CARES Act Emergency Student Financial Aid Grant Application to Open Today

Beginning at 9 a.m. today (Friday, May 8), the application will open for NOVA students to apply for funds from the U.S. Department of Education’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This fund was established to assist financially-vulnerable students and families, with the unexpected financial expenses posed by the COVID-19 national crisis. These unexpected hardships include job loss, temporary job furlough, medical needs and other hardships directly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Students can use the grant funds to defray the costs of food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and childcare.

NOVA’s allocation for student emergency grants is just over $10M, and it is anticipated we will distribute up to 17,000 grants until the funds are exhausted.

“We have heard time and again the many stories of those for whom the COVID-19 pandemic has created a tremendous financial hardship—those who have lost jobs or even homes because of the financial implications of this national emergency,” said NOVA Vice President of Student Services Frances Villagran-Glover. “We also know that community college students largely represent a demographic that may have been deeply affected. Many students do not have financial reserves and are one car repair or one medical expense away from financial destruction. NOVA is pleased to be able to provide some small help during this time.”

Students who were enrolled in at least six credits as of March 13, when the national emergency was declared, and who remained enrolled for the duration of the term are eligible to apply for a one-time Student Emergency Grant of up to $750 (for full-time students enrolled in 12 or more credit hours as of March 13) or up to $500 (for part-time students enrolled in six to 11 credit hours as of March 13).

NOVA will begin evaluating and distributing funds as early as Monday, May 11. Students who are NOT eligible based on this fund criteria will be referred to NOVA’s Educational Foundation Student Emergency Aid Fund. Those receiving grants, as well as those in need but not eligible, will be given resources for other assistance, including information on NOVA’s One-Stop Financial Stability Program; Virtual Advising and NOVA Cares.

For more on the Emergency Financial Aid Grants and the CARES Act, and for a full list of FAQs that you can share with your students, visit Here.

Special THANKS to staff and administrators from NOVA’s offices of Financial Aid, Student Services, Information Technology, Web Services and other areas who worked hard and extremely quickly to create the infrastructure for this program, to ensure eligible students receive funding as quickly as possible.