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Some 11,400 to share emergency student aid at Pitt

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Some 11,400 to share emergency student aid at Pitt

federal money under CARES Act intended for students impacted by COVID-19

Approximately 11,400 students at the University of Pittsburgh impacted financially by COVID-19 will share in federal emergency grants of between $500 and $1,000 based on need, and the first payments could arrive within 24 hours, officials said.

Financial aid and enrollment officials at Pitt on Wednesday outlined the basis for distributing the aid from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

In all, Pitt is getting $10.6 million in student aid for those attending its main and branch campuses under a federal eligibility formula that is weighted toward undergraduates, but allows graduate students to receive grants, too. Students have been sent notices if they qualify.

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According to Pitt, award eligibility included:

The Old Main building on the campus of Penn State University in State College on July 12, 2012.
Bill Schackner
As millions of dollars head toward colleges, officials deciding how to share it with students

• Undergraduate students who received a 2019-20 Federal Pell Grant.

• Undergraduate students who did not receive a 2019-20 Federal Pell Grant and who had unmet financial need.

• Graduate students who received a federal loan for spring term 2020, or did not borrow but would have earned a summer stipend.

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• Displaced student employees of Pitt's food service providers.

• Resident Assistants who lost meal plan access.

So far, colleges and universities have awarded dollars in some cases across the board and in other cases based on existing financial need data pegged to household income.

“Our goal was to try and help as many students and possible,” said Randy McCready, Pitt’s executive director of financial aid.

Pitt suggested those who believe they are eligible log in to PittPAY to verify that their PittPAY eRefund bank account is accurate and update it if necessary. Funds will be posted to the student account as a “Fed CARES Grant” or “Pitt CARES Grant” and automatically refunded. It will be viewable in PittPAY on the Account Activity tab for spring term 2020.

Pitt officials said additional details for accessing the aid are available on the university’s news information site, Pittwire. 

Federal guidance relies largely on CARES Act grant recipients being eligible to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Pitt officials said. To ensure students with the greatest need have access to the same support, Pitt said it is directly awarding those students without a FAFSA on file who fall into one or more of those five categories.

Officials at the university said they are working with families who are facing job losses or other financial pressures because of the pandemic. However, so far, deposits for fall are up somewhat from this time last year, said Kellie Kane, Pitt associate vice provost for enrollment, and executive director of admissions.

Bill Schackner: bschackner@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1977 and on Twitter: @Bschackner.

First Published: April 29, 2020, 10:33 p.m.

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