The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities (CARES) Act (Pub. L. 116-136) authorized the U.S. Department of Education (“ED”) to allocate formula grant funds to postsecondary institutions for the purpose of addressing needs related to coronavirus. On April 10, 2020, Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell, President of Spelman College, signed and submitted to ED the Certification and Agreement for an Award under Section 18004(a)(2) of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Total funds allocated to Spelman for Student Emergency Financial Aid from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students was $1,402,147, which will be directly disbursed to students. The institution will use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
A primary criterion for eligibility consideration is a student’s eligibility to apply for federal aid, regardless of whether an application was submitted. It has been determined that two thousand one hundred twenty students (2,120) students were eligible to participate in the federal aid programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 during the 2019-20 academic year.
In efforts to ensure that approximately 70 percent of our student population will receive a share of the funding, Spelman College has established a tiered method of distribution based on Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as reported on the 2019-2020 Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Based on this methodology, students with an EFC that is $30,000 or less were considered eligible to receive Spelman College CARES Act Student Emergency Grant funds.
Students identified by the Office of Financial Aid as initially eligible (based on the above guidelines) received notification via e-mail. Students must follow the link provided within the e-mail to certify that funds awarded will be used for allowable expenses. Funds will not be disbursed to students who have not submitted a certification form. Upon receipt of the certification form, funds will be disbursed via direct deposit or check to students.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law to provide economic relief from COVID-19. Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) and sent money to schools to use for emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the pandemic.
Spelman College has received the funds from the CARES Act and will start distributing grants to students based on their demonstrated financial need, as defined by financial aid guidelines. We anticipate the grants will be disbursed beginning May 22. Recipients will be notified via their Spelman email address.
Additionally, institutions have been charged with providing assistance to their neediest students. Spelman has determined to use these funds in support of any otherwise eligible student whose 2019-20 Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) was calculated at $0 - $30,000.
Each student will be awarded an amount based on a tiered method devised by our Office of Business and Financial Affairs. Our methodology allows us to support approximately 70 percent of our student population. It provides the most assistance to our neediest students, as determined by the 2019-20 Estimated Family Contribution (EFC), in alignment with the stated intent of the CARES Act.
Direct deposit is the fastest way to receive funding. If Spelman does not have your information, a paper check will be mailed to the "ST address" we have on file in Banner.
Award amounts are final, as funding is limited. For these reasons, additional funding cannot be requested. This is a one-time payment unless the federal government passes subsequent legislation that includes emergency funding for students. However, students who still have an unmet financial need are encouraged to submit an application for consideration of the Spelman Emergency Grant funds.
Please contact the Financial Aid Office at 404-270-5222 and financialaid@spelman.edu, or you may contact your Financial Aid Advisor at:
Last Name begins with (A-D): Thresa Gay | tgay@spelman.edu | 404-270-5210
Last Name begins with (E –L): Lisa Berrien | lisaberrien@spelman.edu | 404-270-5209
Last Name begins with (M-U): Glorene Gibbons | ggibbons@spelman.edu | 404.270.5214
Last Name begins with (V-Z): Shelly McDonald | smcdon12@spelman.edu | 404-270-5219
You may apply for funds through our emergency grant application. We know some Spelman students are experiencing financial complications and want to provide every possible resource. Students are encouraged to submit an application for consideration of the Spelman Emergency Grant.
| Claimed Disbursements | Total Amount | Report Date |
| 1,154 | $ 1,135,604.58 | 6/26/2020 |
| 1,322 | $ 1,282,576.18 | 7/31/2020 |
| 1,330 | $ 1,291,300.76 | 8/26/2020 |
| 1,331 | $ 1,292,373.57 | 9/25/2020 |
| 1,357 | $ 1,329,741.18 | 12/29/2020 |
| 1,357 | $ 1,402,147.00 | 3/26/2021 |
| EFC Range | Student Count | Disbursement | Total Payout |
| $0- $5576 (Max PELL) | 892 | $1,178.94 | $1,051,610.25 |
| $5577 - $6000 | 24 | $1,146.79 | $27,523.06 |
| $6001 - $7500 | 80 | $1,054.77 | $84,381.97 |
| $7501 - $10000 | 83 | $972.81 | $80,743.43 |
| $10,001 to $20,000 | 222 | $472.00 | $104,784.00 |
| $20,001 to $30,000 | 133 | $400.00 | $53,200.00 |
| Total | 1434 | ||
| % of total student enrollment | 69% |