February 19, 2021
Starting today, Oakland University is distributing an additional $6.9 million in emergency relief funds to eligible students enrolled in the Winter 2021 semester. Those who qualify for an award were notified via their OU email.
The university received this funding through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) to provide Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds II (HEERF II) to currently enrolled Winter 2021 students. The funding will be used to continue to address the financial burdens many students and families are facing due to the pandemic.
Guidance from the Department of Education directed the university to disburse HEERF II to as many eligible students as possible, and to distribute funds based on the financial needs of students as reported on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Grants amounts are $1,200 for eligible full-time students
- minimum 12 credit hours for undergraduate students
- minimum 8 credit hours for graduate students
- minimum 9 credit hours for OUWB medical students
In addition, part-time students who meet the criteria are eligible for $500 grants.
To qualify for an award, students must meet the following criteria:
- Must be seeking an undergraduate or graduate degree. (This includes students pursuing a second bachelor’s degree or initial teaching certificate.)
- Must be enrolled in the Winter 2021 semester for at least 1 credit hour as of February 9, 2021.
- Must have a valid FAFSA on file as of February 2, 2021.
- Must have demonstrated financial need (expected family contribution of $8,000 or less as determined by the FAFSA).
The grants will be automatically distributed to eligible students and do not need to be repaid.
“We hope this grant will help alleviate some of the hardships that students may be facing in the midst of the pandemic,” said Dawn Aubry, vice president for enrollment management. “While these challenges are ongoing, so is our commitment to ensuring students have access to the resources and support they need.”
Students who are not eligible for CRRSAA grant funding and have a financial hardship may apply for assistance from the donor-funded Student Emergency Relief Fund, which has different eligibility requirements, or discuss additional options with Student Financial Services at (248) 370-2550 or [email protected].