MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The COVID relief package approved by lawmakers in December included about $10 million through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II as authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. Vice president of Strategic Initiatives, Rob Alsop says West Virginia University will distribute the funds in emergency grants to eligible students.
“Anything related to their cost of attendance would be fair game for the students to use it on,” Alsop said,” That would include rent, meals or anything related to their cost while attending WVU.”
Eligible, degree-seeking WVU students who are attending at least half-time and have a 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid on file with WVU by February 5, 2021 will be automatically considered for a Spring 2021 CRRSAA Emergency Grant. Priority consideration for the grants will be given to students who are spring 2021 recipients of the Federal Pell Grant.
“Our first line of providing this emergency relief to our students is we are making awards to Pell eligible students,” Alsop said,” So, if you’re attending WVU this spring and you were Pell eligible then you’ll get a grant of $1,000.”
Students who have not yet completed a 2020-2021 FAFSA have until February 5, 2021 to do so. Applications are at the Federal Student Aid website or downloading the myStudentAid app via the Apple App Store or Google Play.
“If a student, for whatever reason, did not fill out their FASFA but would be eligible for this relief we extended the time period to give them the ability to fill out a FASFA,” Alsop said,” So, they could be eligible for this aid.”
Questions about this grant can be directed to [email protected]. If assistance is needed to complete the FAFSA, please visit the Hub’s website to sign up for a FAFSA help session or call the Hub at 304-293-1988.
“Pell eligible students will get the $1,000 grant,” Alsop said,” Those above Pell eligibility will get something perhaps less than that- we’re still working through that.”
This announcement is based on the latest guidance available from the Department of Education and is subject to change. WVU will notify students and families as soon as possible of any changes.
“Over the two or three weeks we’ll be working through the process to make sure we have our information right and start to get those awards out to our Pell students first,” Alsop said,” Over the next three to four weeks then to all of the students who may be eligible.”