Hastings College students who have been impacted by COVID-19 now have immediate access to grants of up to $3,000 cash totaling more than $525,000. Additional funds for students are also being provided by the College’s BroncosTogether Fund, a fundraising effort organized by the Hastings College Foundation.
Initial grant funds are part of the U.S. CARES Act/Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. To qualify for the CARES funds and federal aid, a student must have filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Approximately 80 percent of Hastings College students have completed the FAFSA and are eligible, and students who did not complete a FAFSA can still do so.
U.S. CARES grants can apply to expenses students have incurred that are directly related to the disruption caused by COVID-19 and their education. This includes housing, moving or transportation expenses, food, technology, educational supplies and services such as child care and health care.
Reduced income related to a loss of campus or other employment is not covered by CARES grants — but can be supported by BroncosTogether funds. BroncosTogether funds can also support students who are not eligible for federal aid, including international students.
The Hastings College Foundation recognized that many students and families would be faced with significant financial challenges due to COVID-19 and launched BroncosTogether in April. To date, more than $150,000 has been contributed to the fund, and donations can be made as part of Give Hastings Day through May 7, or directly to the Foundation on an ongoing basis.
“These are exceptional times for students and their families, and we know many are facing financial distress, and will continue to face hardships into the summer and as clases resume next year,” said Gary Freeman, executive director of the Hastings College Foundation. “The BroncosTogether Fund is a way to help bridge the gap, to relieve a little of that pressure so students can be in the best position to succeed.”
Students can apply for aid from both sources through a single application created by the Hastings College Financial Aid Office. The link was sent to students earlier this week. Funds will be disbursed as quickly as possible.
The U.S. CARES funds allocated to Hastings College was based on enrollment and was part of the roughly $14 billion to colleges and universities across the country. Hastings College will receive additional funds to help reimburse expenses from the pandemic.
Hastings College is Nebraska’s premier private college. A four-year residential college that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement, Hastings’ student-centered initiatives include providing books, an iPad and a two-week study away experience at no additional cost. A block-style semester schedule allows professors and students to focus on fewer classes at a time and promotes hands-on experiences. Discover more at hastings.edu.
