CARES Act Emergency Funding for Weill Cornell Students

The Coronavirus Assistance, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act approved more than $14 billion in support for higher education. Using a formula based on both total enrollment and the share of enrolled students eligible for Pell Grants, Cornell has been allocated $6.4 million to distribute in grants to students who have incurred unexpected expenses due to the COVID-19 emergency and campus closures.

The U.S. Department of Education has required that all recipients of funds awarded under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act must be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Cornell has signed and returned to the Department a Certification and Agreement affirming that the university will distribute this CARES Act funding to students whose expenses were affected by the COVID-19 emergency (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care).

To be eligible for CARES funding, students must have submitted to Weill Cornell a valid 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), received federal loan funding, and have demonstrated financial need. Based on this requirement, a portion of the Weill Cornell student body will be eligible.

Students receiving the university’s award notice will be asked to review the proposed award and certify that they have incurred not-otherwise reimbursed covered expenses in at least the amount of the award. Students will be able to accept that award amount or accept no funds if they have not incurred reimbursable expenses.

The university’s chief aim in this distribution is to ensure that our highest-need students will be able to continue pursuing their educational goals, including our Spring 2020 graduates whose final semester was disrupted by the pandemic.

These HEERF/CARES awards will be passed through our student information system, Jenzabar, in full and will not be applied to or used to offset any charge, debt, tuition, fees, or other unpaid balance in a student account, nor will it be encumbered in any manner by Cornell. Federal guidance has confirmed that the amounts to be distributed are not subject to tax or withholding. Students enrolled in direct deposit will have access to the funds approximately three business days from the date of disbursement. For those not enrolled in direct deposit, the Office of Student Accounting will issue a check.

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA – HEERF II)

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 approved an additional $22.7 billion in support for higher education. Using a formula based on total enrollment, distance and in-person education, and the share of enrolled students eligible for Pell Grants, Cornell University was allocated $18,512,730. The CRRSAA requires that institutions receiving funding under section 314(a)(1) provide the “same amount” of funding in financial aid grants to students that it was required to provide under the CARES Act. Thus, Cornell University will provide at least $6,400,490 of CRRSAA funds directly to students through financial aid grants for students.

Financial aid grants for students 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. Funds are not restricted to expenses associated with the closure of campus in the Spring 2020 semester.

The CRRSAA provides institutions with the discretion to determine the amount and availability of each individual financial aid grant consistent with all applicable laws, including nondiscrimination laws but must prioritize grants to students with exceptional need. CRRSAA funds may be used for students enrolled in degree-seeking, non-degree seeking, non-credit, dual enrollment, and continuing education programs without restriction to in-person instruction. As of May 14th, remaining HEERF II funds may be awarded to refugees, asylum seekers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, other DREAMers, and similar undocumented students who qualify for HEERF student grants, as the US Department of Education has removed the requirement that a student must be eligible for Title IV aid to receive financial assistance under the HEERF programs.

Weill Cornell has identified eligible students as:

Matriculated Weill Cornell Student
Enrolled in Degree-Seeking Program

Student emergency grants are not contingent on continued or future enrollment and are passed through LEARN in full and are not applied to or used to offset any charge, debt, tuition, fees, or other unpaid balance in a student account, nor are the funds encumbered in any manner by Weill Cornell. Federal guidance has confirmed that the amounts to be distributed are not subject to tax or withholding. Students enrolled in direct deposit have access to funds approximately three business days [AS1] from the date of disbursement. For those not enrolled in direct deposit, the Office of the Student Accounting issued a check.

American Rescue Plan Act, 2021 (ARP – HEERF III)

The American Rescue Plan Act, 2021 (ARP – HEERF III) approved an additional $40 billion in support for higher education. Using a formula based on total enrollment, distance and in-person education, and the share of enrolled students eligible for Pell Grants, Cornell University was allocated $33,273,598 and is required to spend at least 50% for student emergency grants, thus, Cornell University will provide at least $16,636,800 of ARP funds directly to students through financial aid grants for students.

The ARP provides institutions with the discretion to determine the amount and availability of each individual financial aid grant consistent with all applicable laws, including nondiscrimination laws but must prioritize grants to students with exceptional need. Cornell University may provide ARP funds students enrolled on or after March 13, 2020 (the date the national emergency was declared for COVID-19) in degree-seeking, non-degree seeking, non-credit, dual enrollment, and continuing education programs without restriction to in-person instruction. Funds may be provided to refugees, asylum seekers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, other DREAMers, and similar undocumented students, as the US Department of Education has removed the requirement that a student must be eligible for Title IV aid to receive financial assistance under the HEERF programs.

Weill Cornell has identified eligible students as:

Matriculated Weill Cornell Student
Enrolled in Degree-Seeking Program

CARES Act Contact Information

Please email finaid@med.cornell.edu with any questions.

Related CARES Act Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How will I know if I'm eligible for a CARES Act grant?

Eligible students will receive a communication via their Cornell email address. The communication will provide information on how to accept, reduce, or decline the grant.

2. How will I receive this grant?

Those who qualify for and accept this grant will receive direct deposit of the funds. Please ensure that you are setup to receive direct deposit through the Office of Student Accounting: Please note if you are not setup to receive direct deposit, you will be issued a paper check which can take up to two weeks to process and mail.

3. I have not been notified that I am receiving CARES Act funding, but I have unexpected expenses related to campus disruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. What should I do?

Please email us at finaid@med.cornell.edu.

4. I have a balance on my WCM student account, how will the CARES Act funding affect this?

The intent of this funding is to provide emergency assistance to students. The funding will not be applied to any balance you may have on your WCM student account. The funding will be provided directly to you by direct deposit or check.

5. Will the CARES Act grant affect my eligibility for financial aid?

No, this funding will not affect current or future financial aid eligibility.

6. Is the CARES Act funding taxable?

Per the Internal Revenue Service the grant should not be included in your taxable income. Please visit the IRS’s site here for more details.