If I depend on financial support from my parents and they were negatively impacted by COVID-19, am I eligible for this funding?

The application window to apply for CARES Act funds closed at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19. Please note that assistance is subject to availability of funds, and applicants must meet eligibility criteria.

UCF will award more than $3.5 million to the more than 3,800 students who met eligibility criteria and completed the second application for the CARES Act.

This brings UCF’s total of CARES Act awards to more than $20.3 million to 23,328 eligible students, with additional disbursements of awards expected to go to eligible students in the coming weeks, exhausting the federal aid.

The Teaching in the Fall Taskforce has required and recommended language you can use. Find syllabus language here.

Undergraduate, graduate and medical degree-seeking students are eligible, but must have submitted a 2019-2020 FAFSA or must submit a FAFSA application by the June 30 deadline in order to be eligible for the funding. Students must also meet federal aid eligibility criteria, including but not limited to:

• Being a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (i.e. permanent resident or conditional permanent resident)
• Having a valid Social Security number
• Having a high school diploma, GED or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting
• Being degree-seeking
• Must be enrolled in the term for which they are seeking assistance
• Cannot be in default on federal student loans
• Being registered with Selective Service, if male
• Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Cannot exceed aggregate loan limit or Pell Grant lifetime usage
• Cannot owe an overpayment on federal aid programs

Additionally, students enrolled in an all online program of study are not eligible.

Funding is limited, and applications will be reviewed based upon request. For students who are not eligible for CARES Act funding, UCF will evaluate applications to determine whether other forms of assistance may apply.

Students who come to class without a mask should be asked to leave. The UCF COVID-19 Return to Campus policy says:
A student may be asked to leave a facility or a classroom if they are not abiding by the university’s health and hygiene rules as outlined in this policy. A student who refuses to leave a facility or classroom may be referred for student disciplinary action for causing a disruption.

A student who refuses to comply with this should be referred to Student Conduct (see, e.g., https://scai.sdes.ucf.edu/report-an-incident/). They have no choice in this matter, just as they have no choice in other matters of conduct (e.g., they can’t disrupt a class). Students who intentionally refuse to wear a facial covering will face increasing penalties, up to dismissal.

UCF’s total CARES Act awards totaled more than $20.3 million and were distributed to 23,328 eligible students. Additional disbursements of awards are expected to go to eligible students in the coming weeks, exhausting the federal aid.

The university followed guidance from the U.S. Department of Education and prioritized assistance to eligible students with the most urgent needs, providing up to 75 percent of the available funds for grants to Pell-eligible students, with the balance to non-Pell-eligible students.

Students whose education has been disrupted due to COVID-19 were given the opportunity to receive this funding by outlining the different areas (housing, food insecurity, utilities, etc.) for which they were experiencing financial impacts caused by COVID-19, and when possible, UCF worked to provide funding in the amount requested.

All faculty should plan for the potential for students to need additional flexibility with courses, particularly courses with an in-person component.

• Attendance requirements should be relaxed as much as possible without compromising the learning objectives of the course.
• Faculty should use the videoconferencing capabilities of the classroom to livestream and record lectures.
• Faculty should have clear instructions and adequate resources online for students to make up work or complete work asynchronously when necessary.

Students may still be eligible for CARES Act funding but must submit a FAFSA application. We recommend these students apply for CARES Act funding and fill out a FAFSA application, which takes the Department of Education 48-72 hours to process.

Students who have direct deposit associated with myUCF will receive their funding directly into that account. Only U.S bank accounts can be used for direct deposit, and some banks take longer to process payments.

Students without direct deposit will be mailed a paper check to the home address on record with the university. The home address in myUCF must be a residential U.S. address.

CARES Act funds are designed to assist with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19, such as housing, food, course materials, technology, healthcare and child care.

We are asking each faculty member to be proactive and have a plan. The Teaching in the Fall Taskforce has put together these recommendations:

• Identify at least one faculty member who can serve as an instructional backup for each course section, taking into consideration course modality, faculty expertise, and availability.
• Develop a transition plan for shifting to backup instructors. The plan should include details on how the change will be communicated to students, how access to the syllabus and other instructional materials needed to continue course instruction will be provided, and a plan for regular communication among primary and backup faculty to facilitate a smooth transition.
• Create plans for two scenarios: a short-term (2-3 weeks) and a long-term (3 weeks or longer) need.
• Place as much course information (e.g. assignments, exams, etc.) as possible for the entire semester in Webcourses at the beginning of the term.
• Make similar contingencies for thesis, dissertation, and independent study supervision backups.

The university followed guidance from the U.S. Department of Education.

You may contact Student Care Services to discuss eligibility and availability of other funds by emailing caremanager@ucf.edu.

The email you received explained why you did not receive CARES Act funding. Please review that message closely. If you believe the decision was in error, please contact caresact@ucf.edu.

If a student in an on-campus class falls ill, tests positive, etc., they report it via the UCF COVID Line at 407-823-2509. This triggers a public health response. If everyone in a class has been wearing face coverings and staying physically distanced there will be minimal risk of COVID transmission. The health officials will determine whether there is a reason to test others in the class, isolate anyone, or contact anyone.

All classes will be remote after Thanksgiving. The Center for Distributed Learning has put together this guide to online final exams.

Due to the anticipated high volume of applications, we expect that it will be 3-4 weeks before students will receive the money.

If you were ineligible to receive CARES Act funds or have received Cares Act funds, but are still experiencing financial distress, you can reach out to Student Care Services at caremanager@ucf.edu or 407-823-5607 to discuss and explore additional resources that may be available.

If you have chosen the Blendflex model, you will use the technology in the classroom. If you haven’t chosen Blendflex, there is a chance you may still use the technology for a student who becomes ill. Explore the video guide to the technology, and more information on the Blendflex model.

Eligibility for CARES funds was extended to undergraduate, graduate and medical degree-seeking students who had submitted a 2019-2020 FAFSA by May 19, the date the CARES Act application closed. Students must also have met federal aid eligibility criteria, including but not limited to:

• Being a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (i.e. permanent resident or conditional permanent resident)
• Having a valid Social Security number
• Having a high school diploma, GED or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting
• Being degree-seeking
• Must be enrolled in the term for which they are seeking assistance
• Cannot be in default on federal student loans
• Being registered with Selective Service, if male
• Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Cannot exceed aggregate loan limit or Pell Grant lifetime usage
• Cannot owe an overpayment on federal aid programs

Additionally, UCF Online students were not eligible.

We encourage all eligible students in need to fill out the emergency grant application and outline their hardships.

The application for the second round of CARES Act funding closed at 11:59 p.m. on July 5.

We understand that your students respect you and trust you as their faculty member. You can show them the ucf.edu/coronavirus website for the latest information and resources, and if appropriate, point them to UCF Counseling and Psychological Services.

Award amounts will vary based upon student’s request and available funding.

UCF Facilities is providing sanitizing wipes in each classroom. Faculty and students are responsible for wiping down personal workspaces with provided sanitizing wipes. Classrooms will be cleaned daily.

Ask your student to call the UCF COVID Line at 407-823-2509. Be sure the student knows your academic expectations so they can continue to learn remotely until they are cleared to come back to campus.

Every application will be evaluated individually, and the amount granted will be based on the request and available funding.

No. But if you would like to hold in-person office hours, you can as long as you follow the physical distancing and face covering guidelines.

Yes, students who graduated in Spring 2020 were eligible to apply for funding. The application window closed at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.

The Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning has gathered resources to promote academic honesty in the classroom.

Students who do not meet the eligibility requirement for CARES Act funding are encouraged to contact Student Care Services to discuss eligibility for Student Emergency funds by emailing caremanager@ucf.edu.

Yes. Speak with you supervisor, fill out the COVID-19 self checker and be sure to wear your face covering.

Students are encouraged to review their financial aid package and can contact Financial Aid by emailing sfasapandpj@ucf.edu. They should include “Professional Judgment” in the subject line and provide a detailed explanation of their special circumstance. Please allow 3-5 business days for a response.

If students are continuing to experience financial distress, they are encouraged to contact Student Care Services to discuss eligibility for Student Emergency funds by emailing caremanager@ucf.edu.

Yes, students may be eligible for both forms of support. Those who have applied for the Student Emergency Fund are encouraged to also apply for CARES Act funding.

The federal legislation outlined eligibility criteria, not UCF. The federal funding is designed to assist students who meet eligibility criteria and who had their face-to-face instruction impacted by COVID-19.

Students who do not meet the eligibility requirement for CARES Act funding are encouraged to contact Student Care Services to discuss eligibility for Student Emergency funds by emailing caremanager@ucf.edu.

No, the CARES Act money is a federal emergency grant that is not required to be repaid.

If your question is not answered here, email CARESAct@ucf.edu. Emails will be responded to within 48 business hours in the order in which they were received.

Students should complete the CARES Act funding application. Students also may be directed to Student Care Services for further assistance and can email caremanager@ucf.edu.

UCF students are being affected in very real ways by the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re among those in a position to help UCF students who are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic,  pledge your support through the university’s relief fund.

Yes. Students may receive additional funding if they meet eligibility criteria and have additional expenses.

For students who completed the CARES Act application in round 1 of funding but did not receive funding because they only completed the 2020-2021 FAFSA, were enrolled for the spring or are currently enrolled for the summer term, your application will automatically be considered, but you may complete a new application if you have updated expenses.

For students who are summer B admits, who completed the CARES Act application in round 1, and completed either the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 FAFSA, your application will automatically be considered, but you may complete a new application if you have updated expenses.

There are several ways to save money at the Bookstore:

• First Day Program – Course materials are delivered directly through WebCourses@UCF at the lowest market price and billed to your UCF student account.
• Price Match Program – Save on new and used textbook purchases and used rental being sold directly by BN.com, Amazon or local off-campus competitors. Visit the bookstore website for more details.
• Used Textbooks – The Bookstore has the largest selection of used UCF textbooks which is a savings of 25% off the new price.
• Digital Titles – Save up to 80% on hundreds of available titles.
• Rental – Save up to 80% on new and used titles.

When available, choose a digital format for instant access to textbooks and course materials. Shipping is free for orders over $49 on new, used and rental textbooks through the UCF bookstore website. You can have your course materials mailed to you also, request an in-store pickup, or try our new curbside pickup option.

Find your semester course materials through my.ucf.edu > Student Self Service > My Class Schedule.

Shop 24 hours at: UCF.BNCollege.com

Stop by the campus bookstore during regular business hours or purchase a printable UPS return label:

• Go to UCF.BNCollege.com, use dropdown for Textbook Rentals, click on Rental Returns tab, enter your order ID# and email address to access and print your UPS rental return label.

• Select Curbside Pickup during checkout at UCF.BNCollege.com.
• Within the order confirmation email there will be step-by-step instructions including a prompt to download the Bookstore mobile app, My College Bookstore.
• Once your order is processed for pickup, you will receive an email notification with a reminder to download the app.
• Within our mobile app you will notify us when you are on your way. Once you arrive at the designated pickup location — in front of Burnett Honors College, next to Colburn Hall in lot H2.
• Once you arrive at the signed pickup area, select I’m Outside the Store and enter your car’s description on the mobile app. A Bookseller will arrive soon with your order.
• Curbside pickup is currently only available at the UCF Main Campus stores in lot H2.

Submit a Technical Assistance Request located at the bottom of the questionnaire, and the COVID Self-Checker support team will investigate adding the location.

No. UCF is not using any mobile app technology, including UCF Mobile, for contact tracing.

You will see several different options for textbooks and other course materials depending on the class:

• Choose a digital format and get instant access.
• Get new, used or rental textbooks with free shipping for orders over $49.

Students must be enrolled for the summer term, have completed a 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 FAFSA and meet other federal eligibility criteria.