Spring 2022 CARES Program FAQ
This document will provide updates and FAQ information regarding the Spring 2022
UH Mānoa CARES Act program.
The program offers $2,000 emergency grants to students, with funding provided by the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).
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Message to students:
We understand that many are in need, and we hope that the money awarded will provide assistance during these uncertain times.
As we are at the tail end of the federal funding with only a small amount remaining to give out, we made the difficult decision to select students based on existing FAFSA data without an application process. We adhered to the guidelines set forth by the federal program to prioritize those with exceptional need, such as Pell Grant recipients. The decision was made to give to those who were not awarded in the Fall, as this allowed for a fair distribution of the funds across the entire academic year.
While not a substitute, the UH Basic Needs website lists resources that may be helpful:
https://www.hawaii.edu/student-basic-needs/resources/manoa/
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Of Note:
Students who receive the funds via a paper refund check must cash/deposit the check by May 1, 2022. If you do not, since the funds are expiring, we will cancel the check and award it to someone else. If the check is canceled, we will not reissue you the grant.
See “What happens if I am not enrolled in eRefund?”
4/14/2022 Update: TAXES
The CARES grants issued by UH are not reported as gross income on your taxes:
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/higher-education-emergency-grants-frequently-asked-questions
FAQs:
Who was eligible to receive funding?
Why is the amount only $2,000? Can I request more?
What can I use the money towards?
Do I need documentation on how I spent the money?
Will the money pay off my current balance?
What happens if I am not enrolled in eRefund?
Will this program continue beyond Spring 2022?
Who do I contact with other questions?
Who was eligible to receive funding?
Basic Criteria:
- Mānoa degree-seeking classified student in Spring 2022
- Primary Home Campus must be Mānoa for Spring 2022.
- For certificate programs, only Teaching certificates may be considered
- Early College students (those who have not yet graduated high school) are not eligible.
- See Prioritizations on awarding
- Are enrolled in/have completed at least one Mānoa Spring 2022 course as of the end of the Drop without a W period (data pulled roughly Feb 3, 2022).
- Those receiving benefits from a staff/employee tuition wavier are NOT eligible.
- Graduate Assistants remain eligible.
No application was necessary. Students were identified based on the criteria above and the prioritizations listed. The amount of money remaining for Spring was very small, and thus we did not open up applications to the entire student population, and eligible students were identified through existing data.
How much is the award?
Students are awarded $2,000 through CARES for Spring 2022.
Why is the amount only $2,000? Can I request more?
The majority of funds have been given out in previous semesters and we seek to spread out the limited remaining funding to as many students as possible, while still providing an amount that is highly impactful.
The amount is set at $2,000 and we are unable to entertain requests for a higher amount.
Is this a loan?
No, these funds are meant to assist students with financial needs during this pandemic. Monies are provided by the federal government. Please see “What can I use the money for?” for expenses this fund is meant to assist with.
What can I use the money towards?
This grant may be used for students in need to help cover Spring expenses for your Cost of Attendance, or emergency costs, which include: Tuition, Room and Board, Course Materials, Health Care, and Student Fees.
Why was I not awarded?
Potential reasons:
- You were not enrolled in a degree program for Spring 2022 at Mānoa as of the end of the Drop without a W period (data checked roughly Feb 3, 2022).
- Your Primary Home Campus must be Mānoa for Spring 2022
- For Certificate programs, only those seeking a Teaching certificate may be eligible.
- You must be a degree-seeking classified student
- Your record shows that you graduated and are no longer considered enrolled as a classified degree-seeking student.
- Students who need to extend their graduation need to update their status through the Records office.
- You are a staff/employee of UH, or receiving a staff/employee tuition waiver.
- Graduate Assistants remain eligible.
- The funding has run out (See the “How will you award funding?” for prioritization).
- If you received the award in the Fall, monies ran out before we could award students again in the Spring.
Funds for Spring were extremely limited, and thus we decided to identify eligible students without an application process.
Do I need to submit documentation on how I spent the money?
No, we will not ask to see how you spent the grant funds.
How did you award funding?
Priorities in awarding were:
- Students who did not receive the Fall 2021 grant AND have an EFC between 0-5846*
- Students who have accepted their financial aid loans (including offered Subsidized/Unsubsidized/PLUS loans)
- Student need (as demonstrated by the FAFSA EFC calculations)
*EFC of 0-5846 is the Pell Grant eligibility mark, and students with this EFC will be prioritized, based on Federal policy.
We recognize that many students are in need, but in an effort to be fair with the limited amount of funds remaining, the decision was made to prioritize those who had not received the grant in the Fall.
Will the money pay off my current balance?
Any monies awarded will go directly to the student as a Refund, regardless of whether or not you have a balance owed to UH. It is then the student’s responsibility to pay off any outstanding balances owed to the university IF the student intends to use the money to pay UH. The money may also be used for other Cost of Attendance items not payable to UH.
When will I receive funding?
Funds will disburse to your UH account March 10th.
You will then be issued a Refund via the Cashier’s Office.
If you have eRefund established, funds should show in the bank account on file within 3 business days.
What happens if I am not enrolled in eRefund?
If you are not enrolled in eRefund, the grant is processed as a paper check.
As this CARES money needs to be returned to the federal government if it is not spent, if the check remains uncashed on May 1, 2022, we will cancel your check and award the funds to another student.
Please ensure that your mailing address on file is always kept up to date.
Logon to MyUH Services (https://myuh.hawaii.edu/)
- Select “Student Services Menu”
- Click on “Personal Information”
The Cashier’s Office cannot hold checks for in-person pick up. Please ensure that the mailing address is up to date and you cash/deposit the check as soon as possible.
Will this program continue beyond Spring 2022?
No, we do not anticipate funds will be available to continue the program, and we believe that Spring 2022 will be the last semester that we are able to issue student grants.
Who do I contact with other questions?
This FAQ list is not final, and items may be updated/changed as needed.
OLD Updates:
3/10/2022 Update:
Funds were released the week of the March 7th (eRefund) or March 10th (paper check). If you are receiving an eRefund, you will be sent an automated message informing you of the deposit. If you do not receive such email, it is likely that you will receive a paper check to the mailing address on file. Checks should be received within the next week or so, depending on where your mailing address is.