We understand how difficult this semester has been with the disruption by COVID-19. We want to do our best to provide you with information about available financial help. Read below for details about the CARES Act, and the Loss of Job application.

CARES Act

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was approved by Congress in late March. The aid included approximately $14 billion for colleges across the nation. The distribution of aid dollars to colleges was determined by the number of Pell Grant recipients at a given college. The Master’s University was allotted $936,440, 50% of which, $468,220 will be given to students in the form of direct relief aid. The Master’s University has submitted the necessary paperwork and has received its funding from the Higher Education Cares Act.

The Master’s University is committed to using the CARES Act funds, within the parameters set by the government, to help those students with the greatest needs while meeting the needs of as many students as possible. The government has, however, put certain restrictions on how these funds can be used. Specifically, students who receive the funds must be Title IV eligible (if you have not filed a FAFSA, you should do so on the FAFSA website selecting the appropriate school year) and the funds must be used to cover 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). Also, students who were enrolled only in online programs prior to COVID-19 and DACA students are not eligible per the government issued guidance.

If you have incurred expenses, beyond what you would have typically, as a result of the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, there may be funding available through the CARES Act if you are eligible for any type of federal Title IV (FAFSA) aid including federal loans. (Note that Title IV aid includes Pell Grant, SEOG, Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and PLUS Loan.)

TMU sent three emails to all eligible students providing the parameters of eligibility and a link to the application. If you did not respond to the email please complete the application/online form if you think you may be eligible to receive CARES Act funds, return the form no later than May 15, 2020, after which the funds will be allocated in the most equitable manner possible, taking into consideration the needs and expenses of each eligible student.

Students who have qualified expenses will be issued a payment which will be mailed to the address indicated on the application. Please note that this is not a scholarship but is a relief fund to assist students who have occurred expensed due to COVID 19. Our hope is to issue the checks by the end of May, an email will be sent to all students notifying them if they qualified and if a check is on it’s way.

Update: As of May 20th The Master’s University has 773 Title IV eligible students. 311 applications have come in and TMU is currently processing the applications to meet the needs of the students most affected by COVID-19.

Update: As of June 1st applications have been reviewed and funds were submitted to students who completed an application. Based off our analysis from the applications TMU also sent funds to eligible students based on EFC. In total 549 students were sent checks totaling $360,440. TMU has sent notifications to students letting them know that funds are still available.

Update: As of August no additional changes have been made. Applications have been sent to eligible students again.

Update: As of September 30th, The Master’s University has awarded an additional $3,780 totaling $364,220 to students and has posted the First Quarterly report for HEERF Covid Cares Act.

Update: As of November 11th, The Master’s University has awarded an additional $104,315 for a total of $468,535. We received a total of 421 applications and then we used a need based report to award the rest of the students. This uses our total allotment of the student portion of $468,220 the funds went to 561 students. An additional $315 was used from the the Institutional portion to help our students.

CRRSAA

The Master’s University has received an additional $468,220 in federal funds to be distributed to students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. This new round of funding is from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA).

The CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need in awarding financial aid grants to students. The grants are intended to help TMU students deal with the financial burden caused by the COVID-19 crisis and assist with the costs of attending college.

TMU has used the student’s 2020-21 FAFSA, to identify which students have the highest financial need. We acknowledge that every student has been affected in one way or another by the pandemic. However, TMU is required and committed to using the HEERF II funds to help those students with exceptional need while providing financial support to as many students as possible.

The CRRSAA funds, will be distributed via mailed check to all full-time students who meet the following criteria as of February 2021.

• Students must be a full time enrolled traditional undergraduate student who was enrolled in Spring 2021.
• Title IV Eligible student meeting satisfactory academic progress.
• Student must have filed a 2020-2021 FAFSA and Completed all financial aid paperwork.
• Student must have a family expected contribution (EFC) less than $10,000

Update: As of March 31st, TMU has evaluated that there were 286 students that met the qualifications for CRRSAA, and sent each of the 286 students a check, the total combined in grants equaled $475,800. At this point TMU has distributed $944,020 of institutional funds to students.

American Rescue Plan (ARP)

On March 11, 2021 President Biden Signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP). The ARP appropriated approximately $39.6 billion for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). The Master’s University has received $1,527,733 in federal relief funds to be distributed to TMU students. The funds will distributed to students starting with upperclassman and moving down each class, in each class we are focusing on students with exceptional need who meet the criteria below.

Using the 2021-22 FAFSA students have on file, we have identified eligible students based on their financial aid profiles. We acknowledge that every student has been affected in one way or another by the pandemic. TMU is required and committed to using the HEERF III funds to help those students with exceptional need while providing financial support to as many students as possible. Students will receive an email with an application to help designate funding either directly to their account or sent as a personal check.

• Students must have been enrolled for the Fall 2021 school year.
• Students filed a 2021-22 FAFSA and completed all financial aid paperwork.
• Students must have a 2020-21 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) less than $20,000

Update: June 30th, Students have been evaluated and applications have been created. No additional funding was sent out to students. TMU’s goal is to verify that the students are enrolled in classes before disbursing funds.

Update: September 30th, TMU has processed applications of enrolled Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, and returning Freshman. Funds were sent to 264 students in the amount of $729,750.

Update: December 31st, TMU has processed additional applications of students who turned in applications late and new students starting the Fall 2021 semester. Funds were stent to 298 students in the amount of 550,250. Total APR sent to students is $1,280,000.

Update: March 31st, Pell eligible students were notified that additional funding was available. 229 students were notified and completed an application to receive additional funding in the amount of $348,538 which was the remaining amount of the student portion equaling $1,527,733 plus $147,811 of the institutional portion.

Institutional HEERF Reporting

HEERF Institutional Quarterly Update Ending Sept. 30, 2020

HEERF Institutional Quarterly Update Ending Dec. 30, 2020

HEERF Institutional Quarterly Update Ending March 31, 2021

HEERF Institutional Quarterly Update Ending June 30, 2021

HEERF Institutional Quarterly Update Ending Sept. 30, 2021

HEERF Institutional Quarterly Update Ending Dec. 31, 2021

HEERF Institutional Quarterly Update Ending Mar. 31, 2022