EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan University has made $750,000 in emergency financial assistance available to students financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funds are part of the federal 2021 Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act’s (CRRSAA) Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II.

The funds are reserved to provide students with financial aid grants that may be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care.

In order to apply for these funds, EMU students must be eligible to receive federal student aid and have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file. Students can complete the FAFSA by going to StudentAid.gov

The COVID-19 Emergency Grant Application is available at the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds website.

An application does not guarantee funding. Applications will be reviewed based on financial need, availability of funds, and other factors related to the request. Approved requests will be processed beginning the week of April 12.

Latest assistance follows earlier distribution of funds to EMU students

CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive federal Pell grants, in awarding financial aid grants. However, students do not need to be Pell recipients or students who are eligible for Pell grants to be identified as having exceptional need.

Undergraduate students, graduate students, and students enrolled in distance education programs are eligible to submit an application.

This spring’s assistance follows the distribution last year and earlier this year of nearly $6.9 million in federal student-relief CARES Act funds, providing assistance to students in need who were enrolled as the COVID-19 crisis began and continued.

The University provided direct grants-in-aid to undergraduate students who receive a federal Pell Grant, or to those who did not receive a federal Pell grant but demonstrated unmet financial need of $1,000 or more.

That need was based on Eastern Michigan University’s federal cost of attendance and the expected family contribution from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and other forms of financial aid, including loans. 

Graduate students who receive an unsubsidized federal student loan were also considered for funding. The semester distribution of funds was as follows:

Winter 2020: An estimated 14,000 EMU students meet the eligibility requirements for Section 484 in Title IV of Higher Education Act of 1965. EMU distributed $1,379,400 of its Federal Student Emergency Relief Funds to 7,260 Title IV qualified students meeting the above eligibility criteria on June 29, 2020, equally in direct grants in aid of $190 to each student. (Winter 2020 students received a smaller grant because the first half of the semester was uninterrupted prior to the pandemic.)

Fall 2020:  An estimated 11,420 EMU students meet the eligibility requirements for Section 484 in the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. EMU made its second planned distribution of $2,748,698 of its Federal Student Emergency Relief Funds to 6,163 Title IV qualified students that met the above criteria on September 17, 2020. These funds were distributed equally to each eligible student in direct grants in aid of $446 to each.

Winter 2021: An estimated 11,480 EMU students meet the eligibility requirements for Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. EMU made its third distribution of $2,796,057 to 6,039 Title IV qualified students that met the above criteria on February 8, 2021. These funds were distributed equally to each eligible student in direct grants in aid of $463 each.

As of February 8, 2021, Eastern Michigan University had distributed a total of $6,867,823, exceeding its legislative required minimum amount of $6,866,995 for Section 18004(a)(1) Student Emergency Relief Funds.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 16,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.