Some of the biggest changes include:

• Feb. 15, 2024 is 麻豆原创鈥檚 2024-25 priority filing date.

• The U.S. Department of Education recently announced delays in receiving FAFSA results. However, you are still encouraged to submit your FAFSA by 麻豆原创鈥檚 2024-25 priority filing date.
• Can鈥檛 submit your 2024-25 FAFSA by Feb. 15? Applications can still be submitted after, but we recommend submitting by this date to receive the greatest consideration for financial aid 鈥� especially because some aid programs are first come, first served.

• The FAFSA now has fewer questions and is more streamlined.
• Each contributor (student, spouse, parent(s) and/or stepparent(s)) must provide consent to complete the FAFSA so that their tax information can be imported into the application.

鈥溌槎乖� has established a date by which we prefer that students complete the FAFSA for maximum consideration for financial aid. By filing by the priority filing date, students increase their likelihood of getting the most comprehensive financial aid package available,鈥� says Karemah Manselle, interim director of the Office of Student Financial Assistance. 鈥淲e want everyone to be aware of the opportunity to fill out the FAFSA now. What students can do right now is submit the FAFSA so that they are in the first batch to be processed, and then get the best student aid package available.鈥�

COMPLETE YOUR FAFSA

As a reminder, current and incoming students seeking financial aid need to complete the FAFSA every academic year. To learn more about all changes to the 2024-25 FAFSA, visit 麻豆原创鈥檚 FAFSA simplification page.

Luis Diaz, a junior at 麻豆原创 studying forensic psychology, is among the first to participate in the program. A first-generation student, he鈥檚 worked with Goodwill for the last year and half, initially joining as a sales associate in the retail store and now working as a warehouse forklift operator.

鈥淚 immediately thought, 鈥楾his is an amazing opportunity,鈥� 鈥� says Diaz. 鈥淚 also thought about all my coworkers and how big of an opportunity it is for them to start schooling. For me, it ensures my educational career and keeps my motivation going.鈥�

All full and part-time Goodwill employees with at least 90 days of continuous employment are eligible to participate in the program, which covers 100% of their tuition, books and other fees in advance.

For Diaz, who has worked full-time to pay his way through school and utilized student loans for his first three years, the added benefit will significantly offset his costs.

鈥淭his means I won鈥檛 have to worry as much for the future debt that I will have,鈥� says Diaz. 鈥淚 think it will allow me to integrate easier to my career.

鈥淲e鈥檙e very pleased to partner with Goodwill, a major employer in Central Florida who impacts so many lives through the outstanding work they do in our community,鈥� says Theodorea Regina Berry, vice provost of Student Learning and Academic Success and dean of the College of Undergraduate Studies.听鈥淭ogether, we will help more students pursue and earn college degrees that transform lives and lift up families for generations.鈥�

鈥淲e want our employees to be trained to be successful at their jobs 鈥� and we want their jobs to help them accomplish the goals they desire in life,鈥� says Ed Durkee, president and CEO at Goodwill Industries of Central Florida. 鈥淲e believe that the cost of education should not stand in the way of those aspirations, so we intend to provide employees with the financial pathway to achieve a degree or skilled trade.鈥�

Goodwill employees interested in the program will be paired with a Prosperity Planner, who specializes in financial and career goal strategies and will provide one-on-one coaching. To be eligible, employees must enroll at a Florida state college or public university, accredited technical college or trade school, and must maintaining a passing grade of 鈥淐鈥� or its equivalent.

The company currently employs more than 1,200 individuals across Orange, Osceola, Lake, Brevard, Seminole and Volusia counties, and has jobs in retail, warehouse, transportation, human resources, and information technology.

Goodwill joins an extensive and growing list of companies choosing 麻豆原创 as partners for their educational assistance programs. In March, 麻豆原创 joined forces with Amazon鈥檚 Career Choice Program. Earlier this year, multiple Fortune 1000 companies, including Target, Chipotle and Taco Bell added 麻豆原创 to the list of schools their employees鈥� can attend to have their tuition covered in selected programs.

Once eligible students are approved through the program, Amazon will work directly with 麻豆原创 to pre-pay the applicable tuition and fees. Interested students can visit for more information.

Students have already begun enrolling in the program. One of those students, Valeria Villa, is a full-time process assistant at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Lake Nona, where she has worked for three years.

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing,鈥� says Villa. 鈥淚t was the best thing that they could do.鈥�

Villa is pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 degree in emerging media at 麻豆原创 and says the program will provide 鈥渂etter opportunities for growth.鈥� She plans to pursue a career in graphic design, perhaps with Amazon.

麻豆原创 has partnered with multiple major companies in recent years to help make attending college more affordable. In 2019, 麻豆原创 joined with Disney Aspire, the theme park giant鈥檚 educational investment program, to offer free tuition for cast members in selected degree programs. Earlier this year, 麻豆原创 was added to the educational partner list of several Fortune 1000 companies like Target, Chipotle and Taco Bell.

鈥淭uition assistance programs like these are crucial in positioning students to succeed academically and professionally,鈥� says Theodorea Regina Berry, vice provost of Student Learning and Academic Success and dean of the College of Undergraduate Studies.听 鈥溌槎乖� will continue to collaborate with corporate and civic partners to prepare students to become workforce innovators and future leaders.鈥�

Amazon鈥檚 Career Choice program launched in 2012. It鈥檚 one of a variety of education and upskilling opportunities Amazon offers, including full college tuition, industry certifications that position workers for in-demand jobs, and foundational skills, such as English language proficiency, high school diplomas, and GEDs. More than 50,000 Amazon employees globally have participated since the program鈥檚 inception. This is part of a $1.2 billion investment from Amazon to upskill more than 300,000 U.S. Amazon employees by 2025 to help move them into higher-paying, in-demand jobs.

鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to 麻豆原创 coming on board as an education partner for Career Choice, adding to the hundreds of best-in-class offerings available to our employees,鈥� says Tammy Thieman, Global Program Lead of Amazon鈥檚 Career Choice program. 鈥淲e鈥檙e committed to empowering our employees by providing them access to the education and training they need to grow their careers, whether that鈥檚 with us or elsewhere. We have intentionally cultivated a partner network of third-party educators and employers committed to providing excellent education, job placement resources, and continuous improvements to the experience. Today, over 50,000听Amazon听employees around the world have already participated in Career Choice and we鈥檝e seen first-hand how it can transform their lives.鈥�

麻豆原创 estimates it has more than 600 alumni working at Amazon locations across the country in a variety of management, marketing and information technology roles.

Since 2010 Amazon has created more than 59,000 full- and part-time jobs in Florida and has invested more than $18 billion in the state. The company听currently operates more than 50 sites in听Florida听that support customer fulfillment and delivery operations. Last August, Amazon announced a Florida expansion to include a new robotics fulfillment center and five new delivery stations that are expected to create more than 2,000 full-time jobs.

Amazon鈥檚 Central Florida footprint already includes the fulfillment center in Lake Nona, which last year expanded to include a new print-on-demand center. In December, the Daytona Beach City Commission approved plans for a new distribution center expected to bring at least 1,000 new jobs to the area.

麻豆原创 is also now featured on season 3 of The College Tour, a TV series streaming on Amazon Prime that gives viewers an inside look at college and campus life at 麻豆原创 through the experiences of students, faculty and alumni. The season premiered on Feb. 15.

If you are a 麻豆原创 student who is employed by one of these听companies, you may be eligible for tuition assistance depending on your academic major. Companies include:

• Bon Secours Mercy Health
• Chipotle
• Discover
• Taco Bell
• Target
• Waste Management

Academic programs are selected for and by employers based on the employer policy, strategy, and career paths they have set for their employee base.

Students employed by the companies are also encouraged to contact the Human Resources department at their place of employment and ask about Guild鈥檚 university partners program.

The partnerships were facilitated by Guild Education. Guild鈥檚 industry-leading technology platform allows the nation鈥檚 largest employers to offer strategic education and upskilling to their employees. Guild connects workers to a learning marketplace of the nation鈥檚 best learning partners for working adults with tuition paid by the company. Guild鈥檚 payments and technology platform, curated learning marketplace, and advanced education and career services come together to help working adult learners advance in their education and career, debt-free.

These new partner programs expand beyond other successful employer programs 麻豆原创 is affiliated with, including the popular Disney Aspire program. Aspire offers eligible Disney employees and Cast Members the opportunity to receive tuition benefits across a number of programs and partner schools, including 麻豆原创, who joined the network in 2019.

麻豆原创 was recently recognized as one of the nation鈥檚 most innovative universities and best value schools by U.S. News and World Report.

鈥淭his is a very bright day for our students and prospective students!听 MyFloridaFuture will empower Florida鈥檚 students and their families to make knowledge-driven decisions to optimize their future success,鈥� says Brian Lamb, chair of the Board of Governors.听 鈥淭he trajectory of Florida鈥檚 12 public universities in cost-to-degree, 4-year graduation rates, and graduate earning potential continues to rise, and we are grateful to the Florida Legislature and Governor DeSantis for giving us the opportunity to design an innovative tool that highlights this success and enhances a student鈥檚 ability to select the right degree program to achieve their career path and maximize their success.鈥�

Students and their families can explore each tab to learn more about options regarding

• Earnings over time: What is the earning potential for each academic program at 1, 5, and 10 years after graduation?
• Compare earnings: What are some examples of low, median, and high wages across multiple programs?
• Beyond the bachelor鈥檚: What is the additional earning potential if I continue my education beyond a bachelor鈥檚 degree?
• Earnings by major group: What salary ranges are expected for different major groups?听 Can I compare simultaneously and how do they compare?
• Typical loan amounts: What is the proportion of students in the State University System who graduate with student loan debt? And what is the average loan amount of a specific academic program?
• Loans over time: What are the projected monthly student loan debt payments as a proportion of potential monthly earnings over a ten-year period?

鈥淢yFloridaFuture is going to bring awareness to students for intentional planning for the future,鈥� says Nastassia Janvier, FSU student body president and Board of Governors FSA chair. 鈥淪tudents will have the opportunity to engage with it whenever they want and can use it as a resource to research different career fields.听 I know this will only contribute to student success for all 12 public universities.鈥�

In addition to the MyFloridaFuture webpage, the MyFloridaFuture tool is also available on the admissions page of each of Florida鈥檚 12 public universities.

Fall 2021鈥檚听deadline for tuition and fees听is听Friday, Sept. 3,听so be sure to study this guide before then. However, students who are anticipated to receive financial aid (awards have either been distributed already or are listed as pending in ) for Fall 2021 have a听deferred deadline for tuition payment of Friday, Oct. 29.

Applications | Disbursement |听Refunds听|听Advances听|听Drop, Add and Withdrawal 听|听Common Errors

Applying for Financial Aid

Where can I view my financial-aid information?
Through you can view items on your to-do list, due charges, and loan, grant and scholarship offers.

Where should I look for help before reaching out to the Office of Student Financial Assistance?
In general, you should check your email and my麻豆原创 account and complete any items on your to-do list. If you have successfully completed the financial aid process, including confirmation of academic activity during the first week for each of your courses,听you can expect your approved aid to be disbursed during the second week of classes.

The financial aid help videos cover topics such as the types of financial aid, how to fill out the FAFSA, understanding your to-do list and more, which can help answer many questions without speaking to someone directly.

How can I contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance?
麻豆原创鈥檚听Office of Student Financial Assistance听is offering limited in-person and virtual meetings.听To schedule an appointment, please visit the financial aid website.

You can听schedule a virtual appointment with a financial assistance counselor听to discuss 麻豆原创鈥檚 financial aid application process or your financial aid status. Appointments should be reserved for information not accessible through听听or the听financial aid website. Appointments are available for booking up to two weeks in advance.

What types of financial aid are there?
The most common forms of financial aid are loans, federal work study, grants and scholarships. The U.S. Department of Education offers direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans, but it鈥檚 important to understand the difference between the two.

• Direct subsidized loans听are only available to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need based on the information provided on the FAFSA. You do not pay interest on this loan while you are enrolled at least halftime. You also will not pay interest for the first six months following graduation or during a deferment period.
• Direct unsubsidized loans听are available to undergraduate and graduate students. You do not need to demonstrate financial need in order to receive this. However, interest will begin to accrue while you are in school, after you graduate and during deferment periods until your loan is paid off. This means your interest accumulates and will be added to the principal amount of your loan.
• Federal work study听is a program that can provide you a part-time job while you pursue your degree. FWS employers know you are a student first and are willing to work around your schedule.
• Grants听and听scholarships听both provide you with money to cover costs without the requirement to pay anything back. The difference is grants are need-based while scholarships can be merit-based or in some cases need-based.
• The听Pell Grant听is 听for undergraduate students pursuing their first bachelor鈥檚 degree who meet the eligibility criteria based on the information provided on the FAFSA.
• Learn more about听grants听and听scholarships.

What is the听Free Application for Federal Student Aid?
This is an online application that uses financial information and other factors to determine a student鈥檚 financial need. Independent students will only need to use their financial information, while dependent students must use their parents as well as their own.

Using your FAFSA application, the government can determine if you are eligible for a Pell Grant, any other federal grants, work-study and loans. Completing the FAFSA is often a requirement for many other non-federal grants and scholarships, so even if you think you may not be eligible for federal financial aid it is important you complete this application.

When and how often should I complete the听FAFSA?
You should complete the FAFSA each year because financial information changes on a yearly basis. To receive the greatest consideration, 麻豆原创 urges students to apply by Dec. 1. However, the FAFSA application is available as early as Oct. 1 each year.

For example, the 2022-23 FASFA will become available on Oct. 1, but 麻豆原创鈥檚 priority date for the application is Dec. 1.

What do I need to complete the FAFSA?
Have the following information prepared when you are ready to complete your FAFSA:

• Your social security number
• Alien registration number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
• Your federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note:听You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
• Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
• Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
• A federal student aid ID to sign electronically.
• Dependent students will need most of the information above from their parents as well.

The 麻豆原创 Office of Student Financial Assistance provides info on how to听complete your FAFSA.

What if my parents don鈥檛 want to give me their tax or any other information?
You cannot be considered independent on the basis of a parent refusing to provide information. However, students in extenuating circumstances like neglect, abuse or abandonment, should visit the 麻豆原创鈥檚 financial-aid office to discuss their circumstances and file an appeal. More information can be found on the financial aid website.

Do I need to complete any other documents to receive financial aid?
Sometimes the Department of Education selects students for verification. This may be because a student incorrectly completed their FAFSA paperwork, have missing information on their application, or financial information has changed drastically from the year prior. These forms include dependent or independent verification, untaxed income worksheets, parent tax-filing statement and more. Any documentation needed to compete the financial aid process is listed in the To Do List on my麻豆原创.

How long can I receive aid?
There are time limits and maximum amounts established for financial aid. Pell Grant recipients have a lifetime eligibility usage limit. There is a limit to the amount of federal student loans a student may borrow and a maximum timeframe for which students can receive financial aid.

How is the amount of financial I鈥檓 offered determined?
Some financial aid, such as grants and the subsidized loan, is determined based on financial need, however other eligibility requirements are also considered when creating student financial aid packages. Additionally, the availability of funding can impact the types of awards a student receives. . In general, students who meet 麻豆原创鈥檚 priority deadline for completing the FAFSA are given the maximum consideration for aid.

Where can I find scholarships?
You can use 麻豆原创鈥檚听 Search Tool, also called A2O, to find scholarships offered through 麻豆原创. You will need to complete A2O鈥檚 application once a year to be automatically matched with scholarships you may qualify for. On the A2O page you can also find an external link of 1,500 verified scholarships that are available. This list is updated on a regular basis.

Tip: Scholarships are an underutilized form of aid with many receiving few or no applicants. So be sure to take advantage of them. Also, apply no matter how big or small the award amount is because every dollar can make a difference.

How can I apply for federal work study?
When completing the FAFSA you must indicate you鈥檙e interested in participating in federal work study. From there students are selected for the program based on eligibility. To be eligible you must:

• • Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, eligible non-citizen, or citizen of the Freely Associated States: The Federated States of Micronesia and the republics of Palau and the Marshall Islands (for more information, please see the FAFSA)
  • Have a social security card or letter from the Social Security Administration (application receipt)
  • Be enrolled as a part-or full-time degree-seeking student
  • Meeting 麻豆原创鈥檚 standards for satisfactory academic progress (Met, Academic Plan, Warning & Probation are acceptable).
  • Being in need of at least $4,000 for the fall and spring or $2,000 for the summer
  • Have a completed review status

Students who have federal work study as a part of their financial aid pacakge, may look for work study jobs using .

What Do I Need to Know About Disbursement?

What is disbursement and when should I expect to receive it?
Disbursement is the process in which financial aid awards (scholarships, grants, loans, etc.) are posted to your student account. For students who have met all financial aid eligibility requirements, disbursement begins the day before tuition is due, so the Thursday of the second week of classes.

The timing for each students鈥� disbursement is contingent on when they meet all conditions for receiving aid. This includes submitting necessary documents to the Office of Student Financial Aid and completing the confirmation of academic activity in your courses.

What is confirmation of academic activity?
Confirmation of academic activity is a federal regulation that ensures a student is actually attending a course. This must be done for each of your courses and can take the form of an online quiz, in-class activity or your instructors may opt to take attendance for the activity.

Most often instructors require students to complete this activity during the first week of each semester. Confirmation of academic activity can be completed after the first week of classes, 听however a portion of your aid could 听be delayed.

It鈥檚 in your best interest to complete the confirmation of academic activity during the first week of classes. .

What About Refunds?

How is a refund different from disbursement?
Refunds are processed by Student Account Services. A refund is the excess money you may receive after tuition, fees and other charges are deducted from your disbursement. The easiest way to receive any refunds is to set up direct deposit through my麻豆原创. Students who do not set up direct deposit will receive a refund check by the mail.

When should I expect to receive my refund?
Students should allow up to 72 hours for direct-deposit refunds to arrive in their respective banking institutions. Students should allow five to seven business days for mailed refunds to arrive to a the mailing address on file.

Student Financial Assistance听does not听handle refunds. Contact for issues related to refunds.

I haven鈥檛 received my refund yet, what should I do?
Students who opt for mail refunds should make sure their address in the 麻豆原创 system is their current one and not their parents鈥� or a former one. Students who have set up direct deposit should make sure all their information is accurate.

If you鈥檙e having any trouble with your refund, contact not听Student Financial Assistance. The financial aid office does not听handle refunds.

Does 麻豆原创 Offer Advances for Financial Aid?

Can I get an advance on my financial aid?
Starting three weeks prior to the start of each semester, students can take advantage of one of two options for advances on financial aid. Both are only available to students who have accepted enough aid to cover tuition and fees, as well as books and supplies.

The first option is the听textbook opt-in program, which advances students up to $600 for textbooks and supplies. You must opt-in for the program online using my麻豆原创. Once approved, you can then purchase what you need from the campus bookstore. This charge will go to you my麻豆原创 account and once disbursement takes place the bookstore is automatically paid from your financial-aid funds.

To learn more about how to save money on textbooks, click here.

The second option is a short-term advance. You can apply for this by filling out and submitting an application to the financial-aid office. You can receive up to $600 if you plan to repay through financial aid or you can receive up to $300 if you plan to use another method. While many students use this advance for books, some also use it for rent or housing payments as well.

You can only use one form of advance each semester.

When do I have to pay back an advance?
If you are repaying an opt-in textbook or short-term advance through their accepted financial aid, the repayment should automatically be taken from your 麻豆原创 account during disbursement. If you are repaying a short-term advance on your own the Fall 2021 semester is October 29.

Drop, Add and Withdrawal of Classes

How does adding or dropping a course impact my financial aid?
Certain forms of financial aid, such as the Bright Futures Scholarship Program, are determined based on the number of credit hours you are enrolled in. This means adding and dropping courses can affect the amount of aid you receive. However, financial-aid disbursement occurs听after the add/swap and drop period each semester to make sure you鈥檙e disbursed the proper amount of aid.

In some particular instances, students will late drop a class(es). This can result in students losing a portion or all of their financial aid after it has already been disbursed.

How does withdrawing from courses impact my financial aid?
In terms of federal aid, the Department of Education views your course attendance as the means through which you earn your aid. 麻豆原创 distributes the entire amount of aid for students at the start of the semester with an expectation students will complete the semester. When you submit an听official withdrawal听from all courses students may be required repay a portion or all of the aid received for that semester. The financial-aid office will perform a calculation that considers determining the amount that must be returned to the federal government.

These same policies and procedures apply for unofficial withdrawals, which occur when a student fails to earn any credit during a semester because they have stopped attending class. Over time, withdrawals can impact your financial aid eligibility because they factor into your course completion ratio and maximum timeframe for degree completion. As a part of the Department of Education鈥檚 required satisfactory academic progress monitoring, 麻豆原创 keeps track of the number of successfully completed course hours versus all course hours attempted by a student. Students must successfully complete 70 percent of all credit hours, including transfer hours, to remain eligible for federal financial aid.

What happens if my course completion ratio drops below 70 percent?
During the first semester you dip below67%, you will be placed on financial-aid warning. If you do not raise your completion ratio by the following semester, you will become ineligible for financial aid and must submit an appeal to be reinstated.

What about medical withdrawals?
In terms of federal aid, students who are approved for a medical withdrawal are still subject to the same rules as official withdrawal students. However, if you are approved for a medical withdrawal you may also be approved for a refund of tuition fees.

Most Common Errors

Here are some of the most common financial-aid errors students make and how to avoid them:

Not Resolving Admissions Holds
Incoming first-year students need to resolve any holds on your admissions status, including submitting final high school transcripts or residency information, in order to receive aid.

Not Reading my麻豆原创 Notifications
Through my麻豆原创, students receive notifications on their To-Do List for any actions they need to take to satisfy financial-aid requirements. These items outline any forms a students must submit and which office they need to contact. By not properly reading these items students delay their financial aid.

Not Setting up Direct Deposit
It鈥檚 important you set up direct deposit to ensure you’ll receive aid and refunds as quickly as possible to their bank account. Direct deposit removes the need to mail checks, which are cut only once a week and can take five to seven business daysbefore reaching students. These checks are also mailed to the address 麻豆原创 has on file. Some students forget to update this address to their current one or change it from their parents’ address, which will result in a delay of your refund.

Not Starting/Competing the Financial-aid Process Early Enough
Starting and completing the financial-aid process early is important to ensure the financial-aid office has all the documents it needs to provide you aid.Paying attention to deadlines and items on your my麻豆原创 to-do list is helpful for keeping you on track. Some important dates to keep in mind are:

• • • Oct. 1 鈥� The date the FAFSA application becomes available each year
    • Dec. 1 鈥� 麻豆原创鈥檚 priority date for completing the FAFSA. Students who meet this deadline are given the maximum consideration for aid.
    • May 30 鈥� 麻豆原创鈥檚 priority date for submitting any financial-aid documents needed to determine aid for upcoming aid year.

To learn more about financial aid or watch videos that can help you through several financial-aid processes, visit ucf.edu/financial-aid.

The application for emergency grants will remain open through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, April 11.

麻豆原创 received more than $25 million in relief funds through the federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). A first round of awards was made in March, and due to additional availability of funds, we are opening another application window to provide aid directly to eligible students, beginning with those who have the greatest need. Students who already received $1,000 in HEERF funding will not be considered for additional funding at this time and should not complete a second application.

The emergency aid can help with costs suffered due to the coronavirus, a student鈥檚 cost of attendance 鈥� such as tuition, fees, housing, books and other supplies 鈥� as well as food, healthcare or child care needs. Undergraduate, graduate, M.D., 麻豆原创 Online, and most non-degree seeking students who meet eligibility requirements can receive the funds.

Here is what you need to know:

• To be eligible, you must have submitted an error-free 2020-2021 FAFSA. If you haven鈥檛 submitted a FAFSA, it鈥檚 not too late 鈥� before applying for HEERF aid.
• Most non-degree seeking students are now eligible. Students enrolled in Continuing Education non-degree programs and Nursing Concurrent students are ineligible.
• Due to federal guidelines, students must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens to qualify.
• The maximum HEERF award is $1,000. Students who already received the maximum $1,000 HEERF award in March will not receive an additional award.
• Pell-eligible students who have not received CARES or HEERF funding will be prioritized. Non-Pell eligible students who did not receive CARES or HEERF funding will be the next priority group, followed by students who did not receive funding from the first HEERF round and received less than the maximum CARES award. Awards will be made based on additional criteria until the funds are exhausted.
• Funds will be awarded in late April. Log onto and make sure you are signed up for Direct Deposit. This is the fastest way to receive the funds after they are awarded.
• HEERF grants do not need to be repaid.

For questions about HEERF awards, please review this detailed FAQ. Students should direct questions regarding HEERF funding and eligibility requirements to CARESAct@ucf.edu.

Armor Up, Knights!

麻豆原创 has received more than $25 million in relief funds that we will award directly to eligible students and prioritize based on those with the greatest need.

This is an important step in helping eligible students overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic and continue on their paths to academic and career success. The funds are designed to assist with expenses related to a student鈥檚 education or any emergency costs that arose due to COVID-19. Undergraduate, graduate, M.D. and 麻豆原创 Online students who meet eligibility requirements can receive the funds.

Last week, students received an email with a link to an听application to complete in order to be considered for an award.听We will prioritize students who did not receive CARES Act funding from 麻豆原创 and are Pell eligible. Students who received CARES Act funding from 麻豆原创 are still eligible and are encouraged to apply.

Note that due to federal requirements students must have submitted an error-free 2020-2021 FAFSA or in order to be considered for the funding. The federal legislation requires that students be:

• degree-seeking, enrolled in the term for which they are seeking assistance
• U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens

The will remain open though 11:59 p.m. February 20 and the funds will be distributed in early March. You will not be required to submit any receipts to demonstrate specific financial need as part of your applications.

We encourage all eligible students to apply for aid. Please watch for the email you will receive next week with an application link and the deadline to submit applications.

If you have questions, please review this detailed FAQ about the HEERF awards. You will find answers to common questions quickly through the FAQ. The Office of Student Financial Assistance is working hard to respond to students鈥� inquiries about other financial aid topics and is experiencing a high volume of calls at this time.

Thank you for supporting and caring for your fellow Knights.

The Helios-Florida Consortium COVID-19 Summer Completion Grant Initiative aims to increase the likelihood of on-time graduation for students who have not received CARES Act funds. Each of the three schools will receive $200,000 in funding, with up to $1,250 in individual awards available for eligible students. Across the universities, $50,000 will be used to cover operational costs for distribution.

鈥淎t a time of numerous challenges, we are pleased to offer students in Florida鈥檚 largest metropolitan regions grant support to ensure they remain enrolled during the summer and committed to degree completion,鈥� says Vince Roig, founding chairman of the Helios Education Foundation. 鈥淭his initiative will provide support for limited-income students who are in danger of reducing their course hours or not enrolling at all.鈥�

Eligible students will be notified via their Knights email with a short application form where they can outline their financial need. Consortium members are using predictive analytics and pre-screening processes to identify these students, who are at risk of reduced course loads or opting out of the summer semester. Applications will be sent out over the period of disbursement, which begins the week of June 1 and closes at the end of July.

鈥淎 large cross section of learners at FIU, 麻豆原创 and USF traditionally work full-time. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted local economies and increased unemployment throughout Florida, adversely impacting these students,鈥� says Michael Preston, executive director of the Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities. 鈥淎bout 55 percent of Pell Grant eligible students in the entire State University System of Florida are enrolled at FIU, 麻豆原创, and USF. We are grateful to Helios Education Foundation for their investment and support of our students during this unsettling time.鈥�

The average cost for tuition and fees for six credit hours for students who are not eligible for the Pell Grant and enrolled during Summer 2020 is $1,250. Due to the pandemic and various financial aid distributions, 麻豆原创 has pushed the tuition due date for Summer A, C and D courses to June 5. Tuition for the Summer B semester is due July 3. While the Helios-Florida Consortium grant may be distributed after these dates, the funds can still help students cover additional costs at this time.

In April, 麻豆原创 received $25 million in aid from the federal CARES Act for students experiencing financial hardships due to the pandemic. Disbursement for the CARES Act awards are expected to begin in June.

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool was created to help students and their families more efficiently and accurately report required financial data on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA), which is the form students are required to submit to determine their eligibility for aid.

The IRS removed the tool in March 鈥渄ue to security concerns.鈥�

Millions of people use the online tool to import their income tax information into the financial aid form. Now students and their families must type in the information directly, and that could increase the likelihood of errors 鈥� making it more important for students and families to be certain they are inputting the correct information.

For example, students and families must use their 2015 tax information for both the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 FAFSA. They cannot use their 2016 tax information. Using 2016 tax information would be flagged as an error by the federal government and could delay the receipt of financial aid.

麻豆原创 administrators are encouraging students and their families to file as soon as possible to avoid potential delays in receiving aid. Delays could result in students not getting their financial aid for up to six weeks into the semester.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 want that to happen to our students,鈥� said Alicia Keaton, 麻豆原创’s director of Student Financial Assistance. 鈥淪o, we are asking them to get their applications in now, ASAP, so there is time to resolve any issues.鈥�

What should students do?

If students make an error on the form, their application will be flagged by the feds. Student will then have to seek out a 2015 income tax transcript from the IRS and then submit it to 麻豆原创 for verification and to correct the error.

麻豆原创 is reaching out to students in a variety of ways, including creating a new website, calling students via phone and using social media to communicate with students and parents.