CARES Act Reporting

An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends 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.

The University of Northern Iowa submitted the Certification and Agreement on April 14, 2020. The Grant Award Notification (GAN) was received from the U.S. Department of Education on April 24, 2020.

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

The University of Northern Iowa will receive $3,809,369 for the student portion of the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). 

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).

As of May 14, 2020: no disbursements have been made to students. The internal application used by students to apply had a priority deadline of May 8, 2020.

As of May 20, 2020: $3,550,739 of CARES Act funding has been disbursed to students.  

As of June 23, 2020: $3,628,416 of CARES funding has been disbursed to students.  

As of July 9, 2020 (FINAL): $3,809,369 of CARES funding has been disbursed to students.  This exhausts the student portion of the CARES funding provided to the university.

The 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 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

6,982 students were eligible to participate in Title IV aid programs during the Spring 2020 semester.   

The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

As of May 20, 2020: 2,783 students have received CARES Act funding.  

As of June 23, 2020: 2,841 students have received CARES Act funding.  

As of July 9, 2020 (FINAL): 2,841 students have received CARES Act funding.  

The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

A CARES Act Fund application was made available to all UNI students, April 23-May 8. Students were able to self-identify their expenses and request funds needed to assist with their expense(s).

Upon completion of the priority deadline (May 8), campus leaders reviewed the volume of student requests and dollars requested and determined the awarding parameters. Eligibility included:

• Title IV aid eligibility.  
• enrollment in coursework during the Spring 2020 semester
• indication of expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, child care, or other related expenses.

In late June 2020, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships evaluated the remaining CARES funding and implemented a plan to award the remainder of the CARES funds to students that had previously applied by the initial CARES application deadline, had the greatest financial need, and did not receive the full amount of their original request.  The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships may make case by case considerations in terms of award amounts as needed in order to ensure the entire CARES funding is exhausted.  

CARES Act Funds awarded to students were applied as a credit to their university bill (U-Bill), which was refunded to the student via direct deposit. CARES Act Funds did not credit toward any unpaid U-Bill balances. 

Direct deposit refunds will be available in bank accounts within 3 business days after disbursement. Students not signed up for direct deposit were mailed a refund check to the permanent address on file within the student information system.

Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided.

Instructions and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) were available on our website: CARES Act page.