On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law to provide economic relief from COVID-19. As part of the CARES Act, the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund was created to provide colleges and universities with funds for emergency financial aid grants for students and cover institutional expenses related to the pandemic. Our approach to distribute these funds is student-centered.
The University of Maryland (UMD) has received $10,745,357 to distribute to eligible students as an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under the CARES Act. In compliance with both the CARES Act and the Department of Education’s guidance, the university will distribute funds to eligible students experiencing financial hardships with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations, including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as:
- assistance with food purchases,
- needs related to housing/rent/utilities,
- the purchase of course materials,
- technology-related needs, and/or
- assistance with health care and/or child care expenses.
**We are no longer accepting applications at this time.
The UMD Emergency Financial Aid Grant is offered using two methods:
- A portion of the emergency financial aid grant funding is provided based on financial need to eligible students using information from the 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Another portion of the emergency financial aid grant funding is provided to eligible students using the UMD CARES Act Emergency Student Financial Aid Grant Application.
A student must meet all the criteria listed below to qualify for funding through the UMD CARES Act Emergency Student Financial Aid Grant Application:
- Undergraduate or graduate student who is currently enrolled or was enrolled in a degree or eligible certificate program for the Spring 2020 semester on or after March 13, 2020.
- A student who has been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic campus interruption and has an emergency need.
- A student who meets the federal financial aid eligibility requirements.
- A student must use the funds to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted their educational experience, including the allowable expenses listed above.
What emergency relief funds are available for students who are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Student Financial Aid Grants?
Students who do not meet eligibility criteria may still seek financial assistance for emergency circumstances through the Student Crisis Fund through the Division of Student Affairs. The application process is ongoing and currently there is a waitlist.
How much is each grant?
Grant amounts will vary based upon student need and availability of funding. We will attempt to provide as many grants as possible to eligible students.
Can a student request emergency funds more than once if the need arises?
Yes, students may apply for emergency funds more than once. However, the funds are limited and will be awarded to students on a rolling basis until the funds are exhausted.
Do students have to repay UMD Emergency Student Financial Aid Grants?
Students who receive an emergency financial aid grant are not required to repay the grant.
What will be required as justification for the grant? Will students be asked to show evidence that they have been adversely affected by COVID-19?
Students who wish to apply for the UMD CARES Act Emergency Student Financial Aid Grant will be asked to submit the application.
Applicants will be asked to provide a statement about how the COVID-19 situation and the disruption of campus operations resulted in financial hardship.
How many UMD Emergency Student Financial Aid Grants have been distributed to students?
For details on the number of students who have received the UMD Emergency Student Financial Aid Grant, please refer to the Student Grant Reporting tab on this page.
How many enrolled UMD students are eligible to participate in the Federal Financial Aid Program?
For details on the number of eligible UMD students, please refer to the Student Grant Reporting tab on this page.
How quickly will students have access to the emergency funds once they have been approved to receive them?
Emergency grants will be paid through the student billing process.
Students who apply for the UMD Emergency Student Financial Aid Grant will be reviewed and decisions will be released 7 to 10 business days after the receipt of the application. Applicants will receive an email once their application is reviewed. If an application is approved, eligible students can view the offer by logging in to the student financial aid portal and selecting Fall 2019/Spring 2020 from the Select Award Year to View drop-down menu.
If you haven’t already done so, please sign up for direct deposit. This will allow faster access to funds.
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 03.31.2023
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 12.30.2022
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 09.30.2022
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 06.30.2022
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 12.31.2021
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 09.30.2021
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 06.30.2021
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 03.31.2021
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 12.31.2020
- Institutional Portion Reporting: Quarter Ending 09.30.2020
1. UMD acknowledges that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and assures that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. UMD acknowledges receiving two supplemental grants: The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA/HEERF II), 2021 Supplemental Agreement (CFDA 84.425E) ((a)(1) Student Aid Portio); and the America Rescue Plan (ARP/HEERF III).
2. The total amount of funds UMD received from the Department of Education pursuant to the institution's Certification and Agreement for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $10,745,357.
3. The chart below records the amount of funds UMD has distributed, the number of students that are eligible to receive the UMD Emergency Financial Aid Grant, and the number of students that have received the grant per quarter.
| Funds | Report Period | # Recipients for the period | $ paid for the period | # Total Recipients | $ Total Paid | # Cumulative Federally Eligible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CARES Act (HEERF I) | 2020 1st 30 Days (5/15 to 6/15) | 7,296 | $8,834,087 | 7,296 | $8,834,087 | 34,000 |
| CARES Act (HEERF I) | 2020 Q2 (6/16 to 6/30) | 1,140 | $1,325,650 | 8,094 | $10,159,737 | 34,000 |
| CARES Act (HEERF I) | 2020 Q3 (7/01 to 9/30) | 400 | $384,250 | 8,359 | $10,543,987 | 36,335 |
| CARES Act (HEERF I) | 2020 Q4 (10/01 to 12/31) | 3 | $3,000 | 8,361 | $10,546,987 | 36,335 |
| CRRSA (HEERF II) | 2021 Q1 (1/01 to 3/31) | 2 | $2,400 | 8,363 | $10,549,387 | 34,897 |
| CRRSA and ARP (HEERF II-III) | 2021 Q2 (4/01 to 6/30) | 8,279 | $18,778,723 | 12,404 | $29,328,110 | 34,897 |
| CRRSA and ARP (HEERF II-III) | 2021 Q3 (7/01 to 9/30) | 10,045 | $18,040,288 | 16,222 | $47,368,398 | 36,699 |
| CRRSA and ARP (HEERF II-III) | 2021 Q4 (10/01 to 12/31) | 1,247 | $1,752,601 | 16,598 | $49,120,999 | 36,699 |
| ARP (HEERF III) | 2022 Q1 (1/01 to 3/31) | 368 | $743,550 | 16,639 | $49,864,549 | 35,143 |
- Student Grant Reporting: Quarter Ending 06.30.2022
- Student Grant Reporting: Quarter Ending 09.30.2022
- Student Grant Reporting: Quarter Ending 12.30.2022
- Student Grant Reporting: Quarter Ending 03.31.2023
4. UMD used the following methods to offer the Emergency Financial Aid Grant:
- Federal Pell Grant recipients who were enrolled during the Spring 2020 semester, on or after March 13, 2020, were identified and automatically offered emergency grant funds using the block awarding method.
- Students were directed to an online application system for the UMD Emergency Financial Aid Grant. Within the application, students were required to attest which federally approved conditions for funding they met and answer self-certification questions about the financial impact they experienced.
- Students who were initially offered emergency grant funds using the block awarding method could also be considered for additional emergency funding by submitting the UMD CARES Act Emergency Student Financial Aid Grant Application. Student grant amounts varied based upon the student need and availability of funding. UMD attempted to provide as many grants as possible to eligible students.
5. Students who received emergency grant funds using the block awarding method and students who submitted the UMD CARES Act Emergency Student Financial Aid Grant Application were notified via email and instructions were provided to view their offer through their financial aid portal. Students were also encouraged to sign up for direct deposit through the Student Financial Services and Cashiering website in an effort to receive funds as quickly as possible.