AU Cares for You II Grant

AU Cares for You II Student Relief Program

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA)

On January 17, 2021, Ashland University was awarded $1,993,958 from the Federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) to help relieve the financial impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic on our students.

Ashland University is committed to students' academic success, health, and wellbeing during these difficult and uncertain times. Ashland University’s goal is to help as many eligible students as possible under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA),referred to as the AU Cares For You II grant. Grants will be automatically awarded to students with demonstrated, exceptional, financial need based on the information presented on the students' 2020-21 or 2021-22 (FAFSA) or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The AU Cares For You II grant is a one-time Spring 2021 award, and students who receive this grant will not be able to request additional AU Cares For You II grants.

As of June 30, 2021, the University awarded and disbursed $ 2,146,500 to 2,581 eligible students.

How AU Cares For You II Funds Are Being Awarded

How are they being awarded?

Awards will range from $500 to $1,000 and be determined by the student’s EFC. Students presenting exceptional need will receive the highest award. If the student completes both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 FAFSA. The lowest EFC will be used to make an award determination. Awards are determined as presented in the chart below. Application for consideration is not required for those initially meeting all eligibility requirements.

EFC Range	Award Amount
0-5,711	$1,000
5,712-30,000	$750
30,001 and above	$500

How AU Cares For You II Funds Are Being Awarded?

EFC Range	Award Amount
0-5,711	$1,000
5,712-30,000	$750
30,001 and above	$500

Eligible students will receive an automatic disbursement unless consent is given by the student to apply the grant directly to the student’s current AU account balance. Please see the Frequently Asked Quesitons (FAQ) section for more information regarding eligibility.

Students will receive notification through their AU email of their automatic disbursement on April 5, 2021.
Awards can be viewed in your student account in Self-Service (will need to be logged in with AU username and password).
Students who receive an award notification, and have an outstanding balance on their AU student account, have until April 9, 2021 to indicate if they want the funds issued or give consent to apply the funds to their student account balance.
Students who did not consent by the April 9, 2021 deadline, will automatically have a direct deposit to their identified bank account if they have set up direct deposit (will need to be logged in with AU username and password) within Self-Service or a paper check will be issued.
- We highly encourage students to set up direct deposit (will need to be logged in with AU username and password) under Banking Information in Self-Service.
Deposits will be made on April 15, 2021 (please allow 3-5 business days to receive) or paper checks will be mailed (please allow 5-7 business days to receive).

Students who do not receive an AU Cares For You II grant automatically, can submit an Application for Reconsideration.

This application is for students who will not receive emergency grant funds automatically on April 15, 2021. Please check your AU email or student account for award notification on April 5, 2021, prior to completing this reconsideration application.

To apply for reconsideration the student must:

Currently be enrolled in the Spring 2021 for one or more credit hours
Have a 2020-2021 or 2021-22 FAFSA on file with the Student Financial Aid Office.

Additional Information:

The application will close on April 30, 2021 or when grant funds are exhausted.
If a student's application is denied, an email will be sent to the student's AU email within 2 to 3 weeks.
AU highly encourages students to set up direct deposit (will need to be logged in with AU username and password) under Banking Information in Self-Service.

Students who receive a grant automatically and have an outstanding balance on their AU student account have the option to fill out a consent form to indicate how they want their funds issued.

Option 1: I consent Ashland University to apply the AU Cares For You II grant to eligible charges owed on my student account first, then refund any surplus funds to me.
Option 2: I do not consent Ashland University to apply the AU Cares For You II grant funds to eligible charges owed on my student account. Please release the full amount of the grant directly to me.

The consent form needs to be completed by April 9,2021. Students who missed the deadline will receive direct payment as described above under Automatic Disbursements.

AU Cares For You II grants are offered to help students who are facing unexpected financial challenges related to COVID-19. These grants are disbursed directly to the student via direct deposit or paper check and can be used for any component of their cost of attendance or for emergency costs that have arisen due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care. The AU Cares For You II grant is not taxable income, is not required to be repaid and is meant to directly assist students during this crisis.

AU Cares For You II FAQs

AU Cares for You II grants will be provided directly to the student through direct deposit or check. Please allow 3-5 business days for the grant to be received to your account, if you choose the direct deposit method and 5-7 business days for checks to be received. Students are encouraged to complete their direct deposit information within Self Service to ensure safe and efficient payment of the grant. Attached are directions (PDF) to assist you in updating your direct deposit information. For questions regarding direct deposit, please contact the Student Accounts Office at busoff@ashland.edu or 419.289.5022.

If you did not receive a grant notification to your AU email by April 5, 2021, it is likely you were not enrolled in one or more credit hours for the Spring 2021 and/or did not complete or file a 2022-21 or 2021-22 FAFSA on file at the time of disbursement.

If you have now completed the FAFSA and meet the eligibility requirements you may complete a Reconsideration Application by April 30, 2021.

Students who have additional questions, may contact the following offices weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Reconsideration Application and General AU Cares For YOU II Questions: CARESActGrant@ashland.edu
Financial Aid General Questions: financialaid@ashland.edu or 419-289-5002
Student Accounts and General Payment Questions: busoff@ashland.edu or 419-289-5022

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA)

How AU Cares For You II Funds Are Being Awarded

How are they being awarded?

How AU Cares For You II Funds Are Being Awarded?

How are they being awarded?

Students Who Qualify for Automatic Disbursement

Students Who Do Not Qualify for Automatic Disbursement

Students with an Outstanding Balance on their AU Student Account

Spending your AU Cares For You II funds

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting - Institutional Portion

AU Cares For You II FAQs

What is The AU CARES FOR YOU II Grant?

Who is eligible to receive AU CARES FOR YOU II Grant?

Why Do I need to complete the FAFSA to be considered for the AU CARES FOR YOU II Grant?

Why am I receiving an AU CARES FOR YOU II grant?

How much in AU CARES FOR YOU II will I receive?

How will I be notified and when will I receive my AU Cares For YOU II Grant?

How and when will the grant be distributed?

Can I apply my AU CARES FOR YOU II Grant to my student account balance?

Do I need to pay back this grant?

Do I need to keep track of how I use my AU CARES FOR YOU II grant?

I received notification I am receiving an AU CARES For YOU II grant, can I apply for more funding?

Can I receive an AU CARES FOR YOU II grant if I withdrew from the Spring 2021 Semester?

Can I receive an AU CARES FOR YOU II grant if I graduated prior to the start of the Spring 2021 Semester?

Will AU CARES FOR YOU II Grants affect my NCAA Eligibility?

Am I still eligible if I did not receive an award notification through my AU email by April 5, 2021?

I did not receive an AU CARES FOR YOU II Grant and submitted a Reconsideration Application, when will I hear back?

I do not qualify for the AU CARES FOR YOU II Grant, am I able to get financial assistance?

I lost my job does this have an impact on the AU CARES FOR YOU II Grant?

Who should I contact with questions?