund (subject to availability of funds).
Q. If I am a Worldwide student, how do I qualify for the Federal Emergency Grant?
A. You must have been enrolled in the January Term (2519) or March Term (2525) (all other Terms are not applicable) in face to face courses. Per U.S. Department of Education guidance, students enrolled exclusively in an online or distance education program (e.g., exclusively Online and/or Eaglevision courses) are not eligible.
Q. What would be examples of funds directly related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus?
A. Everyone’s specific expenses may vary – some typical examples might include, but are not limited to:
- Food – purchases (an amount in excess of any available credit/refund) of groceries/meals when the university’s dining halls were closed.
- Housing – expenses (an amount in excess of any available credit/refund) associated with temporary lodging arrangements when the university’s residence halls were closed.
- Technology – computer hardware or software required for a particular class which the student did not already have and couldn’t reasonably or timely obtain from the university
- Transportation – the cost of an additional trip to/from your campus due to the migration to online courses or the cost of shipping your household goods home if you did not return to campus
- Other – childcare or medical expenses if they were incurred because of the disruption in campus operations
Q. What would be examples of expenses that would NOT be eligible for a CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grant?
A. Lost wages, impact of financial hardship (e.g., students or parent’s loss of income impacting ability to pay tuition and fees), expenses you would have incurred even if the campus operations had NOT been disrupted, etc.
Q. Covid-19 has impacted my personal financial situation (e.g., I am worried about my financial ability to continue my education at Embry-Riddle, etc.) – can the university help?
A. The university’s Office of Financial Aid is always willing to look at each student’s unique situation and may be able to offer some assistance through federal funds (e.g., CARES Act funding), university funds/loans, donor scholarships, or other sources); please refer to the Financial Aid webpages for the Daytona Beach, Prescott, and Worldwide campuses, or contact them using the information below.
Q. Can I apply for the Federal Emergency Grant if I don’t have documentation for my expenses?
A. Yes, but you should include a brief statement regarding the expenses you had that were directly related to the disruption of classes due to Covid-19. Please note that the funding available for this grant is limited and may run out; receipts will expedite and support your claim. For larger expense items like airfare or technology purchases, receipts are required.
Q. I am a graduate student, can I apply for the Federal Emergency Grant?
A. Yes, graduate students who meet all of the criteria are eligible to apply.
Q. If I do not receive a CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grant, or did not receive the full amount of the expenses I submitted, can I appeal the amount of my CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grant ?
A. Unfortunately, due to the limited amount of funding, you were awarded the highest amount available. You can reach out to the Financial Aid Office to see if you are eligible for other assistance.
Q. I have additional questions (e.g., is a particular expense allowable) that aren’t answered here – who should I contact?
A. Contact the University’s Office of Financial Aid. Please refer to the Financial Aid webpages for the Daytona Beach, Prescott, and Worldwide campuses, or contact them using the information below.
Q. When should I submit my application?
A. For the best consideration we encourage you to submit your application by May 15. The current plan, based on funding availability, is to stop accepting applications when all of the funds are disbursed, which we anticipate will be on or about the end of May – additional updates will be provided as necessary.
Q. When will I find out if my application has been approved and when/how will I receive my grant?
A. The university will begin reviewing applications as they are received and will immediately begin awarding grants prioritizing students with the most financial need. Additional waves of grants will begin in mid-May and we anticipate disbursing all awards by the end of May. Please be patient as awards will be made after reviewing applications and submitted documentation, and they will be made over time based on volume and need. Each student should be notified as to the disposition of their application by then end of May.
Q. If there are additional funds available, could I receive more than I did in the initial grant?
A. Yes, initial grants may be capped to ensure we can meet the needs of a significant number of students, if there are remaining funds, students with unmet need may receive additional grants – this will be communicated via e-mail.
Q. If I receive a grant and have an outstanding balance, will the funds be applied to those charges?
A. No, these credits will be refunded to the student regardless of account standing; if you have not already signed up for Direct Deposit, we encourage you to do so at https://ernie.erau.edu/Departments/bursar-daytona/Pages/Making-Payments.aspx.
Points of Contact for the Office of Financial Aid at each Campus
Daytona Beach Campus:
Email: dbfinaid@erau.edu
Phone: (800) 943-6279
Hours: M-F 8AM - 5PM EDT
Prescott Campus:
Email: prfinaid@erau.edu
Phone: (928) 777-3765
Hours: M-F 8AM – 5PM MST
Worldwide Campus:
Email: wwfinaid@erau.edu
Phone: (866) 567-7202
Hours: M-F 8AM – 5PM EDT