CARES Act Frequently Asked Questions

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law to provide economic relief from COVID-19. Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) and sent 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.

Spelman College has received the funds from the CARES Act and will start distributing grants to students based on their demonstrated financial need, as defined by financial aid guidelines. We anticipate the grants will be disbursed beginning May 22. Recipients will be notified via their Spelman email address.

To be eligible, the U.S. Department of Education has determined that students must minimally meet the following criteria:

• Be enrolled in the Spring 2020 semester, as of March 13, 2020
• Be eligible to receive Federal Title IV funds via the Financial Aid Office
• Be a citizen of the United States, or an eligible non-citizen
• Have met Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) , as defined by the U.S. Department of Education

Additionally, institutions have been charged with providing assistance to their neediest students. Spelman has determined to use these funds in support of any otherwise eligible student whose 2019-20 Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) was calculated at $0 - $30,000.

Each student will be awarded an amount based on a tiered method devised by our Office of Business and Financial Affairs. Our methodology allows us to support approximately 70 percent of our student population and provides the most assistance to our neediest students, as determined by the 2019-20 Estimated Family Contribution (EFC), in alignment with the stated intent of the CARES Act.

Direct deposit is the fastest way to receive funding. If Spelman does not have your information, a paper check will be mailed to the "ST address" we have on file in Banner.

Award amounts are final, as funding is limited. For these reasons additional funding cannot be requested. This is a one-time payment unless the federal government passes subsequent legislation that includes emergency funding for students. However, students who still have an unmet financial need are encouraged to submit an application for consideration of the Spelman Emergency Grant funds.

Please contact the Financial Aid Office at 404-270-5222 and financialaid@spelman.edu, or you may contact your Financial Aid Advisor at:

Last Name begins with (A-D): Thresa Gay | tgay@spelman.edu | 404-270-5210

Last Name begins with (E –L): Lisa Berrien | lisaberrien@spelman.edu | 404-270-5209

Last Name begins with (M-U): Glorene Gibbons | ggibbons@spelman.edu | 404.270.5214

Last Name begins with (V-Z): Shelly McDonald | smcdon12@spelman.edu | 404-270-5219

You may apply for funds through our emergency grant application. We know that some Spelman students are experiencing financial complications and want to provide every possible resource. Students are encouraged to submit an application for consideration of the Spelman Emergency Grant