Coronavirus Student Financial Assistance Funding

The Mount recognizes that the coronavirus pandemic and resulting shift to a remote learning environment have created financial challenges for some of our students. The university is raising funds for our Good Samaritan Fund in order to assist students most in need. We will also receive funds through the federal CARES Act Emergency Financial Grants to Students and are developing a phased plan to distribute those funds to students who have been most affected by the COVID-19 outbreak to date and over the next several months. The university wants to devote these limited funds to helping students in need to both weather this crisis and complete their education at the Mount over the coming year(s).

Phase I of the plan focuses on students who have experienced hardships directly related to the Spring 2020 semester. Phase I is limited to students who meet the eligibility criteria outlined below. Additional phases will aid students whose hardships extend beyond this semester and will be communicated in the coming months.

The deadline to complete and submit the online application below for Phase 1 is April 30, 2020.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for funding, students must meet the following criteria:

• Currently enrolled as a degree-seeking full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student at MSMU;
• Experienced unexpected financial hardship resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak during the Spring 2020 semester.

Examples of Expenses Considered by Coronavirus Emergency Funding:

• Technology/equipment needed to ensure continuity of online learning
• Travel expenses (possibly to and from the Mount)
• Homelessness or sudden loss of housing—possibly return to the Mount
• Tuition and fees related only to the fulfillment of payment plans for the spring 2020 semester (after all room and board refunds are calculated)
• Other financial needs arising from individual and/or special circumstances to be determined on a case-by-case basis

Examples of Expenses Not Covered by Coronavirus Emergency Funding:

• Emergency medical and dental expenses
• Loss of childcare
• Health insurance
• Other financial needs arising from individual and/or special circumstances to be determined on a case-by-case basis
• Anticipated expenses beyond spring 2020 semester that will be included in additional phases
• Legal fines or expenses
• Non-essential personal bills
• Parking tickets, library fines, or other expenses mistakenly incurred
• Funds for the replacement of lost or stolen items

Funds awarded do not need to be repaid and will be disbursed via check made payable to the student.

As currently written, the CARES Act may treat any funds received as the result of this application as taxable income. Therefore, any documentation requested by the Department of Education or other government agency as the result of this award is solely the responsibility of the student.

Application Process

Complete and submit the application below for Phase 1 by April 30, 2020. Applications will be reviewed by a committee comprised of members of the Student Life and Financial Aid staffs. Decisions will be communicated to students via email as expeditiously as possible.

Submissions for the application have now closed. Learn more about the CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grants for Students process for funding distribution.