This document provides the necessary information to comply with Section 18004(e) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security Act (“CARES Act” or the “Act”)), Pub. L. No. 116-136, 134 Stat. 281.
Institution Name:
Date of report:
Institution has signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement document
under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
Questions? Contact:
Total amount of funds the institution will receive from the Department for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students:
OR
Total amount of funds the institution has received from the Department for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to
Students:
TOTAL AMOUNT of Emergency Financial Aid Grants DISTRIBUTED to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES
Act as of the date of this report:
ESTIMATED TOTAL NUMBER of STUDENTS at the institution ELIGIBLE to participate in programs under Section 484 in
Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965:
TOTAL NUMBER of STUDENTS who HAVE RECEIVED an Emergency Financial Aid Grant:
Method(s) used by the institution to determine WHICH STUDENTS receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and HOW
MUCH they would receive:
We obtained a list of all students who were enrolled for the spring 2020 semester or expressed an intent to re-enroll who
were also eligible for Title IV financial aid and met the qualifications as set by the Department of Education. We divided
the students into groups based on their residential status for the spring 2020 semester and identified key expenses that
each group may have encountered related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. The key expenses
included rent, relocation, food, and technology expenses. We also allocated more funds to those students with higher
financial need based on their expected family contribution from their current FAFSA. A majority of the available funds
were awarded with the remainder to be issued based on individual requests.
Aquinas College
9/30/2020
$602,256
$588,000
1,085
876
financialaid@aquinas.edu
The following message was sent to students receiving the CARES Act funds:
We hope
you are well and are finishing your semester strong. We wanted to provide you with some information
regarding the federal government’s Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, how it affects you and
actions you need to take to receive your disbursement.
The federal government approved the CARES Act on March 27, 2020. This included an allocation of funds to higher
education institutions based on a specific calculation involving the number of students eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.
The U.S. Department of Education provided specific instructions on the use and distribution method for those funds in a
communication released on April 20, 2020.
We are pleased to be able to provide direct emergency aid to our students for unexpected expenses, unmet financial
need or expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a
student's cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care).
It is our objective to provide these funds to as many currently enrolled Aquinas College students that met the
requirements set by the Department of Education as possible. Applications are not required. The College considered
several points in determining the individual award amounts, such as undergraduate, graduate, resident, commuter,
Federal Pell Grant eligibility, expected family contribution, etc.
In order to receive your disbursement by May 15, please complete the following by May 12, 2020: 1) Enter or update
your bank routing and account information on MyAQ. If we do not have your direct deposit information, you will be
mailed a check. and 2) Please review your current address listed on MyAQ. For questions or help with entering your
direct deposit information or updating your address, please contact studentaccounts@aquinas.edu or call (616)
632-2864 Monday-Thursday between 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Department of Education guidance for your use of these funds is described in the third paragraph of this letter. The
Internal Revenue Service has indicated that this grant is not included in your gross income for tax purposes.
We hope this information is helpful to you. We look forward to seeing you back on campus. Best wishes!
Instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid
Grants: