2024 FAFSA Information Guide

CARES Act

Higher Education Relief Fund

The federal government recently announced the distribution of emergency cash grants to college students whose lives and education have been disrupted by the
coronavirus pandemic.

  • This funding is available through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 
  • These funds are designed to assist with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the pandemic. These include expenses such as housing, food, course materials, technology, healthcare, and child care.
  • All requests for aid must go through SEU. (You cannot apply for assistance directly from the U.S. Department of Education.)
  • Learn more about the CARES Act here. 

CARES Act Funds Criteria

Southeastern University will be distributing this money to students based on need and a variety of factors. In order to determine your eligibility for grant funds, please complete the form below no later than May 31, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Per the Department of Education, in order to be eligible for consideration for funding, the student must:

  • Have been enrolled in face-to-face courses at SEU during the spring 2020 semester, up to and including March 13, 2020.  (Students who began the semester in online-only courses are not eligible.)
  • Be Title IV aid eligible (i.e. FAFSA application on file with SEU to confirm eligibility; see FAQ below for details).
  • Have remained fully enrolled at SEU through the end of the spring 2020 semester.
  • Have experienced financial hardship as a result of the disruption of education due to the coronavirus.

How to Apply

To locate the application form, log in to the MyPortal (JICS) system, click on the Student tab at the top, and then the CARES Act link on the left hand side.

FAQs

To locate the application form, log in to the MyPortal (JICS) system, click on the Student tab at the top, and then the CARES Act link on the left hand side.

Once you submit your form, you can expect to receive an email by June 5 with further information. Be sure to monitor your SEU email for this information.

The amount you receive will depend on multiple factors, including the number of students who apply for aid, so we will not have a calculation available until after the form submission deadline. You will receive an email by June 5 with further information. Be sure to monitor your SEU email for this information, as you will not be contacted by phone.

If you qualify, you will receive your funds via electronic deposit (ACH). You will be prompted in the application to provide your bank routing and account number. If banking information is blank or inaccurate, a paper check will be mailed to you. Mailing a paper check may add up to 2 weeks to the distribution of your funds.

Yes. Please be sure to submit your application within MyPortal (JICS) no later than 11:59 p.m. on May 31.

General eligibility requirements for Title IV aid include that you are a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, and are enrolled in an eligible degree program at Southeastern University. Other basic eligibility criteria can be found here.

The application form (within MyPortal (JICS)) is due no later than May 31, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

No. This funding is available through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. SEU will distribute these funds to eligible students who have a demonstrated financial need as indicated by their application form.

Yes. Please use the form within MyPortal (JICS), which will allow you to notate the type of hardship(s) you have encountered due to the pandemic. Your account will then be reviewed and you will be contacted via email if you are eligible to receive funds.

We followed guidance from the U.S. Department of Education so as to maintain accordance with all applicable laws.

Students who do not meet the eligibility requirement for CARES Act funding may contact Student Financial Services at sfs@seu.edu to see if other resources are available.

CARES Act funds are designed to assist with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19, such as housing, food, course materials, technology, healthcare and child care.

If you need to reset your password, visit MyPortal (JICS) and click Forgot Password and follow the prompts. For additional needs, please contact the IT Help Desk at helpdesk@seu.edu.

No. Any money you receive from the CARES Act is a federal emergency grant that is not required to be repaid.

You may still apply for funding if you were enrolled in face to face courses this spring semester. However, the allocation amount will be at a reduced amount for students who were not enrolled full-time. All other eligibility requirements must still be met.

SEU is following the requirements provided by the U.S. Department of Education, which stipulate: “Students exclusively enrolled in online programs before March 13th are not eligible.”

Please note that we will not be able to confirm your eligibility or determine the aid amount you may receive until after all applications have been submitted and reviewed. Please submit your application within the MyPortal (JICS) system before the May 31 deadline so that we have all of the information needed to process your request.

Per Department of Education guidance, SEU is not able to apply CARES Act relief funds directly to your student account.

No. According to the IRS, this money will not be includible in your gross income. Learn more here.

Since the Department of Education’s reporting portal is not yet ready, institutions are required to post a series of reporting elements on their websites. You can find SEU’s report here.