CARES Act Disclosures

Students, faculty and staff who tested positive for COVID-19 or who have sought COVID-19 testing should fill out this online form to keep our Student Health Services updated on our community’s status.

The CARES Act was passed by Congress to assist students who experienced negative financial outcomes from the conversion to remote delivery classes necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic in Spring 2020.  The CARES Act requires the university to publish the following disclosures to explain how much funding we received and how we used it.

Emergency Financial Aid Grants

30-Day Report and Disclosure - May 13, 2020

 

On April 13, 2020, MTSU signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the U.S. Department of Education ensuring that we intend to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. 

MTSU will receive $17,299,411 from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, one-half of which ($8,649,706) will be provided directly to students in the form of emergency grants.

As of May 13, 2020, MTSU has disbursed $6,955,100 through Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.  The amount disbursed will be revised within 45 days based on expenditures between May 13, 2020 and that date.

As of May 13, 2020, MTSU has identified 13,347 students who are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

As of May 13, 2020, 11,640 students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

In addition to guidance received from the U.S. Department of Education regarding eligibility requirements and the allowance of local flexibility, students must meet the following requirements to be considered for Emergency Financial Aid Grants at MTSU:

  • Students must be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA).
  • Students must have been enrolled in on-ground coursework that was converted to on online coursework resulting from COVID-19.  These students would have experienced direct impact resulting from expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.
  • Students must be undergraduate or graduate degree-seeking students (including those seeking teacher licensure) and attending at least half-time.  Credit hours related to the PC191 employee discount waiver are excluded from the calculation of at least half-time enrollment.  Students assessed fees based on corporate rate are excluded from eligibility.
  • Students must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens.  Undocumented and international students are ineligible.
  • Students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and/or part of the MTSU Next Step Program will receive additional funding.
  • As of May 13, 2020, the following model is being used to determine the amount of funding students will receive if the above eligibility criteria are met:
CATEGORY AMOUNT
Base Undergraduate $500.00
Graduate $500.00
Base + Pell $700.00
Base + Next Step $800.00
Base + Pell + Next Step $1,000.00


Students who receive the emergency financial aid grant are provided the following guidance when payment is made to their MTSU account:

“You are receiving a federal emergency financial aid grant as a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was recently passed by Congress.  This grant is designed to support students who experienced disruption to their lives and to their education due to the COVID-19 outbreak.  The funding is intended for your use in meeting expenses related to food, housing, course materials, technology related to the transition from on-ground to on-line course instruction, health care, and child care.  You are not required to provide receipts in regard to use of funds.  The amount refunded is the full amount of the grant and no outstanding balances to MTSU have been deducted from the grant payment.”

45-Day Report and Disclosure - June 27, 2020

 

On April 13, 2020, MTSU signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the U.S. Department of Education ensuring that we intend to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. 

MTSU will receive $17,299,411 from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, one-half of which ($8,649,706) will be provided directly to students in the form of emergency grants.

As of June 27, 2020, MTSU has disbursed $7,886,100.00 through Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.  The amount disbursed will be revised within 45 days based on expenditures between June 27, 2020 and that date.

As of June 27, 2020, MTSU has identified 13,348 students who are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

As of June 27, 2020, 13,339 students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

On June 17, 2020, MTSU contacted an additional 1,371 students who might be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.  These students had not completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as of May 13, 2020 when students were initially reviewed for eligibility.  The 1,371 students were encouraged to complete the 2020-21 FAFSA by July 1, 2020.  By mid-July, 2020, a determination will be made regarding students who have completed the FAFSA since May 13, 2020 who meet CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grant eligibility requirements and additional awards will be made.

In addition to guidance received from the U.S. Department of Education regarding eligibility requirements and the allowance of local flexibility, students must meet the following requirements to be considered for Emergency Financial Aid Grants at MTSU:

  • Students must be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA).
  • Students must have been enrolled in on-ground coursework that was converted to on online coursework resulting from COVID-19.  These students would have experienced direct impact resulting from expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.
  • Students must be undergraduate or graduate degree-seeking students (including those seeking teacher licensure) and attending at least half-time.  Credit hours related to the PC191 employee discount waiver are excluded from the calculation of at least half-time enrollment.  Students assessed fees based on corporate rate are excluded from eligibility.
  • Students must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens.  Undocumented and international students are ineligible.
  • Students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and/or part of the MTSU Next Step Program will receive additional funding.
  • As of May 13, 2020, the following model is being used to determine the amount of funding students will receive if the above eligibility criteria are met:
CATEGORY AMOUNT
Base Undergraduate $500.00
Graduate $500.00
Base + Pell $700.00
Base + Next Step $800.00
Base + Pell + Next Step $1,000.00


Students who receive the emergency financial aid grant are provided the following guidance when payment is made to their MTSU account:

“You are receiving a federal emergency financial aid grant as a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was recently passed by Congress.  This grant is designed to support students who experienced disruption to their lives and to their education due to the COVID-19 outbreak.  The funding is intended for your use in meeting expenses related to food, housing, course materials, technology related to the transition from on-ground to on-line course instruction, health care, and child care.  You are not required to provide receipts in regard to use of funds.  The amount refunded is the full amount of the grant and no outstanding balances to MTSU have been deducted from the grant payment.”

45-Day Report and Disclosure - August 11, 2020

 

On April 13, 2020, MTSU signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the U.S. Department of Education ensuring that we intend to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. 

MTSU will receive $17,299,411 from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, one-half of which ($8,649,706) will be provided directly to students in the form of emergency grants.

As of August 11, 2020, MTSU has authorized $8,649,655 to be spent through Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, of which $8,598,230 has been disbursed. The amount disbursed will be revised within 45 days based on expenditures between August 11, 2020 and that date.

As of August 11, 2020, MTSU has identified 13,552 students who are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

Subsequent to the last 45-day reporting on June 27, 2020, a determination was made that 204 additional students who had filed the FAFSA from May 14, 2020 through July 1, 2020 were eligible for Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.  After awards were made to the 204 students based on the original eligibility criteria, it was determined that a supplemental award would be provided to the neediest of the CARES Act Grant recipients who had been awarded this emergency grant due to COVID-19 related disruption during the Spring Semester of 2020.  Determination of need was based on Federal Pell Grant eligibility and/or participation in our Next Step Program.  Of the 13,552 total students who had thus far received the emergency grant, 5,964 were awarded a supplemental grant.

In addition to guidance received from the U.S. Department of Education regarding eligibility requirements and the allowance of local flexibility, students must meet the following requirements to be considered for Emergency Financial Aid Grants at MTSU:

  • Students must be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA).
  • Students must have been enrolled in on-ground coursework that was converted to on online coursework resulting from COVID-19.  These students would have experienced direct impact resulting from expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.
  • Students must be undergraduate or graduate degree-seeking students (including those seeking teacher licensure) and attending at least half-time.  Credit hours related to the PC191 employee discount waiver are excluded from the calculation of at least half-time enrollment.  Students assessed fees based on corporate rate are excluded from eligibility.
  • Students must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens.  Undocumented and international students are ineligible.
  • Students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and/or part of the MTSU Next Step Program will receive additional funding.
  • As of August 11, 2020, MTSU has authorized $8,649,655 to be spent through Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, of which $8,598,230 has been disbursed..
CATEGORY nUMBER AWARDED AMOUNT TOTAL AWARDED
Base Undergraduate
6,918
$500.00 $3,459,000.00
Base Graduate 670 $500.00 $335,000.00
Base + Pell 5,868 $805.00 $4,723,740.00
Base + Next Step 5 $1,085.00 $5,425.00
Base + Pell + Next Step 91 $1,390.00 $126,490.00
TOTALS 13,552   $8,649,655.00

 

Students who initially receive the emergency financial aid grant are provided the following guidance when payment is made to their MTSU account:

“You are receiving a federal emergency financial aid grant as a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was recently passed by Congress.  This grant is designed to support students who experienced disruption to their lives and to their education due to the COVID-19 outbreak.  The funding is intended for your use in meeting expenses related to food, housing, course materials, technology related to the transition from on-ground to on-line course instruction, health care, and child care.  You are not required to provide receipts in regard to use of funds.  The amount refunded is the full amount of the grant and no outstanding balances to MTSU have been deducted from the grant payment.”

Students who receive a supplement to the emergency financial aid grant are provided the following guidance when payment is made to their MTSU account:

“You are receiving a supplemental federal emergency financial aid grant as a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was recently passed by Congress.  This supplemental grant is designed to support students who experienced disruption to their lives and to their education due to the COVID-19 outbreak.  The funding is intended for your use in meeting expenses related to food, housing, course materials, technology related to the transition from on-ground to on-line course instruction, health care, and childcare.  You are not required to provide receipts in regard to use of funds.  The amount refunded is the full amount of the grant and no outstanding balances to MTSU have been deducted from the grant payment.”

Quarterly Report - September 30, 2020

 

On April 13, 2020, MTSU signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the U.S. Department of Education ensuring that we intend to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

MTSU will receive $17,299,411 from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, one-half of which ($8,649,706) will be provided directly to students in the form of emergency grants.

As of September 30, 2020, MTSU has disbursed $8,649,655 through Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. If applicable, this amount will be revised in the next quarterly report which will be available by December 31, 2020.

As of September 30, 2020, MTSU has identified 13,552 students who are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and meet the additional local requirements listed below and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

In addition to guidance received from the U.S. Department of Education regarding eligibility requirements and the allowance of local flexibility, students must meet the following requirements to be considered for Emergency Financial Aid Grants at MTSU:

  • Students must be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA).
  • Students must have been enrolled in on-ground coursework that was converted to on online coursework resulting from COVID-19. These students would have experienced direct impact resulting from expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.
  • Students must be undergraduate or graduate degree-seeking students (including those seeking teacher licensure) and attending at least half-time. Credit hours related to the PC191 employee discount waiver are excluded from the calculation of at least half-time enrollment. Students assessed fees based on corporate rate are excluded from eligibility.
  • Students must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens. Undocumented and international students are ineligible.
  • Students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and/or part of the MTSU Next Step Program will receive additional funding.
  • As of September 30, 2020, MTSU has disbursed $8,649,655 through Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
CATEGORY NUMBER AWARDED AMOUNT TOTAL AWARDED
Base Undergraduate
6,918
$500.00 $3,459,000.00
Base Graduate 670 $500.00 $335,000.00
Base + Pell 5,868 $805.00 $4,723,740.00
Base + Next Step 5 $1,085.00 $5,425.00
Base + Pell + Next Step 91 $1,390.00 $126,490.00
TOTALS 13,552   $8,649,655.00

 

Students who initially receive the emergency financial aid grant are provided the following guidance when payment is made to their MTSU account:

“You are receiving a federal emergency financial aid grant as a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was recently passed by Congress. This grant is designed to support students who experienced disruption to their lives and to their education due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The funding is intended for your use in meeting expenses related to food, housing, course materials, technology related to the transition from on-ground to on-line course instruction, health care, and child care. You are not required to provide receipts in regard to use of funds. The amount refunded is the full amount of the grant and no outstanding balances to MTSU have been deducted from the grant payment.”

Quarterly Report - December 31, 2020

On April 13, 2020, MTSU signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the U.S. Department of Education ensuring that we intend to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

MTSU will receive $17,299,411 from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, one-half of which ($8,649,706) will be provided directly to students in the form of emergency grants.

As of December 31, 2020, MTSU has disbursed $8,649,655 through Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. If applicable, this amount will be revised in the next quarterly report which will be available by March 31, 2021.

As of December 31, 2020, MTSU has identified 13,552 students who are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and meet the additional local requirements listed below and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

In addition to guidance received from the U.S. Department of Education regarding eligibility requirements and the allowance of local flexibility, students must meet the following requirements to be considered for Emergency Financial Aid Grants at MTSU:

  • Students must be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA).
  • Students must have been enrolled in on-ground coursework that was converted to on online coursework resulting from COVID-19. These students would have experienced direct impact resulting from expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.
  • Students must be undergraduate or graduate degree-seeking students (including those seeking teacher licensure) and attending at least half-time. Credit hours related to the PC191 employee discount waiver are excluded from the calculation of at least half-time enrollment. Students assessed fees based on corporate rate are excluded from eligibility.
  • Students must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens. Undocumented and international students are ineligible.
  • Students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and/or part of the MTSU Next Step Program will receive additional funding.
  • As of December 31, 2020, MTSU has disbursed $8,649,655 through Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
CATEGORY NUMBER AWARDED AMOUNT TOTAL AWARDED
Base Undergraduate
6,918
$500.00 $3,459,000.00
Base Graduate 670 $500.00 $335,000.00
Base + Pell 5,868 $805.00 $4,723,740.00
Base + Next Step 5 $1,085.00 $5,425.00
Base + Pell + Next Step 91 $1,390.00 $126,490.00
TOTALS 13,552   $8,649,655.00

 

 Students who initially receive the emergency financial aid grant are provided the following guidance when payment is made to their MTSU account:

“You are receiving a federal emergency financial aid grant as a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was recently passed by Congress. This grant is designed to support students who experienced disruption to their lives and to their education due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The funding is intended for your use in meeting expenses related to food, housing, course materials, technology related to the transition from on-ground to on-line course instruction, health care, and child care. You are not required to provide receipts in regard to use of funds. The amount refunded is the full amount of the grant and no outstanding balances to MTSU have been deducted from the grant payment.”

Quarterly Report - March 31st, 2021 - FINAL DISCLOSURE

On April 13, 2020, MTSU signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the U.S. Department of Education ensuring that we intend to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

MTSU will receive $17,299,411 from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, one-half of which ($8,649,706) will be provided directly to students in the form of emergency grants.

As of March 31,2021, MTSU has disbursed $8,649,706 through Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

As of March 31, 2021, MTSU has identified 13,593 students who are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and meet the additional local requirements listed below and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

Subsequent to the last quarterly reporting on December 31,2020, the MTSU Bursar cancelled $6,935 uncashed CARES Act Grant refund checks. In addition to the $6,935, a total of $51 had never been awarded. Therefore, a total of $6,986 was available to award. Since the last awarding, 41 additional Spring 2020 students had filed the FAFSA since July 1, 2020 and were eligible for Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. Because of limited funding and not being able to award all 41 students, it was determined that we would award the remaining funds based on the date the FAFSA was filed. We were able to award the full amount of the award to 11 students and a prorated award to 1 student. We have currently awarded 13,554 students $8,649,706 (excluding 10 students previously paid whose uncashed award was totally cancelled).

In addition to guidance received from the U.S. Department of Education regarding eligibility requirements and the allowance of local flexibility, students must meet the following requirements to be considered for Emergency Financial Aid Grants at MTSU:

  • Students must be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA).
  • Students must have been enrolled in on-ground coursework that was converted to on online coursework resulting from COVID-19. These students would have experienced direct impact resulting from expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.
  • Students must be undergraduate or graduate degree-seeking students (including those seeking teacher licensure) and attending at least half-time. Credit hours related to the PC191 employee discount waiver are excluded from the calculation of at least half-time enrollment. Students assessed fees based on corporate rate are excluded from eligibility.
  • Students must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens. Undocumented and international students are ineligible.
  • Students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and/or part of the MTSU Next Step Program will receive additional funding.
  • As of March 31, 2021, MTSU has disbursed $8,649,706 through Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
CATEGORY NUMBER AWARDED AMOUNT TOTAL AWARDED
Base Undergraduate
6,918
$500.00 $3,459,000.00
Base Graduate 671 $500.00 $335,500.00
Base + Pell (prorated) 1 $571.00 $571.00
Base + Pell (minus $105 due to uncased refund check) 6 $700.00 $4,200.00
Base + Pell 5,862 $805.00 $4,718,910.00
Base + Pell + Next Step (minus $390 due to uncashed refund check) 1 $1,000.00 $1,000.00
Base + Next Step 5 $1,085.00 $5,425.00
Base + Pell + Next Step 90 $1,390.00 $125,100.00
TOTALS 13,554   $8,649,706.00

 

Students who received the latest awarding of emergency financial aid grant are provided the following guidance when payment is made to their MTSU account:

“You are receiving a federal emergency financial aid grant as a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was previously passed by Congress. This grant is designed to support students who experienced disruption to their lives and to their education during Spring 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Additional funds have become available resulting from previously uncashed CARES Act refunds that have expired and have thus been cancelled. At the point of initial awarding, your Federal Title IV eligibility could not be verified. We are now able to make a late award based on verification of your Federal Title IV eligibility from the 2020-21 FAFSA. The funding is intended to reimburse you for meeting expenses related to food, housing, course materials, technology related to the transition from on-ground to on-line course instruction, health care, and childcare during Spring 2020. You are not required to provide receipts in regard to use of funds. The amount refunded is the full amount of the grant and no outstanding balances to MTSU have been deducted from the grant payment.”

Quarterly Report - June 30, 2021 - Final Disclosure Update

The only update to the Quarterly Report – March 31st, 2021 – Final Disclosure is related to uncashed refund checks of $500 and $805 that were cancelled and reissued to other students as noted below. 

On April 13, 2020, MTSU signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the U.S. Department of Education ensuring that we intend to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act (HEERF I) to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.  

MTSU will receive $17,299,411 from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, one-half of which ($8,649,706) will be provided directly to students in the form of emergency grants. 

As of June 30,2021, MTSU has disbursed $8,649,706 through Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act (HEERF I).    

As of June 30, 2021, has MTSU identified 13,593 students who are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and meet the additional local requirements listed below and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act (HEERF I). 

Subsequent to the quarterly reporting on March 31,2021, the MTSU Bursar cancelled a Base Undergraduate uncashed CARES Act Grant refund check of $500 and a Base + Pell uncashed CARES Act Grant refund check of $805.  These funds were awarded to other eligible students.  Priority was given to students whose previous award had been prorated due to insufficient funds and then to Pell eligible students based on the date their FAFSA was completed.  The table below has been updated to reflect this change.  The net number of students and amount paid has not changed. 

In addition to guidance received from the U.S. Department of Education regarding eligibility requirements and the allowance of local flexibility, students must meet the following requirements to be considered for Emergency Financial Aid Grants at MTSU: 

  • Students must be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). 
  • Students must have been enrolled in on-ground coursework that was converted to on online coursework resulting from COVID-19.  These students would have experienced direct impact resulting from expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. 
  • Students must be undergraduate or graduate degree-seeking students (including those seeking teacher licensure) and attending at least half-time.  Credit hours related to the PC191 employee discount waiver are excluded from the calculation of at least half-time enrollment.  Students assessed fees based on corporate rate are excluded from eligibility. 
  • Students must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens.  Undocumented and international students are ineligible. 
  • Students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and/or part of the MTSU Next Step Program will receive additional funding. 
  • As of June 30, 2021, MTSU has disbursed $8,649,706 to 13,554 students (excluding 12 students previously paid whose uncashed refunds were totally cancelled) through Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
CATEGORY NUMBER AWARDED AMOUNT TOTAL AWARDED
Base Undergraduate
6,917
$500.00 $3,458,500.00
Base Graduate 671 $500.00 $335,500.00
Base + Pell (prorated) 1 $266.00 $266.00
Base + Pell (minus $105 due to uncased refund check) 6 $700.00 $4,200.00
Base + Pell 5,863 $805.00 $4,719,715.00
Base + Pell + Next Step (minus $390 due to uncashed refund check) 1 $1,000.00 $1,000.00
Base + Next Step 5 $1,085.00 $5,425.00
Base + Pell + Next Step 90 $1,390.00 $125,100.00
TOTALS 13,554   $8,649,706.00


Students who received the latest awarding of emergency financial aid grant were provided the following guidance when payment was made to their MTSU account:
  

“You are receiving a federal emergency financial aid grant as a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was previously passed by Congress. This grant is designed to support students who experienced disruption to their lives and to their education during Spring 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.  Additional funds have become available resulting from previously uncashed CARES Act refunds that have expired and have thus been cancelled.   At the point of initial awarding, your Federal Title IV eligibility could not be verified.  We are now able to make a late award based on verification of your Federal Title IV eligibility from the 2020-21 FAFSA.  The funding is intended to reimburse you for meeting expenses related to food, housing, course materials, technology related to the transition from on-ground to on-line course instruction, health care, and childcare during Spring 2020.  You are not required to provide receipts in regard to use of funds. The amount refunded is the full amount of the grant and no outstanding balances to MTSU have been deducted from the grant payment.” 

Institutional Portion of Section 18004(a)(1) and Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP)

Initial Institutional Portion of Section 18004(a)(1) – August 13, 2020

On May 13, 2020, MTSU signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the U.S. Department of Education for the institutional portion of funds under Section 18004(a)(1).  The University will receive $17,299,411 from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, one-half ($8,649,705) of which will be designated for institutional expenses.

The institutional portion of the CARES funding stipulated that the funds be spent on costs with a clear connection to significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus.  Specific allowable reimbursements include refunds made to students for housing, food, or other services that could no longer be provided, or for hardware, software, or internet connectivity which was purchased on behalf of students or provided to students. 

As of August 13, 2020, MTSU has disbursed $2,947,403 allowed for institutional expenses under Sections 18004(a)(1) and 18004(c) of the CARES Act.  The breakdown of these expenses is as follows:

  • Issued refunds to students for housing totaling $1,269,730
  • Issued refunds to students for meals totaling $631,667
  • Continued paying student workers who were no longer able to come onto the campus to work for the months of April and May. The students were paid a total of $776,088 for those two months based on their average earnings from January 1, 2020 to March 15, 2020.
  • Technology purchases totaling $269,918, which included the following items used for the transition to remote learning: (1) Zoom license, (2) VPN license, (3) headsets, (4) webcams, (5) computers for use by students.

The Quarterly Reports are below this section.

Initial Strengthening Institutions Program – August 14, 2020

On May 14, 2020, MTSU signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the U.S. Department of Education for the allocation of funds under Section 18004(a)(2).  The University will receive $845,908 pursuant to this Section of the CARES Act.

Funding received under this Section of the CARES Act may be used to defray expenses incurred including lost revenue, technology costs associated with a transition to distance education, faculty and staff trainings, and payroll. 

As of August 14, 2020, MTSU has not disbursed any funds from the Strengthening Institutions Program. The Quarterly Reports are below this section.

As of December 31, 2020 all of the funds were disbursed to cover the lost revenue from Summer 2020 as shown on the Quarterly Report – December 31, 2020 below.