Clarke University
has been selected to distribute funds to students who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds have been authorized by the CARES Act and are referred to as the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).
How will I receive the CARES Act Funds?
Funds are distributed to you directly. The
fastest and safest
way for you to receive these funds is for you to sign-up for direct deposit into your bank account using ACH. Signup can be done via your
my
info
account. ACH instructions are located
here
. If you do not sign-up for direct deposit, a standard check will be mailed to you. Please login to your
my
info
account to make sure your mailing address is current. If you choose to receive a check, we strongly encourage you to deposit it immediately.
Any address and/or bank information updates must be complete by 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 21, in order to take effect on your CARES disbursement.
How do I qualify for the CARES Act Funds?
Per the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance, students are eligible for CARES Act funds if they meet Federal Title IV requirements including, but not limited to:
- Enrollment in a degree-seeking program
- Eligible as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen
- Valid Social Security number
- Registration with Selective Service (if the student is male)
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress in their course of study, and
- Do not owe a refund on grants previously received or in default on any federal student loans
- Additionally, students must have been enrolled in at least one face-to-face or hybrid class prior to March 13, 2020. If you already filed a FAFSA and received Title IV aid, you may be eligible for CARES Act funds.
Clarke will distribute the CARES Act funds as follows:
- Full-time undergraduate students that have completed a FAFSA while at Clarke will receive $500.
- Students who have an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) of $5,576 or below (Pell grant eligible) will receive an additional $443, for a total of $943.
Will these funds be visible to me on my student account?
Once disbursed, you may review your disbursement information via your student account in
my
info
. The disbursement is not taxable and will not be reflected in your financial aid package.
Can the University apply these funds directly towards my student account?
No, the University cannot apply any CARES Act funds towards an outstanding balance on a student’s account. These cash grants must be disbursed directly to the student.
Can I make a payment to the University towards my outstanding balance using a portion or all of the emergency grant aid I received?
You can make a payment on your outstanding balance at any time. However, please note that it was Congress’s intent that CARES Act emergency cash grants be used by students to cover their emergency personal expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare. Please ensure you have what you need to cover these expenses before using any emergency grant funds to make payment on an outstanding Clarke student account balance. Clarke will not withhold any CARES Act funds to cover balances.
Will this affect my financial aid?
These are federal emergency funds, and they do not count as financial assistance. They do not count with or against your other financial aid, if you are receiving other forms of aid.
Who do I contact with questions?
