CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund FAQ

No, the last of the CARES funds were disbursed during the 2022 spring semester.

The Federal Government established the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide economic relief from COVID-19. A section of the CARES Act includes the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). The Act provides money to institutions of higher education for emergency financial-aid grants to assist students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the pandemic. The U.S. Department of Education has determined these funds should be used for food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care.

All CARES funds have been awarded. No further funds are available for students.

UT will begin reviewing student eligibility approximately three weeks into each semester. Student who are eligible will receive an email letting them know about the CARES award.

Students seeking a degree from UT are eligible. They must also show significant economic financial need though the FAFSA application process.

Yes, and you must also complete all the necessary requirements to be awarded federal aid at UT once it is received and reviewed by the UT Financial Aid Office.

Yes, you are eligible to receive the relief funds. We encourage all those who do owe money to UT to use the funds toward continuing their education.

The amount of CARES funds may be adjusted each semester. Students attending full-time (12 or more credits) will receive the largest amount each semester CARES funds are available.

Students will receive the funds the same way their excess financial aid, scholarships, or other refunds were disbursed to them at the beginning of each semester. If you have never received a refund from Utah Tech, please log into your MyUT account, go to the Student tab and click on Student Account and then select Student Refunds (BankMobile). You can then choose how you would like to receive your refunds from UT.

Students who are eligible will receive CARES funds approximately one month into each semester CARES funds are available.

The CARES funds are meant to help students meet their current financial needs and to help them continue with their education. We know that many students are struggling to pay rent and other monthly expenses. The amount of relief funds may not meet all your current needs, but we are trying to help as many students who qualify. Students who are looking for a job may contact the UT Career Center or call 435-652-7737 for assistance.

No, but the full FAFSA process can take anywhere from one to three weeks to complete, so please complete it ASAP to ensure that you are eligible each semester.

We encourage all students to complete the FAFSA. For those students and families who have had their personal financial situation significantly disrupted because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UT Financial Aid & Scholarship Office is here to help you.

We can use your current financial information to determine your FAFSA eligibility. You will need to file your FAFSA using the appropriate tax year information they are asking for when you fill it out. After UT has received the FAFSA information, we will verify your FAFSA information and then update the FAFSA with your new documented financial information. This process can take time, so please do not delay in starting the process. If you need assistance or have questions, please contact the UT Financial Aid & Scholarships Office at finaid@utahtech.edu or call 435-652-7575.

1. UT submitted the signed Certification and Agreement for the student aid portion of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to the Department of Education on April 15, 2020. The Grant Award Notification was received on April 27, 2020. UT intends to use at least the minimum designated amount of CARES, CRRSAA, and ARPA Act funds to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to eligible students.
2. The total amount UT will receive pursuant to the Certification and Agreement is $16,872,645. This includes CARES, CRRSAA & ARPA.
3. As of the report date of March 31, 2022, UT has awarded $17,035,550 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. Additional funds came for HEERF institutional funds.
4. The estimated total number of students at UT eligible to participate in CARES and CRRSAA was based upon the number of students who submitted a FAFSA and completed all necessary requirements to be awarded federal funds. Students who receive these funds needed show exceptional need. The ARPA funds were awarded to all degree seeking students enrolled for the spring semester 2022 in early February. Original projections were based upon 2020-21 FAFSA applicants at UT, approximately 3600 students may qualify for CARES funds. After additional funds were received, deadlines extended and regulations on student eligibility were relaxed, more students became eligible.
5. The total number of students who have received the grant as of March 31, 2022 is 9856.
6. The method UT has used to determine which students will receive the grants funds is through an application process where students apply and self-certify they are an eligible student. UT also used FAFSA data as well as other federal programs to determine eligibility.
7. Instruction, directions and guidance provided to our students has been through their Dmail accounts and text message. UT also provided an FAQ informational webpage utahtech.edu/cares-act/ that answers questions and gives direction about eligibility for the HEERF grant funds.

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