CARES Act

A primary criterion for eligibility consideration is a student’s eligibility to apply for federal aid, regardless of whether an application was submitted. It has been determined that two thousand one hundred twenty students (2,120) students were eligible to participate in the federal aid programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 during the 2019-20 academic year.

In efforts to ensure that approximately 70 percent of our student population will receive a share of the funding, Spelman College has established a tiered method of distribution based on Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as reported on the 2019-2020 Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Based on this methodology, students with an EFC that is $30,000 or less were considered eligible to receive Spelman College CARES Act Student Emergency Grant funds.

1. Students must be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). For purposes of disbursal of these funds, the College will base determination of eligibility on the existence of the student’s 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
2. Students must be United States citizens (or eligible non-citizens).
3. Students must use funds for eligible expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus to include food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and childcare (CARES Act Section 18004(c).
4. Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements, as outlined by Financial Aid guidelines.

Students identified by the Office of Financial Aid as initially eligible (based on the above guidelines) received notification via e-mail. Students must follow the link provided within the e-mail to certify that funds awarded will be used for allowable expenses. Funds will not be disbursed to students who have not submitted a certification form. Upon receipt of the certification form, funds will be disbursed via direct deposit or check to students.

• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 06-30-2025
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 03-31-2025
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 12-31-2024
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 09-30-2024
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 06-30-2024
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 03-31-2024
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 12-31-2023
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 09-30-2023
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 06-30-2023 REVISED
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 06-30-2023
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 03-31-2023
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 06-30-2022 REVISED
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 09-30-2022 REVISED
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 12-31-2022 REVISED
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 12-31-2022
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 09-30-2022
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 06-30-2022
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 03-31-2022
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 03-31-2022
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 12-31-2021
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 09-30-2021 REVISED
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 09-30-2021
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 06-30-2021
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 03-31-2021
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 12-31-2020 REVISED
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 12-31-2020
• HEERF Quarterly Report as of 09-30-2020

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.

• 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. It 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 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.