American Rescue Plan (ARP)

On March 11, 2011, 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 Summer 2021 or Fall 2021 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?

How are they being awarded?

Awards will range from $500 to $1,500 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. If the student completes both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 FAFSA, the year with lowest EFC will be used to make an award determination. Award amounts are shown in the chart below.

EFC Range	Award Amount
$0 - $5,711	$1,500
$5,712 - $30,000	$1,000
$30,001 and above, and No FAFSA Filed	$500

EFC Range

Award Amount

$0 - $5,711

$1,500

$5,712 - $30,000

$1,000

$30,001 and above, and

No FAFSA Filed

$500

Timeline of Disbursements

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 November 17, 2021, requesting them to complete their consent by November 19.
Disbursements of funds will be made by December 16 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.
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 with an Outstanding Balance on their AU Student Account

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 November 19th.

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 November 19, 2021. Students who missed the deadline will receive direct payment as described above under Timeline of Disbursements.

AU Cares For You III FAQs

AU CARES FOR YOU III FAQs

What is The AU CARES FOR YOU III Grant?

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.

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

To be eligible for an AU CARES for You III grant, the student must have been enrolled in 1) a degree-seeking or Title IV financial aid-eligible certificate program, 2) one or more credit hours for the Summer 2021 or Fall 2021 semesters at the census date.

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

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.

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

Students that are enrolled in one or more credit hours in a degree seeking program in the Summer 2021 or Fall 2021 semester will automatically be considered for an AU CARES FOR YOU III grant.

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

Grants will range from $500 to $1500 per semester enrolled, Summer 2021 and Fall 2021. Grants will be determined using the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), and non-FAFSA filers will also be considered.

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

Eligible students will be notified of their AU CARES for YOU III grant through their ashland.edu email address by November 17, 2021. Additionally, students will be able to see their payment on their AU student account within Self Service by December 16, 2021.

How will the grant be distributed?

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.

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

Yes, if you received notification through your AU email that you will receive an AU CARES FOR YOU III grant and wish to have the grant applied directly to your student account balance, you must complete the consent form by November 19, 2021.

Do I need to pay back this grant?

No, the grant does not need to be repaid to the University or the Federal Government.

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

No, students who receive an AU CARES FOR YOU III grant are not required to record or track how they spend the funds.

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

No, if you have already been awarded an AU CARES FOR YOU III grant, you are not eligible to apply for additional funds. The University is assessing its distribution of the remaining funds and will communicate any potential disbursements in Spring 2022.

Can I receive an AU CARES FOR YOU III grant if I withdrew from the Summer or Fall 2021 Semester?

No, at this time AU CARES FOR YOU III grants are not available to students that withdrew from the university. Please continue to check the website for updated information on AU CARES FOR YOU III in the near future.

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

No, at this time AU CARES FOR YOU III grants are not available to students that graduated from the university prior to Summer 2021.

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

No, AU CARES FOR YOU III grants do not adversely affect NCAA or athletic scholarships.

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

If you are not eligible, then you will not be considered for AU CARES FOR YOU III grant. However, Ashland University has separate emergency grant funds, made possible from the generosity of donors and friends of the University, that may be available to help you. Please complete the Student Emergency Fund (SEF) application for consideration.

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

If you have experienced a significant loss of income due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, it is recommended that you contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss the details of your situation. It may be an option to request a Special Condition to determine if you are eligible for additional federal funds due to a reduction or loss of income.

Who should I contact with questions?

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

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