CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grants for Students
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities (CARES) Act (Pub. L. 116-136) authorized the U.S. Department of Education (“ED”) to allocate formula grant funds to postsecondary institutions for the purpose of addressing needs related to coronavirus. On April 10, 2020, Dr. Reynold Verret, President of Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA), signed and submitted the Certification and Agreement for an Award under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This Certification and Agreement provided assurance that XULA intended to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
Total CARES Act Funds Provided to Xavier University of Louisiana for Student Emergency Financial Aid
Total funds allocated to Xavier for Student Emergency Financial Aid from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students was $51,586,557 which will be directly disbursed to students. The institution will use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
Estimated Number of Students Eligible to Participate Under Section 4848 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965
A primary criterion for eligibility consideration is a student’s eligibility to apply for federal aid, regardless of whether an application was submitted. It has been determined that three thousand three hundred twenty-one students (3,251) students were eligible to participate in the federal aid programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 during the 2021 – 2022 academic year.
Methods Used by Xavier College to Determine Students’ Eligibility and Amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grant Under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act
In efforts to ensure that maximum number of our student population will receive a share of the funding, Xavier University of Louisiana has established a tiered method of distribution based on Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as reported on the 2021 Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Based on this methodology, all students who submitted the FAFSA were considered eligible to receive Xavier University of Louisiana CARES Act Student Emergency Grant funds which were distributed based on the following:
| Expected Family Contribution (EFC) | American Rescue Plan Amount |
| $0 | $1,000 |
| 1 - 5846 | $750 |
| 5846 & up | $500 |
Additionally, DoE set forth guidelines by which the Xavier University of Louisiana must abide to determine grant eligibility.
- Students must be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). For purposes of disbursal of these funds, the College will base a determination of eligibility on the existence of the student’s 2021 – 2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Students must be United States citizens (or eligible non-citizens).
- Students must use funds for eligible expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus to include food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and childcare (CARES Act Section 18004(c).
- Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements, as outlined by Financial Aid guidelines.
Students identified by the Office of Financial Aid as initially eligible (based on the above guidelines) received notification via e-mail. Students must follow the link provided within the e-mail to certify that funds awarded will be used for allowable expenses. Funds will not be disbursed to students who have not submitted a certification form. Upon receipt of the certification form, funds will be disbursed via direct deposit or check to students.
Cares Emergency Grants – Frequently Asked Questions
The CARES Emergency Grant program is a temporary emergency aid program, funded by the initial Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF I), Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The grant program was created to provide one-time financial support for students enrolled at Xavier and adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds are limited and disbursed on a first-come-first serve basis.
Applying for a HEERF I CARES Emergency Grant?
To be considered for HEERF I CARES funding, students should submit a completed CARES application. Applications are available via the Xavier Financial Aid and COVID-19 websites. Please complete the application in its entirety, attach supporting documentation (for fastest consideration), and submit via email to emergencygrant@xula.edu.
What is supporting documentation? Is it required to receive funding?
Examples of supporting documentation include, but are not limited to, lease/mortgage agreements, utility bills and COVID-related medical bills. While documentation is not required, it does help the review committee understand the comprehensive nature of the request and justify the amount requested on the application.
How long will it take to process my application?
The emergency fund committee reviewed CARES applications on a weekly basis. The committee contacts students via email if additional information is needed. Please do not submit multiple applications or resubmit previous applications. This delays processing for other students. Applications are reviewed and processed in the date order in which they are received.
How much funding am I eligible for?
CARES applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. The amount of CARES disbursements vary and are based on information included in the completed application.
Other schools awarded each student a blanket amount. Why didn’t Xavier?
The university opted for an application process for HEERF I funds rather than one that is more formulaic in order to optimize our chances to significantly reduce the hardship COVID-19 has had/is having on our students. Many students are experiencing housing and/or food insecurity, have significant medical expenses, are technology insecure and are navigating many other hardships. An application and supporting documentation gives us a better chance of fully addressing students' needs.
How do I check the status of my application?
Status inquiries should be made in writing to emergencygrant@xula.edu. The emergencygrant@xula.edu email address is monitored by committee members who will respond to your inquiry as promptly as possible. Please do not submit multiple applications or inquiries as delays in processing will occur.
NOTE: All HEERF I CARES Emergency Grant applications received by 5 PM CST, Friday, April 9, 2021 will be processed and forwarded for payment according to the guidelines listed on the application. Funds will be disbursed via direct deposit and should reach your accounts by Friday, April 23, 2021. If direct deposit information is not on file, a check will be mailed to the mailing address listed in the Banner Student Information System. Please allow additional time for mailed checks.
How will the university disperse CARES funding not associated with HEERF I?
Subsequent federal funds awarded to the university, including those provided via the CRRSAA: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II) program, will be disbursed to eligible students via a tiered method of distribution, based on Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as reported on the 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Per federal guidelines, students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, received priority funding consideration. Below are the tiers of award and what you can expect to receive.