MANGILAO – The financial strain the COVID-19 pandemic is evident amongst many in Guam, however this is most apparent for college students.
To lessen this strain, financial support of up to $3,000 is now available for qualifying students as a result of the University of Guam Cares Emergency Grant.
Applications for the emergency aid grant began earlier late January with applications being accepted until Feb. 25 or until all of the allocated funds are expended.
Students must meet or demonstrate the following eligibility requirements to receive funds:
· Demonstrate financial hardship
· Demonstrate need
· Must be enrolled as a full or part-time student at the University of Guam anytime since Mar. 13, 2020
The awarded funds are intended for use by the student to cover any financial obligations disrupted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Examples of uses of the funds extends to tuition, childcare, food, housing or mental or physical health care.
In a statement made by Anita Borja Enriquez, the senior vice president and provost at the University of Guam, she wants students to succeed despite any financial hardship.
“We want every student, regardless of financial ability, to cross that stage at commencement,” said Enriquez.
It is important to note that all other financial aid available to the applicant will be utilized first before funds from the UOG Cares Emergency Grant can be paid out.
Payments will be made 7-14 days after the applicant notification of their reward.
Funding
Funding for the UOG Cares Emergency Grant was provided through the Higher Education Relief Fund (HEERF III). The funds for HEERF III were authorized through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 which was signed into law by President Joseph Biden on Mar. 11.
The University received $6.09 million in total from the American Rescue Plan.
In the past, the University paid a total of $2.03 million to 3,498 students with another 495 students receiving $1.24 million in other additional emergency aid grants during the Fall 2021 semester. During the Summer 2021 semester, the University paid $704,800 to 901 enrolled students.
Higher Education Relief Fund
The Higher Education Relief Fund is an economic aid grant provided by the federal government directed towards the assistance of postsecondary education institutions and their student populations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
So far, there has been three instances of the HEERF grant.
In 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) which awarded the Office of Postsecondary Education $14 billion as HEERF I.
For HEERF II, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021(CRRSAA) authorized $81.88 billion to postsecondary educational support. Congress signed CRRSAA into law on Dec. 27,2020.
HEERF III provided $39.6 billion in financial support to all national postsecondary educations.
UOG received $4.56 million from HEERF I. Half of these funds ($2.29 million) were directed disbursed to 3,254 students in 2020.
UOG also received $2.28 million from HEERF II where all of the allocated funds were paid out to 3,061 students in 2021.
Students looking to seek more information regarding HEERF III or the other direct aid grants can visit https://www.uog.edu/cares-act.