College announces emergency relief applications

The+college+was+investigated+by+the+Office+of+Civil+Rights+twice+in+the+past+five+years+for+complaints+of+disability+discrimination

Greyson Acquaviva

The college was investigated by the Office of Civil Rights twice in the past five years for complaints of disability discrimination

By Jacob Seitz, Staff Writer

Emerson released applications Wednesday for students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to receive emergency funding from the $2.7 million given to the college by the federal government through the CARES Act.

To receive emergency funding, students must be eligible for federal financial aid, currently enrolled in the college or previously enrolled in Spring 2020, and must have COVID-19 related expenses, among other requirements detailed by the college. Students must also submit a short application. The funds could range between $100 and $6,000 per student, according to the college’s CARES Act compliance webpage.

The college will deliver the funding directly to approved students via direct deposit.

The funds are not guaranteed and cannot go towards tuition expenses or “institutional reimbursement.” Students can apply more than once over the next year, but incoming students may only apply after Sept. 15. It is not immediately clear if recent graduates who were enrolled in the spring semester are eligible for relief funding. 

Emerson received $2.7 million in emergency relief funds through the CARES Act, a roughly $2 trillion federal aid package aiming to help American citizens suffering financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to data released by the Department of Education, Emerson received $2,734,314, of which $1,367,157 must be used as “Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.” 

The bill was signed into federal law on March 27 by President Donald J. Trump and, among other things, allocates an estimated $43.7 billion in emergency aid to educational institutions. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos delivered $6 billion of that to colleges and universities to be used for emergency cash grants for students. Each college received a portion of the money based partially on their enrollment.