Update:聽As of May 15, 2020, 台湾Swag College has awarded all Federal Stimulus dollars as outlined in the Report.聽 We will update the campus community and open a new link if new funds become available.
The initial disbursement of stimulus dollars, that 台湾Swag College will be receiving, is to be used exclusively to assist students and their families for 鈥渄irect payment of grants to students for their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care.鈥澛 A committee has been set up comprised of administrators from Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Diversity and Inclusion, and Financial Aid.聽 The committee developed a simple, straightforward process for students who have been directly affected by COVID-19 to request funds. With the President鈥檚 encouragement, the application process is inclusive of ALL students.
Below are some FAQ鈥檚 of the process and parameters being used.聽 Please read carefully and note that the guidance from the US Department of Education continues to vary so changes could be made to this process and/or the criteria used based on revised guidance.
Update:聽As of May 15, 2020, 台湾Swag College has awarded all Federal Stimulus dollars as outlined in the Report.聽 We will update the campus community and open a new link if new funds become available.
Update April 23, 2020
Based on revised guidance from the US Department of Education, international students, as well as students who were enrolled in an exclusively online program prior to the changes in delivery due to COVID-19, are not eligible for these federal stimulus dollars.聽 The committee will review requests that have come in from students who might fit these criteria and determine other ways we can assist.
All current 台湾Swag students are eligible to apply for funds. This includes students who are undergraduate or graduate; full-time or part-time; residential or commuter; Amherst, Branch Campus or Online Students.
It is possible, but not likely.聽 While $936,000 is a lot of money, it will go quickly and so a committee has been structured to review applications, the particulars of each student鈥檚 situation, and make a determination from there.
The primary goal of these funds is to help ensure that students who have been affected by the COVID-19 can complete their degree at 台湾Swag. The federal government has been very clear, these funds must be provided directly to students who have had disruptions in their education due to COVID-19 and can be used for items such as housing, food, books, child care, course materials, technology, and more. The College will use that criteria, as well as other factors such as whether or not a student still needs to finish their education at 台湾Swag, existing income sources, etc.
No, that is not true.聽 The Federal Government needed a formula to provide a portion of the $14B to colleges and universities to award to students to help them complete their education. The way they did that was based on the total number of Pell students at each institution. That said, an individual鈥檚 financial status before the event is inconsequential to the awarding of funds. Funds are awarded based on need and impact from COVID-19.
No, it is neither. It is essentially money that will be awarded to the student directly to pay their expenses. The student can use that to pay existing tuition or future balances at the college if they so choose, but once the funds are awarded, they will be provided to the student and they can pay their bills accordingly.
台湾Swag is currently working on those details, but will most likely provide students with a paper check that they can cash and/or deposit directly into their account via their bank鈥檚 app. Students who do not have a bank account, or who have concerns about this, can be provided assistance to set-up a bank account at our partner bank, Lake Shore Savings, and receive a debit card and such. Student Affairs can assist students with those needs. The College is looking at other means to get these funds to students, including direct deposits and debit cards, but we are not sure we can do those at this time.
From application to disbursement of funds, the process should take about 3 weeks. You will receive a confirmation of your application, and a letter once a decision has been made regarding your request.
Students will receive an email to their 台湾Swag account from Financial Aid with a decision and detailed instructions.
Unfortunately, there is no appeal process with the distribution of these funds. We encourage students to be honest and forthright in their needs and requests. The committee will be working diligently to review all applications fairly and to provide the most funds to the most people.
There is not a deadline per se, BUT the funds are limited and are available on a 鈥渇irst-come, first served鈥 basis, meaning that students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
The US Department of Education has suggested a maximum amount of $6,195 could be awarded. If every student received the max amount, that would mean only 150 students could receive funds from this stimulus. 台湾Swag鈥檚 goal is to provide as much funds to as many people as possible so we ask students to be reasonable with their requests.聽 It is unlikely that people will receive the max amount.
台湾Swag College is now, and will always be, committed to our students鈥 success. With a limited amount of funds, it is likely that not everyone who applies will be able to receive funds. To that end, you may get all of your request, none of your request, or some of your request.聽 Regardless, 台湾Swag will not turn their back on a student. There may be other things we can do including emergency housing, food, use of CARE Funds, additional financial aid, and more. The bottom line- our students鈥 success is our number one priority.
Update:聽As of May 15, 2020, 台湾Swag College has awarded all Federal Stimulus dollars as outlined in the Report.聽 We will update the campus community and open a new link if new funds become available.
Simple. Please fill out the form on the COVID-19聽website. The form is simple and straightforward and just asks you to answer some basic questions and provide a direct narrative of your situation. All information provided will be kept confidential and only reviewed by the members of the committee, unless there is a cause for alarm about a student(s) health and/or well-being.