AU Cares for You III Grant

American Rescue Plan (ARP)

On March 11, 2021, American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2 was signed into law, authorizing the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III to provide $39.6 billion in support institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning outcomes during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Ashland University is committed to your academic success, health, and well-being during these difficult and uncertain times. Ashland University’s goal is to help as many eligible students as possible under the American Rescue Plan (ARP), referred to as the AU CARES FOR YOU III grant. Grants will be automatically awarded to students enrolled in a degree seeking program in Spring 2022 at the census point. Census is the published last day to drop a class at the beginning of each semester. There is no application process; we will automatically award eligible students under the guidelines listed below.

How AU Cares For You III Funds Are Being Awarded?

Awards will range from $500 to $1,725 and be determined by the student’s FAFSA results (EFC), including if a FAFSA was not filed. Students with the lowest Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will receive the highest award. Award amounts are shown in the chart below.

EFC Range	Award Amount
$0 - $5,846	$1,725
$5,847 - $30,000	$1,000
$30,001 and above, or No FAFSA Filed	$500

Eligible students will receive an automatic disbursement unless consent is given by the student to apply the grant directly to the student’s student account. Please see the AU Cares For You III FAQs section below for more information regarding eligibility.

Students will receive notification through their AU email by April 15, 2022, requesting them to complete their consent by April 24, 2022.
Disbursements of funds will be made by May 12, 2022 via direct deposit and/or check, if the student doesn’t provide consent to be applied to their student account. An email will be generated when disbursements are made.
The students will receive an email upon disbursement being paid to them via direct deposit and/or paper check.
Grants can be viewed in your student account in Self-Service.
If Self-Service is unavailable, a Direct Deposit Form can be completed and returned to the Student Accounts Office, in person to 202 Founders Hall, by email to busoff@ashland.edu, or by fax to 419-289-5014
We highly encourage students to set up direct deposit under Banking Information in Self-Service for the quickest and most secure way to receive their funds. Instructions on setting up direct deposit

Direct deposits will appear in bank accounts within 3-5 business days or paper checks will be received within 5-7 days.

Students who receive a grant 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 by April 24th.

Option 1: I consent to Ashland University to apply the AU CARES FOR YOU III 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 III grant to eligible charges owed on my student account. Please release the full amount of the award grant directly to me.

The consent form needs to be completed by April 24th. Students who missed the deadline will receive direct payment as described above under Timeline of Disbursements.

AU Cares For You III FAQs

The AU CARES FOR YOU III grant was generated as a result of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III) authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) passed on March 11, 2021 to provide financial assistance to students with demonstrated exceptional needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

AU CARES FOR YOU III 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 III grant is not taxable income and is meant to directly assist students during this crisis.

The Department of Education’s guidance, requires Institutions of Higher Education to evaluate, document, and prioritize students who demonstrate exceptional financial need when awarding AU CARES FOR YOU III grants. However, having filed a FAFSA is NOT an eligibility requirement for this round of CARES funding. Students will receive a grant based on their FAFSA results, prioritizing the highest financial need students, but low- or no-need students and students who do not file a FAFSA will also receive a grant if in an eligible program.

AU CARES for You III grants will be provided directly to the student through direct deposit or paper 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 Self-Service is unavailable, this Direct Deposit Form (PDF) can be completed and returned to our office by email at busoff@ashland.edu or by fax at 419-289-5014.

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting - Institutional Portion

Attached is the report for the quarter ending September 30, 2020:
September 30, 2020

Attached is the report for the quarter ending June 30, 2021:
June 30, 2021

Attached is the report for the quarter ending September 30, 2021:
September 30, 2021
September 30, 2021 (Revised May 6, 2022)

Attached is the report for the quarter ending December 31, 2021:
December 31, 2021
December 31, 2021 (Revised May 6, 2022)

Attached is the report for the quarter ending March 31, 2022
March 31, 2022
March 31, 2022 (Revised May 6, 2022)

Attached is the report for the quarter ending June 30, 2022
June 30, 2022

American Rescue Plan (ARP)

How AU Cares For You III Funds Are Being Awarded?

How are they being awarded?

Timeline of Disbursements

Students with an Outstanding Balance on their AU Student Account

AU Cares For You III FAQs

What is The AU CARES FOR YOU III Grant?

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

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

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

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

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

How will the grant be distributed?

Can I apply my AU CARES FOR YOU III 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 III grant?

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

Can I receive an AU CARES FOR YOU III grant if I withdrew from the Spring 2022 Semester?

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

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

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

Who should I contact with questions?

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting - Institutional Portion