COVID-19 Information
CARES Act Student Emergency Aid
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act offers institutions funds to ease expenses students incurred with the disruption of their education during the spring 2020 semester. Dakota Wesleyan University applied for, and received, funds in the amount of $320,922 to be awarded to students.
Dakota Wesleyan University signed and returned the CARES Act Certification and Agreement with the U.S. Department of Education on April 13, 2020. Within our signature, DWU vows to abide by the regulation set forth that a minimum of 50% of all funds received by the institution will be disbursed to the students of Dakota Wesleyan University in the form of emergency financial aid grants.
The CARES Act funding covers expenses related to the disruption of normal institutional operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students must have been attending Dakota Wesleyan University at the time the institution made the decision to convert all undergraduate on-campus classes to the online format for the remainder of the semester. Funds are allocated based on a model developed by the university, and in accordance with federal guidelines from the Department of Education.
- Must have been enrolled in (and not withdrawn from) the Spring 2020 semester.
- Must have been a degree-seeking, traditional undergraduate student.
- Must have been eligible to receive Title IV aid and have submitted a 2019-2020 FAFSA.
- Must have incurred additional expenses for food, housing, technology, healthcare, childcare or moving home based on the disruptive impact of COVID-19.
- Must not have been enrolled in a program that was already fully (or primarily as decided by DWU) online at the start of the spring 2020 semester (i.e. students enrolled in the Master of Education, Master of Business Administration and Bachelor in Organizational Leadership programs are not eligible for these emergency funds).
- Housing (rent, utilities)
- Food (groceries, other meal expenses)
- Technology (computer, phone, internet access, other remote access needs)
- Healthcare (medical, counseling, other healthcare related expenses)
- Childcare (babysitting, daycare, other dependent care costs)
- Course material (books, access codes, supplies, lab equipment)
- Other expenses (tutoring, unexpected living/academic situations or expenses)
- It was a one-time award.
- Undergraduate students at Dakota Wesleyan University were categorized based on the following criteria:
- Expected Family Contribution (EFC) provided by the FAFSA.
- Amount of university scholarship award.
- Distributions were made in the form of a housing/food disruption grant for students displaced from campus housing. These grants were distributed April 27, 2020.
A total of 414 students were awarded out of 519 students that could be eligible.
CARES FAQS
Are international students eligible to receive CARES Act Student Emergency Grant?
Because international students are typically not eligible to receive Title IV aid, international students will not be eligible for the CARES Act Student Emergency Grant.
How can I use the money?
Grants were provided for emergency use due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You should use them accordingly.
If I have a balance with DWU, will my grant be applied towards my balance?
Students were surveyed and given the option on the housing/food disruption grants if they wanted funds sent directly to them. Monies from the CARES Act model were disbursed directly to the student.
Who do I contact if I have questions?
Please contact Mary Alexander, Director of Financial Aid in the Dakota Wesleyan University Financial Aid office at mary.alexander@dwu.edu.
How did Dakota Wesleyan University develop the eligibility criteria?
DWU followed guidance from the U.S. Department of Education.
HEERF Institutional Aid Reports
CRRSAA Student Emergency Aid
A total of 590 students were awarded out of 659 students that could be eligible.
On December 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF). Section 18004(a)(1) of the CRRSAA Act offers institutions funds to ease the burden students have experience with their educational paths during the 2020-2021 award year. Dakota Wesleyan University received funds in the amount of $320,922 to be awarded to students.
Per federal guidance from the US Department of Education, Dakota Wesleyan University is required to provide the same amount in financial aid grants to students from the new CRRSAA funds that it was required to provide under its original CARES Act student aid award.
Students must have been attending Dakota Wesleyan University at the time the institution received the funding. Funds were then allocated based on a model developed by the university, and in accordance with federal guidelines from the Department of Education.
To be considered for funding, students must have been eligible to receive Title IV aid during the 2020-2021 award year. Because international students are typically not eligible to receive Title IV aid, international students will not be eligible for CRRSAA Student Grants.
ARP Student Emergency Aid
Have you, or your family, been impacted financially due to COVID-19?
The American Rescue Plant Act of 2021 (ARP) was signed by President Biden on March 11, 2021. Within the ARP, $39.6 billion were allocated for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) which is the third round of funding in response to COVID-19.
Within the ARP guidance received from the U.S. Department of Education on May 11, 2021, institutions are required to conduct direct outreach to financial aid applicants about the opportunity to receive a financial aid adjustment due to recent unemployment of a family member or independent student, or other circumstances. The primary example of this is families affected may be able to receive a financial aid adjustment if you or your family’s financial situation has changed significantly from what is reflected on your federal income tax return (for example, if you lost a job or otherwise experienced a drop in income), you may be eligible to have your financial aid adjusted.
Here are the steps you need to complete:
- Complete the FAFSA questions as instructed on the application, including the transfer of tax return and income information.
- Submit your FAFSA form.
- Contact the school to discuss how your current financial situation has changed.
DWU American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
Dakota Wesleyan University will consider all inquiries. However, the school’s decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.