Using funds provided by the federal government through the CARES Act and resources from the University’s Lynchburg Cares Fund, we will be distributing funds equally to all full-time undergraduates enrolled this spring. Additional funds will be distributed to our undergraduates with the most financial need; Pell Grant-eligible work-study students will be paid for all hours not worked due to the pandemic; and graduate assistants will also be paid the remainder of their cash stipends.
In addition to the direct financial support to students, the University’s Crisis Response Fund and funds from VFIC will provide urgent and necessary technology support, faculty and student support, and broader support to the greater Lynchburg area through University-community partnerships during this time of crisis.
All full-time undergraduate students will receive $350 while undergraduates who are Pell -Grant- eligible will receive an additional $450. Unpaid wages for all undergraduate work-study students and all graduate assistants will be administered by the Office of Student Employment and the dean of graduate studies, respectively. Please note that international and DACA students are not eligible for federal relief funds.
Checks will be mailed to all eligible students before June 30, 2020.
The CARES Act, passed by Congress and signed by the president on March 27, provides $987,990 in direct student relief. This amount will be supplemented by the Lynchburg Cares Fund and the Crisis Response Fund that was established by the Office of Advancement this spring. In March, President Garren authorized a transfer of $50,000 in discretionary funds to the long-standing Lynchburg Cares Fund.
As part of these resources, a pool of $85,000 has been established for those students who can demonstrate need for additional financial relief. These need-based funds are available by application. Students who wish to apply for additional relief funds must complete this application by July 31, 2020. Applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This additional pool is limited and applications will be considered until the fund is depleted. The first funds will be awarded June 2, with additional awards being made every two weeks.
Representatives from across the University worked with the Strategic Budget Group to develop this relief plan. This pool of federal dollars is mandated to go directly to students. Our plan equitably fulfills this federal requirement and supports all of our undergraduate students as well as those graduate assistants impacted by the pandemic.
