What is the CARES Act emergency aid block grant?
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. Using a formula established by Congress, the funds were allocated to institutions of higher education to provide emergency financial aid grants to eligible students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.
How do I know if I’m eligible?
Department of Education guidance requires that grant recipients meet federal student aid eligibility requirements. Requirements include, but are not limited to:
- Be enrolled in a degree program
- Be a U.S. citizen or national, a permanent resident, or an eligible noncitizen
- Valid 2019-20 FAFSA on file
- Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Not in default on any federal loans
- No overpayments on federal grants or loans
Additionally, the Department of Education has stated students enrolled in an exclusively online program are not eligible because they were not impacted by a disruption of campus services.
How much is the block grant?
Mansfield University is awarding a one-time $500 grant to each student that meets the eligibility requirements set forth by the Department of Education.
What can it be used for?
The emergency aid grants can be used for expenses associated with standard cost of attendance items such as food, housing, childcare, transportation, books and other supplies and technology. If you plan to purchase technology to assist with remote learning, our Campus Technology website may offer some guidance: https://ct.mansfield.edu/
I’m experiencing a significant financial hardship. Is more funding available?
Additional funding for extreme situations will be available soon. Check back soon for the funding policy and application information.
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting – Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students
- Mansfield University signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement to receive funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. Mansfield University will use no less than 50% of the total funds received to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
- Mansfield University will receive $966,059 from the Department to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
- As of May 8, 2020, Mansfield University has distributed $659,000 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
- As of May 8, 2020, Mansfield University had 1318 students eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- As of May 8, 2020, Mansfield University distributed $500 to each of the 1318 eligible students.
- Mansfield University awarded grants to students who met the following criteria:
- Enrolled as a degree-seeking student on March 13, 2020, the date of the declaration of the national emergency
- Valid FAFSA for the 2019-20 Academic year on file
- Not in default
- Meeting satisfactory academic progress
- Not in an exclusively online program*
- Students enrolled in an online program that either lived in on-campus residence halls or were enrolled in on-campus classes were granted an exception as they were impacted by a disruption of campus services
- Communication to students included:
- An email from Mansfield University President Charles Patterson on April 29, 2020 that included information on upcoming disbursements of CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grants to eligible students.
- Information has been posted on the University’s financial aid webpage, which includes the following:
FAQs - CARES Act Emergency Aid Block Grants
What is the CARES Act emergency aid block grant?
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. Using a formula established by Congress, the funds were allocated to institutions of higher education to provide emergency financial aid grants to eligible students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.
How do I know if I’m eligible?
Department of Education guidance requires that grant recipients meet federal student aid eligibility requirements. Requirements include, but are not limited to:
- Be enrolled in a degree program
- Be a U.S. citizen or national, a permanent resident, or an eligible noncitizen
- Valid 2019-20 FAFSA on file
- Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Not in default on any federal loans
- No overpayments on federal grants or loans
Additionally, the Department of Education has stated students enrolled in an exclusively online program are not eligible because they were not impacted by a disruption of campus services.
How much is the block grant?
Mansfield University is awarding a one-time $500 grant to each student that meets the eligibility requirements set forth by the Department of Education.
What can it be used for?
The emergency aid grants can be used for expenses associated with standard cost of attendance items such as food, housing, childcare, transportation, books and other supplies and technology. If you plan to purchase technology to assist with remote learning, our Campus Technology website may offer some guidance: https://ct.mansfield.edu/
I’m experiencing a significant financial hardship. Is more funding available?
Additional funding for extreme situations will be available soon. Check back soon for the funding policy and application information.
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- Upon disbursement, students received an email notification from the Office of Financial Aid that included the following message:
Dear FIRST NAME,
The Office of Financial Aid has identified you as an eligible student for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund under the CARES Act. You have received a one-time block grant of $500. These funds, payable directly to the student, are to be used for expenses associated with the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.
If you have provided your bank information in Student Self-Service, the funds will be direct deposited to your account within 3-5 business days. If we do not have your bank information, a check will be mailed to your home address.
Visit our site for more information.
Be safe and be well.
The Mansfield Foundation has established a COVID-19 Relief Fund for Mansfield University students. The grant is available to students experiencing financial hardships associated with the current pandemic. Please visit the link below for the application.
You can now set up a Zoom meeting with the Financial Aid Office! Click the link below to request a time.
2020-2021 Tuition and Fees
| PA Residents | NY/NJ Residents | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (12-18 Credits): | $7,716 | $10,032 | $11,574 |
| Housing (B-unit 2 Person Shared): | $6,600 | $6,600 | $6,600 |
| Dining (14 Meal Plan): | $3,568 | $3,568 | $3,568 |
| Fees: | $2,944 | $3,194 | $3,194 |
| $20,828 | $23,394 | $24,936 |
Tuition, Housing and Fees Cost Estimator
The 2020-2021 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is now available.
The FAFSA can be completed as of October 1, 2019. Please note, you will use your 2018 tax information to fill out the 2020-21 FAFSA.
You must file the FAFSA to apply for the Federal Pell Grant, PHEAA State Grant, Federal Direct Loans, Federal Work Study and the Federal TEACH Grant.
Special Notes
1. We strongly recommend that you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool provided on the FAFSA. This tool allows the information filed with the IRS to be directly transferred to the FAFSA. Using this option may reduce documents that you are asked to provide to the Financial Aid Office and may also reduce the possibility of errors on your FAFSA application.
2. Pennsylvania Residents MUST file the FAFSA no later than May 1, 2020 to be considered for a PHEAA Grant for 2020-2021.
3. If you have been granted a Dependency Override in a prior year, you need to file your FAFSA online and contact our office for necessary paperwork so that we may again make the necessary corrections to your FAFSA application.
4. Do not mail any documents to the federal processor when completing the Renewal FAFSA online.
5. The 2020-2021 FAFSA deadline is June 30, 2021.
6. A Shopping Sheet is available to you on your student portal. It is a consumer tool to notify you about your financial aid package. It is a standardized form that is designed to simplify the information that you receive about costs and financial aid so that you can easily compare institutions and make informed decisions about where to attend school.
If you have any questions, please contact the Financial Aid Office. We are located in 231 South Hall, or you may call us at 570-662-4129 or email us at financial.aid@mansfield.edu.
Federal Student Loan and PLUS Loan Borrowers
Federal Direct Loans are awarded to students (who qualify) and Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) to parents who indicate an interest. The federal student loan servicer is the U.S. Department of Education rather than a bank or other financial institution. This will require all federal student loan borrowers to complete both an electronic Master Promissory Note and complete Entrance Counseling online at https://studentaid.ed.gov.
Parents of dependent students who are interested in applying for the Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) for summer 2020 or the 2020-2021 academic year can also go to the Department of Education's loan website at https://studentloans.gov to apply. If the loan is approved, the parent borrower will also need to complete an electronic Master Promissory Note (eMPN) and a Parent Title IV Authorization form.
Need a Tax Transcript or Letter of Non-Filing from the IRS?
Just follow any one of these easy steps:
- Click on http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript
- In person you can also go to your local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center and order a tax return transcript in person. Go to www.irs.gov, click Contact Your Local Office at the bottom-right of the screen.
- Through the mail: The request form (Form 4506T) can be downloaded from www.irs.gov. Click on Get Your Tax Record, then Get Transcript by Mail.
- Obtain an IRS Letter of Non-filing - This letter provides proof that the IRS has no record of a filed Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ for the year you requested. It doesn't indicate whether you were required to file a return for that year. This letter is available for the current tax year or anytime for the prior three tax years using Get Transcript Online or Form 4506-T. You must use Form 4506-T if you need a letter for tax years older than the prior three years.