CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting

July 1, 2020 Update

August 14, 2020 Update

Oct. 9, 2020 Update

In compliance with reporting requirements for Merrimack College’s (“Merrimack”) participation in the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, please see the following information:

1. Merrimack College signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education, the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act on April 9, 2020. Merrimack intends to use no less than fifty percent (50%) of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
2. Prior to release of the CARES Act funds, Merrimack established a Student Emergency Fund to provide support to those students most affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
3. Merrimack College has received $1,323,423 from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
4. As of May 20, 2020, the College has assisted a number of students and families. Emergency Financial Aid Grants funded by under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act have not yet been distributed to students.
5. There are approximately 3,328 students at Merrimack College who are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and are thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
6. Merrimack College is still in the process of determining the criteria to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act and how much they will receive. Merrimack intends to use the funds to assist eligible students to offset costs they incurred due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the Spring ’20, Fall ’20 and Spring ’21 semesters.
7. The total number of students who have received Emergency Financial Aid Grants under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act will be posted here and updated every 45 days once distributed.
8. Merrimack College has developed an application process for which students and families can access student emergency funds for the Fall. Merrimack College is developing instructions, directions and guidance to students concerning Emergency Financial Aid Grants funded by Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act and will update this as soon as possible.