CARES Act Funding
The federal government has provided some emergency relief funds to support students. The purpose of the funds was to be divided to support campus operations and students. MD Anderson has made the decision to provide 100 percent of the funds to provide emergency support to the School of Health Professions Students. The goal is to distribute the received funds as widely as possible to eligible students based on the federal guidelines.
With the approval by Congress of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, funds were appropriated to assist institutions of higher education and their students. Included in the CARES Act are emergency grant funds for students. The U.S. Department of Education's only statutory requirement for use of the emergency grant funds is that “the funds 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).”
Emergency grants will be available for eligible students impacted by COVID-19 for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations for eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, i.e. food, housing, course materials, technology needs, childcare and health care. According to Federal guidelines, students in the following categories are not eligible to receive these emergency grants.
- Students exclusively enrolled in online programs before March 13
- International students
- Students in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program
Approved grants will be disbursed through the UT Health Financial Aid office. Federal guidelines advise that only Title IV eligible students may submit an application for the CARES Act funds.
- All eligible students must have an active Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSFA) account and the application should be for FY20 with FY2017 financial information provided.
- All students will need to submit a completed application.
- Students will need to provide detailed supporting documentation for losses itemized in the application, including original receipts/documents supporting their loss with appropriate contact information to verify each loss, as appropriate.
MD Anderson CARES Act Funding Application
CARES Act Compliance
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocates funds to support individuals and businesses/organizations, including colleges and universities, affected by the pandemic and economic downturn. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Professions has received funds under the CARES Act and is working to provide emergency assistance to as many students as possible to help them meet their emergency financial needs during this challenging time.
1. Acknowledgment
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 Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Professions signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Professions will award $285,920 (100%) of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
2. Total Amount Received
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 total amount of funds that The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Professions received on June 3, 2020, from the U.S. Department of Education for distribution to students is $285,840.
3. Total Amount Distributed to Students
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).
The total amount of emergency grants distributed to students under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act for the Spring 2020 semester is $102,338.
4. Estimated Total Number of Eligible Students
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.
The estimated total number of students at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Professions eligible to participate in programs under section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive emergency grants under section 18004(a)(1) of the Cares Act is 243.
5. Total Number of Student Recipients
The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
The projected number of students enrolled in the Spring 2020 semester at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Professions who will receive an emergency grant under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 87.
6. Method Used to Determine Eligibility
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.
Students submitted CARES Act emergency financial aid grant applications indicating their need for funds due to expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19.
The verified FAFSA was used to confirm that recipients met the eligibility requirements of the CARES Act.
Students who were eligible for federal Pell grants were eligible for award amounts up to $3,000.
7. Information and Application Instructions for Students
Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
Information regarding the application for, and awarding of, the CARES Act emergency aid grants was published on the MD Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Professions’ website at https://www.mdanderson.org/education-training/degrees-programs/school-of-health-professions/current-students/cares-act-funding.html. Pell grant eligible students were sent an email directing them to the CARES Act information as well as instructions with the CARES Act application.