RIC Cares Act FAQs
What is the CARES Act/Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund provided by the federal government?
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law to provide economic relief from COVID-19. One section of the CARES Act established the Higher Education Emergency Relief fund, and provides money to schools to use for emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the pandemic.
When will CARES/Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds be available?
RIC applied for funding from the federal CARES Act and received access from the U.S. Department of Education. We have begun to rapidly distribute funds to students based on their financial need. Recipients will be notified via a message to their RIC email account.
What is a RIC CARES ACT Fund?
The CARES Act directed colleges and universities to prioritize students with the greatest financial need. As a result, Rhode Island College has established the RIC CARES Act Fund. These CARES Act emergency aid funds will provide financial relief to students based on the family income reported on the FAFSA. These funds are meant to help students pay expenses for technology, health care, child care, course materials, housing, moving or other expenses related to the pandemic. If you have yet to experience financial stress due to COVID-19, these funds can help with unanticipated expenses or income loss that may occur.
Who is eligible for the immediate RIC CARES Act Fund?
Initially, students who met basic eligibility criteria for federal financial aid and who have the greatest financial need can be considered for these funds. Funds were awarded to students that met all of the following criteria:
- RIC received an official 2019-2020 FAFSA form
- Enrolled degree seeking student for Spring 2020
- Not enrolled exclusively in an online program for the entire Spring 2020 semester
- Met Title IV Federal Financial Aid eligibility requirements
studentaid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements.
- Maintaining the minimum requirements of Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Recipient of a Pell Grant or eligible for a Pell Grant for the Spring 2020 semester
Why didn’t I receive a RIC CARES Act Fund?
Under U.S. Department of Education rules for the program, students who are not eligible for federal financial aid programs are not eligible for federal CARES funds. However, Rhode Island College may be able to help you with emergency aid from other institutional or private donations, or from the Rhode Island College Foundation. These funds are limited, but we encourage you to apply. We will review your request and determine if we can offer assistance.
Initially, you may not have appeared to meet the criteria of greatest financial need. However, we know that many families’ income is in flux or there may be additional expenses associated due to the pandemic.
If you are eligible for federal aid, but did not receive an immediate RIC CARES Act Fund described above, you could request
RIC CARES Act funding. Many students completed the
Emergency Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Request Form to help with immediate needs, and consider filing a request for change in income or expenses for other financial aid funds for longer term and future needs. You can find more information about changing your financial aid information at
http://www.ric.edu/financialaid/Pages/Current-Undergraduates.aspx.
What emergency relief funds are available for undocumented students?
While the U.S. Department of Education does not allow CARES funding to provide grants to undocumented students, RIC is committed to supporting all students who need emergency assistance. DACA and undocumented students are encouraged to request funding from the Emergency Response Fund established by The Rhode Island College Foundation, the college’s philanthropic partner. The Foundation’s Emergency Response Fund is designed to support students facing unforeseen financial circumstances as a result of this global crisis. To request assistance, please complete the Student Emergency Funds Request Form.
In addition, the Rhode Island Student Success Application (RISSA) was established to exclusively support DACA and undocumented student. If you have not filed the RISSA form for 2019-20 and you need assistance, please apply at http://www.casori.org/FinancialAidforUndocumentedStudents.html.
What emergency relief funds are available for international students?
Unfortunately, under U.S. Department of Education rules for the program, international students are not eligible for the federal CARES funds. International students who need emergency aid assistance are encouraged to request funding from the Emergency Response Fund established by The Rhode Island College Foundation, the college’s philanthropic partner. The Foundation’s Emergency Response Fund is designed to support students facing unforeseen financial circumstances as a result of this global crisis. To request assistance, please complete the Student Emergency Funds Request Form.
Will there be CARES funds for 2020-21?
RIC's CARES Act funds were concentrated on spring emergency aid and monitoring federal and state economic conditions, as well as the prospects for additional federal emergency funding for universities and students. We continued to make emergency aid grants from CARES Act funds individual requests. We will decide about the remaining CARES Act funds we can use to support students in 2020-21 and beyond.
Will the CARES Act funds affect my eligibility for financial aid in the Fall 2020 semester?
No. CARES Act funding will not count towards Estimated Financial Assistance (EFA) and will not affect future financial aid eligibility.
Is the CARES Act fund taxable?
No. Per the Internal Revenue Service, the grant will not be included in your taxable income. Please visit the IRS’s site
www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-higher-education-emergency-relief-fund-and-emergency-financial-aid-grants-under-the-cares-act for more details.
What expenses qualify under the CARES Act?
These funds must be used for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19, including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care.
