To: OSU faculty and staff
From: Edward Feser, Provost and Executive Vice President
4 May 2020
Dear OSU faculty and staff,
I am writing to update you that the university has now received federal funding for students available through the recently passed CARES Act, which offers financial relief due to COVID-19 impacts. The Office of Financial Aid is preparing to disburse these funds, which may be used to offset costs of housing, food, course materials, technology, health care and child care, among other eligible expenses.
Please share with students that they can learn more about this program and apply for CARES Act by visiting OSU’s CARES Act web page and apply by using the emergency funding request application. Note that there are eligibility requirements associated with the CARES Act, such as a student being eligible to receive federal financial aid and having a current FAFSA on file. If students have not filed a FAFSA for the 2019-20 academic year, they may still do so at this website.
Unfortunately, the provisions of the federal regulations do not allow OSU to distribute CARES Act funds to students enrolled solely in Ecampus, international students, DACA and undocumented students, and those not eligible for federal financial aid.
These students are also important members of the university community. To assist them and others, the OSU Foundation has launched a fundraising initiative called Beavers Care with donors contributing over $400,000 to date in emergency funding for students and OSU employees. In addition to the Beavers Care initiative, OSU is dedicating additional philanthropic and institutional funds to supporting students. To apply for this assistance, students should complete an emergency funding request through the Office of Financial Aid and may also learn more about assistance through their college advisors.
We want all of our students to know that during this time of uncertainty, that we’re here for them and doing all we can to assist them.
I hope you and your families are well.
Edward Feser
Provost and Executive Vice President