On April 13, 2020, St. Ambrose University (University) signed and submitted to the United States Department of Education the Recipient's Funding Certification and Agreement, Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

As required by Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, 50% of the funds received by the University must be used for the sole and exclusive purpose of providing emergency financial aid grants to students for their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. Examples of these expenses would include food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child-care expenses. The University has used, and intends to use in the future, no less than 50% of these funds for this purpose. The amount received by the University for this purpose equals $1,027,466.

As of June 26, 2020, the University has distributed $1,027,466 of emergency financial aid grants to 967 students.

In late July, 2020, St. Ambrose University received an additional allocation of $102,855 from the U.S. Department of Education as a result of Section 18004(a)(2) of the CARES Act. St. Ambrose University qualified by application to the Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP). By law, one half of this money must be used to help students deal with emergent financial needs and expenses related to the Coronavirus pandemic (including eligible expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care). The other half may be used for various qualified purposes at the discretion of the University.

As of August 17th, 2020, the University has distributed a total of $1,079,513.00 of emergency financial aid grants to 1026 students.

Students eligible for these emergency financial aid grants must also have been eligible to participate in programs under section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. As of June 26, 2020, the number of students eligible to participate under these programs at the University equaled 2,182.

The method used by the University to allocate these funds included the following criteria:

• Initial awards went to Pell Grant recipients as our highest need students being impacted by COVID-19.

• The Pell range was divided in half, with an EFC of zero to 2,787 EFC receiving $1,200 and an EFC of 2,788-5,576 receiving $600.

• The remainder of the funds were awarded based on student requests.

• Independent students with expenses related to COVID-19 were awarded a maximum grant of $2,500.

• Undergraduate students with expenses related to COVID-19 were awarded a maximum grant of $1,200.

• If funds remained after all requests were reviewed, students could request an additional reimbursement.

A COVID-19 webpage was created and updated with developments happening on campus. The link to the request form noted above was located on this page. The availability of these funds was communicated to students via email. A copy of the message sent to students is as follows:

Dear Student,

This past week, St. Ambrose University received an allocation of $2.05 million from the U.S. Department of Education as a result of Congressional action. By law, one half of this money must be used to help students deal with emergent financial needs and expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care). The other half may be used for various qualified purposes at the discretion of the University.



If you are experiencing a hardship related to the COVID-19 Pandemic, AND, you are eligible for Title IV Federal Aid (determined by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (the FAFSA), we would like to direct you to the CARES Act Relief Fund Request Form .

You can also log on to the COVID information page at: https://www.sau.edu/covid19 for more information. A link to the form is also located there.



IMPORTANT: You must be eligible for Title IV Federal student aid to qualify for assistance. If you have not filed a FAFSA for the 19-20 academic year, you can do that now at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa The application is open until June 30th for the 19-20 academic year. You are not required to accept federal aid, but this will be used to determine your eligibility for relief grant funding.



Funds will vary by student as the University seeks to address each student's individual situation. Therefore, students will receive notification of their eligibility as soon as possible, but please allow at least five business days for a response. Funding is not guaranteed.



If you do not have direct deposit established with the University there is still time to set it up. Doing so assures that you will receive this funding at the earliest possible date. If direct deposit is not set up prior to your request being approved, we may not be able to issue your funding via direct deposit and a check will be printed and mailed to you.

Instructions on how to set up direct deposit can be found on the Student Account Services webpage directly below the posted office hours section.



Student Account Services http://www.sau.edu/student-accounts

Portal Login: https://mysau.sau.edu/my.policy



Due to the volume of requests anticipated, please do not respond to this email. Please direct questions to Bee Central at 563-333-5775 or to BeeCentral@sau.edu .



We hope you are staying safe and were able to successfully complete the spring semester through distance learning. We value you as an Ambrosian and will do all we can to make your time at St. Ambrose a life-enriching experience as soon as we safely can reopen the campus. Please stay safe and well. We look forward to seeing you soon.



St. Ambrose University Financial Aid Office



2ND NOTICE OF ADDITIONAL SIP FUNDS

Dear Student,

This past week, St. Ambrose University received an additional allocation of $102,855 from the U.S. Department of Education as a result of Section 18004(a)(2) of the CARES Act. St. Ambrose University qualified by application to the Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP). By law, one half of this money must be used to help students deal with emergent financial needs and expenses related to the Coronavirus pandemic (including eligible expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care). The other half may be used for various qualified purposes at the discretion of the University.



If you are experiencing a hardship related to the COVID-19 Pandemic, AND, you are eligible for Title IV Federal Aid (normally determined by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (the FAFSA), we would like to direct you to the CARES Act Relief Fund Request Form .

You can also log on to the COVID information page at: https://www.sau.edu/covid19 for more information. A link to the form is also located there.



IMPORTANT: You must be eligible for Title IV Federal student aid to qualify for assistance. If you had not filed a FAFSA for the 19-20 academic year, or for the upcoming 20-21 year, you can do the 20-21 FAFSA now at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa The application is open until June 30th , 2021 for the 20-21 academic year. You are not required to accept federal aid, but this will be used to determine your eligibility for relief grant funding.



Funds will vary by student as the University seeks to address each student's individual situation. Therefore, students will receive notification of their eligibility as soon as possible, but please allow at least 15 business days for a response. Funding is not guaranteed.



If you do not have direct deposit established with the University there is still time to set it up. Doing so assures that you will receive this funding at the earliest possible date. If direct deposit is not set up prior to your request being approved, we may not be able to issue your funding via direct deposit and a check will be printed and mailed to you.

Instructions on how to set up direct deposit can be found on the Student Account Services webpage directly below the posted office hours section.



Student Account Services http://www.sau.edu/student-accounts

Portal Login: https://mysau.sau.edu/my.policy



Due to the volume of requests anticipated, please do not respond to this email. Please direct questions to Bee Central at 563-333-5775 or to BeeCentral@sau.edu .



St. Ambrose University Financial Aid Office