CARES Act Funding

As part of the CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, Delta State University has received $1,262,219.00 to assist students who encountered campus disruptions due to COVID-19.  These grant funds do not need to be repaid nor will they impact your eligibility for future federal financial aid (such as Pell Grant, federal student loans, or federal work study).  The funds will be refunded directly to the student and not be applied towards an outstanding account balance. Refunds will be processed via check or direct deposit, depending upon your current refund method with Student Business Services.

Eligibility Requirements: 

In order to qualify for assistance, students must meet several eligibility components.  Listed below are the specific stipulations:

• Students must have been enrolled in classes prior to March 13^th.
• Students enrolled in ONLY online classes/programs prior to March 13^th are NOT eligible.
• Students must be eligible for Title IV aid, which means the student fulfills the following requirements:
  • Have submitted a 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 FAFSA application (studentaid.gov)
  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
  • Have a valid Social Security number
  • Be registered with Selective Service – males only (sss.gov)
  • Have a high school diploma, General Education Development (GED), or its equivalent
  • Be fully-admitted and degree-seeking in a program of study
  • Maintained Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for financial aid eligibility
  • Have not defaulted on student loans or owe a refund on a federal grant program
  • Must not have any unresolved drug convictions
  • For spring 2020, approximately 1,461 students are eligible for Title IV aid.  For fall 2020, approximately 1,531 student are eligible for Title IV aid. (Number of eligible students changed due to revised specifications of Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.)

Allowable Expenses and Documentation:

Students may have incurred unexpected expenses due to COVID-19.  This list is not all inclusive, but examples may include:

• Travel
• Living expenses (rent, utilities, and etc.)
• Childcare
• Technology
• Loss of income
• Medical
• Food
• Miscellaneous needs

In order to account for the unexpected, please provide documentation to validate your expense(s).    This may include receipts, bills, or etc. Award amounts vary based on expenses and documentation.

Application Link: 

If you have incurred any unexpected expenses due to campus closing for COVID-19 and you meet all of the eligibility requirements as listed above, please submit the electronic application which was emailed to your Okramail account on May 11^th.  For fall 2020, students who met the required criteria were emailed an application link on September 1st.  The deadline to apply was October 1st.  You must use your Okramail email account to access and submit the application.

Application Review and Award Notification: 

Upon submission of your application, you will receive an automated acknowledgement.

Applications will be reviewed within fourteen business days.

If additional information is requested, you will be contacted via your Okramail email address.

Award amounts may vary and not explicitly cover the amount requested.

Once a decision has been rendered, your financial aid award information on myDSUonline will be updated and you will receive an electronic award notification to your Okramail address.

Contact Information: 

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Megan Smith, Director of the Office of Financial Assistance at mlsmith2@okramail.deltastate.edu

Report of Emergency Aid Grants to Students:

• May 23 Report
• June 23 Report (Quarterly)
• July 23 Report
• August 23 Report
• September 23 Report
• October 23 Report (Quarterly) 
• November 23 Report
• December 23 Report (Quarterly)
• January 23 Report
• February 23 Report

CRRSAA Emergency Aid (HEERF II)

As part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), Delta State University has received $1,262,219.00 to provide as emergency grant aid to students.  These grant funds do not need to be repaid nor will they impact your eligibility for future federal financial aid (such as Pell Grant, federal student loans, or federal work study).  Unlike the CARES Grant funds, the CRRSAA Grant funds may be applied towards a student’s account balance.  Otherwise, refunds will be processed via check or direct deposit, depending upon your current refund method with Student Business Services.

Eligibility Requirements: 

Spring 2021:  Students who are enrolled and meet the following criteria may be considered for these funds:

• Enrolled in a degree-seeking program (including distance education programs)
• Considered a U.S. Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen

Summer 2021:  All students, except dual-enrolled students, who are enrolled may be considered for these funds.  Summer I and summer II notices are sent separately based on enrollment for the current term.

Students, previously enrolled at some point from March 2020 until current, who were needing assistance with past due balances in order to register for fall 2021 were allowed to apply.

The CRRSAA Grant requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants.  Eligibility award amounts are based on the EFC from your FAFSA application, as of February 15^th.  Listed below is a breakdown of the award grid.  If you have outstanding verification requirements for federal aid, you must complete that process prior to receiving CRRSAA aid.

Application Link: 

For spring semester, eligible students were emailed the application link to their Okramail address on March 1^st.  The application will be available March 1^st until March 15^th at 11:59 p.m. You must apply to be considered for aid.

For summer I, eligible students were emailed the application link to their Okramail address on May 27th.  The application will be available May 27th until June 13th at 11:59 p.m.  You must apply to be considered for aid.

For summer II, eligible students were emailed the application link to their Okramail address on July 6th.  The application will be available July 6th until July 18th at 11:59 p.m.  You must apply to be considered for aid.*

*Students who received assistance in summer I are not eligible to receive assistance again for summer semester.  Students who did not apply during summer I but completed their coursework received another application notice.

Application Review and Award Notification: 

Upon submission of your application, you will receive an automated acknowledgement.

Your financial aid award information on myDSUonline will be updated and you will receive an electronic award notification to your Okramail address once your award has been processed.

Contact Information: 

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Megan Smith, Director of the Office of Financial Assistance at mlsmith2@okramail.deltastate.edu.

Report of Emergency Aid Grants to Students: 

• March 23 Report (Quarterly)
• April 23 Report
• May 23 Report
• June 23 Report  (Quarterly)
• July 23 Report
• August 23 Report
• September 23 Report (Quarterly)

ARP: American Rescue Plan (HEERF III)

As part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) that was signed into law on March 11, 2021, Delta State University has received $3,793,019  to provide as emergency grant aid to students.  These grant funds do not need to be repaid nor will they impact your eligibility for future federal financial aid (such as Pell Grant, federal student loans, or federal work study).  Unlike the CARES Grant funds, the HEERF III Grant funds may be applied towards a student’s account balance.  Otherwise, refunds will be processed via check or direct deposit, depending upon your current refund method with Student Business Services.

Eligibility Requirements: 

Fall 2021:  Students who are enrolled and meet the following criteria may be considered for these funds:

• Enrolled in a degree-seeking program (including distance education programs)
• Demonstrated need

The HEERF III Grant requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants.  Eligibility award amounts for block grants are based on the EFC from your FAFSA application, as of September 12^th.  Listed below is a breakdown of the award grid.  If you have outstanding verification requirements for federal aid, you must complete that process prior to receiving HEERF III aid.

Spring 2022:  Students who are enrolled and meet the following criteria may be considered for these funds:

• Enrolled in a degree-seeking program (including distance education programs)
• Demonstrated need

The HEERF III Grant requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants.  Eligibility award amounts for block grants are based on the EFC from your FAFSA application, as of February 14^th.  If you have outstanding verification requirements for federal aid, you must complete that process prior to receiving HEERF III aid.  Award amounts will be determined based on the number of applications submitted.

Appeal Option: 

Fall 2021: Once all awards have been processed, students will be notified of the opportunity to submit a HEERF III Emergency Aid Appeal request if they have incurred additional expenses not covered with their initial HEERF award.  Completing an appeal does not guarantee receipt of additional funding, as funds are limited.

Spring 2022:  No appeals will be accepted; all funds have been awarded.

Application Link:

Fall 2021:  Eligible students were emailed the application link to their Okramail address on September 15^th.  The application will be available September 15^th until September 29^th at 11:59 p.m. You must apply to be considered for aid.

Spring 2022: Eligible students were emailed the application link to their Okramail address on February 14^th .  The application will be available February 14^th until February 25^th at 11:59 p.m. You must apply to be considered for aid.

Application Review and Award Notification: Upon submission of your application, you will receive an automated acknowledgement.

Your award information on myDSUonline will be updated and you will receive an electronic award notification to your Okramail address once your award has been processed.

Contact Information:  If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Megan Smith, Director of the Office of Financial Aid at mlsmith2@okramail.deltastate.edu.

Report of Emergency Aid Grants to Students: 

December 23, 2021 (Quarterly)

September 30, 2021 (Quarterly)