HEERF I Reporting

Morgan State University CARES Act Reporting Requirements

The U.S. President signed into law on March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide economic relief from COVID-19. As part of the CARES Act, the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund was created to provide colleges and universities with funds for emergency financial aid grants for students and to cover institutional expenses related to the pandemic.

Certification and Agreement Form

Morgan State University signed and returned the certification and agreement form on April 21, 2020. As required by signing the form, the university agrees to use at least 50% of the funds received for emergency financial aid grants to students.

Total Received

Morgan State University received $9,263,592.00 in funding from the CARES Act. Half of that, $4,631,796.00, is specifically designated as emergency financial aid grants to students. The university is in the process of distributing those funds to eligible students who have incurred expenses associated with the disruption of their education due to coronavirus.

Distributed to Students

The U.S. Department of Education has given colleges and universities discretion to determine how this emergency assistance will be disbursed to eligible students.  In accordance with the directive from the Secretary of the Department of Education, institutions are to prioritize funding for those students with the greatest need, while distributing grants as widely as possible for maximum impact. In accordance with federal requirements, only students who are Title IV eligible (those who are eligible for federal student financial aid) based on their 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) have an opportunity to receive a grant. Grants cannot be awarded to non-Title IV eligible students, international students, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students, students who do not meet satisfactory academic progress, or students enrolled in a fully online program on March 13, 2020. The University's intent was to ensure that students with the most urgent need were the first to receive the emergency grant funds. As of March 30, 2021, Morgan State University has distributed $4,631,796.00 in emergency financial aid grants to 5,732 students.

The emergency financial aid grant is awarded using two methods:

• CARES-Direct Student Relief: $4,194,818.75 was disbursed to 4,282 eligible students based on financial need using information from the 2019-2020 FAFSA. A sliding scale based on expected family contribution (EFC) and number of credits enrolled in during spring 2020 was used to determine the amount awarded to each eligible student. Students with EFC up to $10,000 were eligible for these funds.
• CARES-Student Emergency Relief: The remainder of the emergency financial aid grant funding $436,977.25 is being provided to eligible students through the Morgan State University Emergency Student Grant Fund. Students may apply here: https://www.morgan.edu/studentemergencyfund. 
  • As of March 30, 2021, 1,450 students have been awarded a total of $436,977.25 in CARES-Student Emergency Relief funding.

Estimated Number of Students Eligible to Participate in Programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and therefore eligible to receive an emergency financial aid grant

There were 6,278 students registered in the spring 2020 term who were degree-seeking and had a valid FAFSA on file.

Determining Eligibility for CARES-Student Emergency Relief Funding

A student must meet all the criteria listed below to qualify for CARES-Student Emergency Relief funding through the Morgan State University Emergency Student Grant Fund:

• Undergraduate or graduate student who is currently enrolled in a degree or eligible certificate program.
• A student who has been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic campus interruption and has an emergency need.
• A student who is a U.S. citizen or who meets the definition of an eligible non-citizen based on federal financial aid requirements.
• A student who meets the federal financial aid eligibility requirements.
• A student must use the funds to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted their educational experience. Allowable expenses include eligible expenses under a student's cost of attendance such as:
  • assistance with food purchases;
  • needs related to housing/rent/utilities;
  • the purchase of course materials;
  • technology-related needs;
  • emergency travel caused by the abrupt transition to online learning;
  • costs of storage/shipping belonging home; and/or
  • assistance with health care and/or child care expenses.

Guidance on Morgan State University CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grants

If you have a question that has not been answered here, please contact the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Success at emass@morgan.edu. We thank you in advance for your patience as we continue to assist our students while working remotely. We will update this site as information becomes available.

Posted 6/2/2020; Updated 03/30/2021 ebj