Ferris State University will provide grant awards of up to $400 to students with a
demonstrated need. Students who were enrolled on March 13, and have incurred education-related
expenses since that date due to COVID-19, are eligible for funding.Ferris State University will continue to put students first with the $4,573,403 in funding it has received through the federal government’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This funding, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Education, will be made available to all eligible students to address education and life challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ferris will provide grant awards of up to $400 to students with a demonstrated need. Students who were enrolled on March 13, and have incurred education-related expenses since that date due to COVID-19, are eligible for funding. Students can find more information and request funding through a web-based application process found on Ferris’ CARES Act website.
“We are grateful for this federal financial support for our students, who have suffered significantly from the economic impact of the coronavirus,” said Ferris President David L. Eisler. “I am hopeful there will be additional federal support and that Michigan will use federal pandemic dollars it receives for education to support our college students. This will help them continue to earn their college degree.”
Recognition of many ongoing student needs, resulting from COVID-19, have fueled financial relief efforts.
“We know that our students have been and continue to be impacted by COVID-19 and are thankful to receive the grant monies from the federal government to distribute,” said Jeanine Ward-Roof, Ferris’ vice president for Student Affairs. “To be considered for the grant, students must complete an online request and be Title IV eligible. Students can also apply for additional dollars from the Student Hardship Fund. If the impact of COVID-19 has been more significant, students can also contact a financial aid advisor for a review of their award package.”
In March, during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ferris established a donor-driven Student Hardship Fund that, to date, has raised more than $103K from 350 donors. The Student Hardship Fund is the result of a collaboration between the Ferris Alumni Association and The Ferris Foundation. Monies raised will be awarded to enrolled students who have faced hardships, such as food and housing challenges, access to technology and unanticipated travel. In addition to CARES Act funding, Ferris students impacted by COVID-19 are encouraged to apply for financial relief through the Student Hardship Fund, which awards up to $300 to students in need.
“We hope our students will take advantage of this opportunity, and we will award the monies until they are exhausted,” said Ward-Roof, who noted that CARES Act relief awards do not impact a student’s financial aid status.
Students with financial needs related to COVID-19 are encouraged to request CARES Act and Student Hardship Fund financial assistance through the website. Student Hardship Fund requests are requested by emailing the Financial Aid office. Students may make requests for both CARES Act funding and Student Hardship Fund aid but currently are limited to one disbursement per source.
For more information about Ferris’ COVID-19 response, including the latest updates, visit the website.