Frequently Asked Questions

Program Information

Both the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and the CARES Act Emergency Grant programs were created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to assist students. The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship was created by University of the Pacific to assist students with their tuition costs beginning in the fall 2020 semester. The CARES Act Emergency Grant was created by the federal government to assist students with emergency expenses that resulted from the campus disruption that began in the spring 2020 semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Education requires colleges and universities that receive funding under the CARES Act to post a report on their website that provides the status of the seven regulatory requirements listed below.

If you have questions not answered in the FAQs, please contact the Office of Financial Aid on your campus.

Questions COVID-19 Relief Scholarship CARES Act Emergency Grant
What is the funding source? University of the Pacific Federal government via the U.S. Department of Education (ED)
When was the program announced? Regent Huber announced the Board of Regents’ approval of the COVID-19 Relief Grant for eligible students on April 8, 2020. The COVID-19 Relief Grant was subsequently renamed the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. The Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, announced the availability of CARES Act funding for emergency financial aid grants to students of University of the Pacific (and other colleges and universities nationwide) on April 9, 2020.
What is a brief description of the program? To help ease the significant financial burdens many students and families may be facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, University of the Pacific’s Board of Regents approved new funding to assist students so that they can focus on pursuing their degree programs. Eligible undergraduate, graduate and professional students can receive scholarships from this program beginning in the fall 2020 semester. The federal government recently passed legislation called the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (pdf). The bill builds upon earlier versions of the CARES Act and is intended to be a third round of federal government support in the wake of the COVID-19 public health crisis and associated economic fallout. The bill includes funding for emergency grants for eligible students.
When does the program begin? Eligible undergraduate, graduate and professional students can receive funds from the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship program beginning in the fall 2020 semester. Eligible undergraduate, graduate and professional students will begin to receive disbursements of grants for emergency expenses from the CARES Act program beginning in the summer 2020 semester.
What is the amount of funding available for the 2020-2021 academic year? University of the Pacific has committed to funding all eligible undergraduate students, each of whom can receive a total of $1,450 for the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters. Graduate and professional students can apply for scholarships from a fund totaling $400,000 for the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters. ED announced that University of the Pacific is eligible for $2,582,435 to be used to make individual awards to students for their emergency expenses that resulted from campus disruption that occurred after March 27, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Undergraduate students have the broadest eligibility for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and the CARES Act Emergency Grant. Both of these programs have detailed eligibility criteria, some of which is based on federal statutes, that students must meet. Overall and specific eligibility criteria, as well as eligibility as it applies to individual groups of students such as undergraduate, graduate, professional, international and DACA students, is presented below. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program. Not every circumstance that affects student eligibility is or can be described here.

Questions COVID-19 Relief Scholarship CARES Act Emergency Grant
What are the overall eligibility criteria? Eligibility criteria for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship differ for matriculated undergraduate and graduate/professional students. DACA and international students are eligible, including matriculated UOPI students. Undergraduates are not required to apply, must be enrolled full time and are limited to a maximum of eight semesters of eligibility (transfer students are limited to a maximum of six semesters of eligibility). Graduate and professional students are required to submit an application, are evaluated based upon financial eligibility (need*), EFC*, COA* and enrollment status, students are limited to a maximum of two semesters of eligibility. Matriculated undergraduate, graduate and professional students are eligible to be considered for the CARES Act Emergency Grant if they experienced campus disruption and have emergency expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens and must meet the same eligibility criteria as are required to receive Title IV* (federal) financial aid. To apply, students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA*), must complete the CARES Act Emergency Grant Application and may be required to submit receipts and other documentation of their emergency expenses.
What are the minimum federal (Title IV*) eligibility criteria? Matriculated graduate and professional students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens are required to submit a FAFSA* and the university’s online application to apply for a COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Students must
1. be eligible to receive Title IV* funds; and
2. be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible program; and
3. be maintaining SAP*; and
4. not owe a refund on any grant; and
5. have a valid social security number; and
6. have repaid any Title IV funds obtained by fraud; and
7. be a high school graduate or equivalent; and
8. not have borrowed in excess of loan limits; and
9. have registered with the selective service; and
10. have satisfied the drug offense question on the FAFSA*. Undergraduates are not required to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship.
To meet the minimum federal eligibility criteria to apply for a CARES Act Emergency Grant a student must submit a FAFSA* and the university’s online application. The student must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen; and
1. be eligible to receive Title IV* funds; and
2. be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible program; and
3. be maintaining SAP*; and
4. not owe a refund on any grant; and
5. have a valid social security number; and
6. have repaid any Title IV funds obtained by fraud; and
7. be a high school graduate or equivalent; and
8. not have borrowed in excess of loan limits; and
9. have registered with the selective service; and
10. have satisfied the drug offense question on the FAFSA*. For consideration students are required to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant.
Are there any academic requirements to receive the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship or CARES Act Emergency Grant? Undergraduate recipients must maintain the university’s minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP*) standards as one condition of initially receiving and then renewing the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Graduate and professional students must have a positive SAP status to receive the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. The scholarship is not renewable for graduate and professional students after the 2020-2021 academic year. Federal regulations require that all recipients of CARES Act Grant Emergency funds must have a positive Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP*) status. The CARES Act Emergency Grant is not renewable after the 2020-2021 academic year. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are full-time undergraduate students (including DACA and international students) eligible? Undergraduate students must be enrolled full-time at the end of the Drop-Add period and must meet other eligibility criteria to receive the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Eligible undergraduates can receive the scholarship for a maximum of eight semesters. Students who entered Pacific as transfers are eligible for a maximum of six semesters. Undergraduate students can be enrolled either full-time or part-time to be eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are part-time undergraduate students (including DACA and international students) eligible? Undergraduate students must be enrolled full-time and must meet other eligibility criteria to receive the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Part-time undergraduates are not eligible to receive the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Undergraduate students can be enrolled either full-time or part-time to be eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are undergraduates who are incoming first-year or transfer students for the fall 2020 semester eligible? First-year and transfer undergraduate students are eligible to be considered for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and are not required to apply. Eligibility is determined by the Office of Financial Aid. Eligible undergraduates who entered the university as first-year students can receive the scholarship for a maximum of eight semesters. Students who entered Pacific as transfers are eligible for a maximum of six semesters. CARES Act funding is intended to provide emergency financial aid grants to eligible students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, first-year undergraduate, graduate and professional students are not eligible to apply until after the start of the fall 2020 semester and only then if they experience disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The university anticipates that demand for CARES Act grants will likely exceed the available funding and that first-year students will only be considered if funding remains available. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are full-time graduate students (including DACA and international students) eligible? Full-time graduate students who meet all other eligibility criteria will be given preference over part-time graduate students in the application process. Full-time graduate students who meet all other eligibility criteria are eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are part-time graduate students (including DACA and international students) eligible? Part-time graduate students are eligible to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship, although full-time students who meet all other eligibility criteria will be given preference. Part-time graduate students who meet all other eligibility criteria are eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are students who are graduating in May 2020 eligible to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and/or CARES Act Emergency Grant? The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship begins in the fall 2020 semester. Therefore, students who are completing their programs prior to the fall semester are not eligible for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Graduating students who experienced COVID-19 related financial emergency expenses are eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant program. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are students who are graduating in December 2020 eligible to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and/or CARES Act Emergency Grant? The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship begins in the fall 2020 semester. Eligible undergraduate students can receive the scholarship for the fall semester. Graduate and professional students who are completing their programs in December 2020 who meet all eligibility criteria can apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for the fall semester. Graduating students who experienced COVID-19 related financial emergency expenses are eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant program. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are incoming graduate students for the fall 2020 semester eligible to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and/or CARES Act Emergency Grant? Although incoming graduate students are eligible to apply to be considered for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship, preference is given to students who will complete their programs during the 2020-2021 academic year. CARES Act funding is intended to provide emergency financial aid grants to eligible students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, incoming graduate students are not eligible to apply until after the start of the fall 2020 semester and only then if they experience disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The university anticipates that demand for CARES Act grants will likely exceed the available funding and that new students will only be considered if funding remains available. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Can students apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and/or CARES Act Emergency Grant for the summer as well as in the fall and spring semesters? The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship is only available during the fall and spring semesters. Students are not eligible for the scholarship for summer enrollment. The university is permitted to begin disbursing CARES Grant funding during the summer of 2020 and until March 2021. Funding is limited and demand will likely exceed the amount available; therefore, students are urged to apply promptly.
Are full-time professional students eligible? Full-time professional students who meet all other eligibility criteria will be given preference over part-time professional students in the application process. The scholarship amount may be adjusted based upon the student’s enrollment at the end of the Drop-Add period. Full-time professional students who meet all other eligibility criteria are eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are part-time professional students eligible? Part-time professional students are eligible to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship, although full-time students who meet all other eligibility criteria will be given preference. Part-time professional students who meet all other eligibility criteria are eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are incoming professional students for the fall 2020 semester eligible? Although incoming professional students are eligible to apply to be considered for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship, preference is given to students who meet all other eligibility criteria and who will complete their programs during the 2020-2021 academic year. CARES Act funding is intended to provide emergency financial aid grants to eligible students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, incoming professional students are not eligible to apply until after the start of the fall 2020 semester and only then if they experience disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The university anticipates that demand for CARES Act grants will likely exceed the available funding and that new students will only be considered if funding remains available. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are students who are enrolled in the university’s formal Study Abroad program eligible? Matriculated students who are enrolled full-time in the university’s Study Abroad program can receive the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship so long as they meet all other eligibility criteria. Matriculated students who are enrolled in the university’s Study Abroad program and meet all other eligibility criteria can apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
If the student’s total aid exceeds the Cost of Attendance (COA*), can the student receive the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and/or CARES Act Emergency Grant? Under federal law, the university is required to limit students’ total assistance so that it is equal to or less than the COA*. As such, eligible students can receive the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship unless it in combination with other financial assistance exceeds the COA (or is limited by NCAA or CSAC’s* Cal Grant restrictions). In most cases, if the student’s total aid exceeds the COA, other aid (such as loans) will be reduced first. Normally under federal law, the university is required to limit students’ total assistance so that it is equal to or less than the COA*. The CARES Act Emergency Grant is an exception to this rule. Although the CARES Act Emergency Grant is a type of federal financial aid it is not restricted by the COA and students who are eligible for CARES Act funding may retain it even if their other financial aid is equal to their COA.
Are students who receive athletic scholarships eligible to receive the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and/or CARES Act Emergency Grant? If a students’ scholarships and grants do not cover all of their tuition, they may be eligible for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. If the student has an athletic scholarship, the Office of Financial Aid and the Athletics Department will review the student’s total financial assistance. This review will be based upon the athletic aid agreement and specific NCAA and institutional policies and will determine if the student is eligible to receive the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. The information below is copied from the 2020 NCAA Division I COVID-19 Question and Answer Guide (last updated April 24, 2020), NCAA Division I Bylaw 15 – Financial Aid Impact of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act Grants on Financial Aid:

Question: Is there an individual or team limit impact for funds received by institutions pursuant to the CARES Act that are then disbursed to student-athletes?

Answer: If provided on a basis unrelated to athletics, then the funds provided by institutions to student-athletes pursuant to the CARES Act are excluded from NCAA individual and team limit legislation.
If the student has other grants and scholarships that cover full tuition, can the student use the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and/or CARES Act Emergency Grant toward housing, food and other enrollment expenses? If when combined with other financial assistance the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship exceeds tuition, it can be used toward costs for fees, housing, food or other enrollment expenses that the student incurs on or off campus (except when limited by NCAA and CAL Grant regulations). The CARES Act Grant is intended to assist eligible students with emergency expenses that are related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Non-tuition expenses include costs such as for food, housing, course materials (books, supplies and equipment), technology, healthcare, transportation, childcare, study abroad and disability. The CARES Act Emergency Grant will be paid directly to students, who can then use the funds for tuition and/or other enrollment costs.
Can students who receive a CARES Act Emergency Grant subsequently apply for a second grant for additional expenses? This question does not apply to the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship program. If students have subsequent, different COVID-19 related emergency expenses, they may apply to be considered for a second grant. The university anticipates that demand for CARES Act Emergency Grants will likely exceed the available funding; therefore, a second grant will only be considered if funding remains available.
Will the amount of the student’s COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and/or CARES Act Emergency Grant increase from year to year? The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for eligible undergraduate students is renewable so long as the recipient meets all renewal criteria. The amount of the scholarship will not increase. The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for eligible graduate and professional students is offered only for the 2020-2021 academic year and is not renewable. The CARES Act provides for emergency grants that are offered only during the one-year period from April 2020 to March 2021.

The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship is a University of the Pacific-funded program under which DACA and international and matriculated UOPI students will be considered on the same basis as other students. Because DACA and international students are not eligible to submit the FAFSA*, which is a requirement for graduate and professional students who wish to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship, they are required to submit a supplemental income application that is available within the application portal. Undergraduate DACA and international students are not required to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program. Not every circumstance that affects student eligibility is or can be described here.

Questions COVID-19 Relief Scholarship CARES Act Emergency Grant
Are full-time international students eligible? Full-time undergraduate international students are not required to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship, as the Office of Financial Aid will determine eligibility. Full-time graduate and professional international students are eligible to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Full-time international students who meet all other eligibility criteria will be given preference over part-time international students in the application process. Unfortunately, international students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are part-time international students eligible? Part-time undergraduate international students are not eligible for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Part-time graduate and professional international students are eligible to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship, although full-time students who meet all other eligibility criteria will be given preference. Unfortunately, international students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are full-time UOPI (international) students eligible? Full-time matriculated undergraduate UOPI students are not required to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship, as the Office of Financial Aid will determine eligibility. Full-time UOPI graduate and professional students are eligible to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Full-time matriculated UOPI students who meet all other eligibility criteria will be given preference over part-time UOPI students in the application process. UOPI students who are not matriculated are not eligible. Unfortunately, UOPI students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are part-time UOPI (international) students eligible? Part-time undergraduate UOPI students are not eligible for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Part-time matriculated UOPI graduate and professional students are eligible to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship, although full-time students who meet all other eligibility criteria will be given preference. UOPI students who are not matriculated are not eligible. Unfortunately, UOPI students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are undergraduate DACA students eligible? Part-time undergraduate DACA students are not eligible for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Both full-time and part-time DACA graduate and professional students are eligible to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship, although full-time students who meet all other eligibility criteria will be given preference. Unfortunately, DACA students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing this program
Are graduate and professional DACA students eligible? Both full-time and part-time DACA graduate and professional students are eligible to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship, although full-time students who meet all other eligibility criteria will be given preference. Unfortunately, DACA students are not eligible for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing this program

Undergraduate students have the broadest eligibility for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and the CARES Act Emergency Grant. Both of these programs have detailed eligibility criteria, some of which is based on federal statutes, that students must meet. Undergraduate students are not required to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship, as their eligibility will be determined by the Office of Financial Aid. Graduate and professional students must apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and preference will be given to students who are enrolled full-time and meet all other eligibility criteria. Undergraduate, graduate and professional students must apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant. Students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA*), must meet the same eligibility criteria as are required to receive Title IV* financial aid, must have experienced campus disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic and must as a result have accrued emergency expenses. Unfortunately, international, UOPI and DACA students are not eligible for the federal CARES Act Emergency Grant. Funding for the CARES Act Emergency Grant is limited, and individual emergency grant amounts will vary depending on the number of eligible applicants.

Questions COVID-19 Relief Scholarship CARES Act Emergency Grant
What applications are students required to submit to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and CARES Act Emergency Grant programs? Graduate and professional (including international and DACA) students must submit an application to be considered for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. (Law students have a separate application). Graduate and professional students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens are also required to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). International and DACA graduate and professional students are required to submit a supplemental application (available within the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship portal), which contains questions about their income. Undergraduate (including international and DACA) students are not required to submit an application to receive the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Undergraduate, graduate and professional (not including international and DACA) students must submit an application and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA*) to be considered for the CARES Act Emergency Grant. Students who have not already submitted a 2019-2020 OR 2020-2021 FAFSA, should immediately do so on the website or by downloading the mobile app. To apply for CARES Act funding, the student is not required to submit both the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 FAFSAs, only one FAFSA is required.
What questions are students required to answer to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and/or CARES Act Emergency Grant programs? Undergraduate students are not required to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship, as eligibility for this funding will be determined by the Office of Financial aid. Graduate and professional students are required to submit the FAFSA* and an online application. DACA and international students are not required to submit a FAFSA. DACA and international students are required to submit a supplemental application to disclose their income. The supplemental application is available within the application portal. As part of the online application process, students must write a short essay to explain how they were financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. CARES Act funding is intended to provide emergency financial aid grants to eligible students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic (including eligible expenses under the student’s Cost of Attendance (COA*) such as food, housing, required books and/or course materials, supplies and equipment, technology, health care, childcare and study abroad). Students should be aware that they are applying for federal financial aid funds and must answer all application questions truthfully and honestly. The information that students provide is subject to verification, which means that students may be required to submit independent documentation of their answers and receipts for their emergency expenses. Students who apply for CARES Act Emergency Grants must submit the dollar amount of their emergency expenses. Students may not include expenses that were incurred for their families or other members of their household.
Is there a deadline to apply? Undergraduate students are not required to apply. The application deadline for law students is May 15, 2020. All other graduate and professional students are urged to apply by their priority deadline of May 31, 2020. Applications received after May 31, 2020, will be considered if funds are still available. Funds are limited, and undergraduate, graduate and professional students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Are undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens required to submit a FAFSA*? Undergraduate students are not required to submit a FAFSA* to receive the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens are required to submit a FAFSA* and the university’s online application to be considered for the CARES Act Emergency Grant.
Are graduate and professional students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens required to submit a FAFSA*? Graduate and professional students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens are required to submit a FAFSA* and the university’s online application to be considered for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Graduate and professional students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens are required to submit a FAFSA* and the university’s online application to be considered for the CARES Act Emergency Grant.
Are students required to submit any other application forms? In addition to the online application, graduate and professional DACA and international students are required to submit a supplemental income application that is available within the application portal to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. All eligible students who apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant are required to submit both the online application and FAFSA* to be considered. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are any other documents required? Graduate and professional international and DACA students are required to submit a supplemental income application that is available within the application portal to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. All eligible students who apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant may be required to submit documentation (such as receipts) of their emergency expenses. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.

The application guidelines above are applicable to DACA and international students, except that they are not required to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA*). Graduate and professional DACA and international students who apply for the university’s COVID-19 Relief Scholarship are required to submit a Supplemental Application that is available within the scholarship portal. Undergraduate DACA and international students are not required to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship, as the Office of Financial Aid will determine eligibility. Unfortunately, DACA and international undergraduate, graduate and professional students are not eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.

Questions COVID-19 Relief Scholarship CARES Act Emergency Grant
Are international undergraduate students required to submit a FAFSA*? International undergraduate students are not required to submit a FAFSA* to be considered for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Eligibility for the scholarship will be determined by the Office of Financial Aid. Unfortunately, international undergraduate students are not eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are international graduate and professional students required to submit a FAFSA*? International graduate and professional students are not required to submit a FAFSA* to be considered for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship; however, they are required to submit a supplemental income application that is available within the application portal. Unfortunately, international graduate and professional students are not eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are undergraduate DACA students required to submit a FAFSA*? Undergraduate DACA students are not required to submit a FAFSA* to be considered for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Eligibility for the scholarship will be determined by the Office of Financial Aid. Unfortunately, undergraduate DACA students are not eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are graduate and professional DACA students required to submit a FAFSA*? Graduate and professional DACA students are not required to submit a FAFSA* to be considered for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship; however, they are required to submit a supplemental income application that is available within the application portal. Unfortunately, graduate and professional DACA students are not eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are students required to submit any other application forms? In addition to the online application, graduate and professional DACA and international students are required to submit a supplemental income application that is available within the application portal to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. All eligible students who apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant are required to submit both the online application and FAFSA* to be considered. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
Are any other documents required? Graduate and professional international and DACA students are required to submit a supplemental income application that is available within the application portal to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. All eligible students who apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant may be required to submit documentation (such as receipts) of their emergency expenses. Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.

After the priority deadline, applications will be reviewed to confirm eligibility and to determine the amount individual students will receive. Eligibility for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for matriculated graduate and professional students will be based on enrollment status (with preference given to those who are full-time and have met all other eligibility criteria), the student’s COA*, financial need*, the total number of applications the university receives and available funding. Eligibility for the CARES Act Emergency Grant for matriculated undergraduate, graduate and professional students will be based on the total amount of emergency expenses submitted, the number of applications the university receives and available funding. For both the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and the CARES Act Emergency Grant, if funding remains available after all on-time applicants have been awarded, late applications will be considered. Students who are not matriculated are ineligible for both of these programs.

Questions COVID-19 Relief Scholarship CARES Act Emergency Grant
How is eligibility determined for undergraduate students? Undergraduate students have the broadest eligibility for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Undergraduate students are not required to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship, as their eligibility will be determined by the Office of Financial Aid. Undergraduates must be enrolled full-time and must make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)*. The estimated number of semesters of eligibility for undergraduates will be based on the university’s projection of the amount of time the student is scheduled to be enrolled to complete the current degree program.

The Office of Financial Aid will determine if graduate and professional applicants are eligible to receive the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship based upon academic standing, enrollment status (how many units), enrollment in an eligible degree program, the other grants and scholarships that the student is scheduled to receive, EFC*, financial need* and Cost of Attendance (COA)*. Graduate and professional students who have the highest COAs and highest financial need will be awarded first. Students who have lower COAs and financial need will be awarded if funds remain available. Graduate and professional students are eligible for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for a maximum of two semesters so long as they continue to meet all eligibility criteria.
Eligibility for the CARES Act Emergency Grant for matriculated undergraduate, graduate and professional students will be based on the total amount of emergency expenses submitted, the number of applications that the university receives, financial need* and available funding. Students must submit a FAFSA* and be eligible for federal Title IV* financial aid.

Unfortunately, DACA and international students are not eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
How is eligibility determined for graduate students? Eligibility for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for matriculated graduate students will be based on enrollment status (with preference given to those who are full-time and have met all other eligibility criteria), the student’s COA*, financial need*, the total number of applications the university receives and available funding. Eligibility for the CARES Act Emergency Grant for matriculated graduate students will be based on the total amount of emergency expenses submitted, the number of applications that the university receives, financial need* and available funding. Students must submit a FAFSA* and be eligible for federal Title IV* financial aid.
How is eligibility determined for professional students? Eligibility for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for matriculated professional students will be based on enrollment status (with preference given to those who are full-time and have met all other eligibility criteria), the student’s COA*, financial need*, the total number of applications the university receives and available funding. Eligibility for the CARES Act Emergency Grant for matriculated professional students will be based on the total amount of emergency expenses submitted, the number of applications that the university receives, financial need* and available funding. Students must submit a FAFSA* and be eligible for federal Title IV* financial aid.
How is eligibility determined for graduate and professional international students? Eligibility for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for matriculated graduate and professional international students will be based on enrollment status (with preference given to those who are full-time and have met all other eligibility criteria), the student’s COA*, financial need*, the total number of applications the university receives and available funding. Unfortunately, international students are not eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
How is eligibility determined for graduate and professional DACA students? Eligibility for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for matriculated graduate and professional DACA students will be based on enrollment status (with preference given to those who are full-time and have met all other eligibility criteria), the student’s COA*, financial need*, the total number of applications the university receives and available funding. Unfortunately, DACA students are not eligible to apply for the CARES Act Emergency Grant due to the federal rules governing the program.
What is the minimum semester award amount for eligible undergraduate students? Eligible matriculated undergraduate students who are enrolled full-time and who have not exhausted their eligibility will receive $725 for the fall semester and $725 for the spring semester. The minimum award for the CARES Act Emergency Grant for undergraduates will be determined based on the total number of applications the university receives.
What is the maximum award amount for eligible undergraduate students? Eligible matriculated undergraduate students who are enrolled full-time and who have not exhausted their eligibility will receive $725 for the fall semester and $725 for the spring semester. The maximum award for the CARES Act Emergency Grant for undergraduates will be determined based on the total number of applications the university receives.
What is the minimum award amount for eligible graduate and professional students? The minimum award for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for graduate and professional students will be determined based on the total number of applications the university receives. The minimum award for the CARES Act Emergency Grant for graduate and professional students will be determined based on the total number of applications the university receives.
What is the maximum award amount for eligible graduate and professional students? The maximum award for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for graduate and professional students will be determined based on the total number of applications the university receives. The maximum award for the CARES Act Emergency Grant for graduate and professional students will be determined based on the total number of applications the university receives.
Can the amount of my scholarship or grant be appealed? The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for undergraduates is set by university policy as a fixed amount and cannot be appealed. The amount of the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for graduate and professional students will be determined based on their enrollment status (with preference given to those who are full-time and have met all other eligibility criteria), the student’s COA*, financial need*, the total number of applications the university receives and available funding. The amount cannot be appealed. The amount of the CARES Act Emergency Grant for eligible undergraduate, graduate and professional students will be determined based on the total amount of emergency expenses a student submits, the number of applications the university receives and available funding. The amount cannot be appealed.
Can students submit a subsequent application? Undergraduate students are not required to apply. Graduate and professional students are urged to apply by the priority deadline of May 31, 2020. Initial and subsequent applications that are received after May 31, 2020, will only be considered if funds are still available. Funds are limited, and undergraduate, graduate and professional students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Initial and subsequent applications will only be considered if funds are still available
There is a website where students can divide the amount of CARES Act funding Pacific received by the 2017-2018 enrollment. Is that the amount I will receive from the CARES Act Emergency Grant program? This question does not apply to the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship program. This program is funded by University of the Pacific, which is solely responsible for setting scholarship amounts and eligibility criteria. Under the federal statutes that govern the CARES Act Emergency Grant program, the university is required to evaluate individual student’s eligibility and emergency expenses. Thus, a website that simply divides the total available funding by a past year’s enrollment cannot be used by the university to determine an individual student’s eligibility and award amount.

After the priority deadline, applications will be reviewed to confirm eligibility and to determine the amount individual students will receive. Once all of the award amounts have been determined, the Office of Financial Aid will notify both those applicants who are eligible for a scholarship and/or a grant as well as those who are not eligible. If funds remain available after the students who met the priority deadline are awarded, late applicants will be considered. Students who are eligible for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship will be able to view their scholarships in the Inside Pacific portal. Students who are eligible for a CARES Act Grant will receive funds via check or direct deposit.

Questions COVID-19 Relief Scholarship CARES Act Emergency Grant
How were students notified about the availability of the COVID-19 Relief Scholarships and CARES Act Emergency Grants? The university used a variety of methods to notify students about the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Simultaneous with its initial announcement on April 8, 2020, a notice and FAQ were posted on the website. A number of webinars were offered in April, during which questions about the scholarship were answered. A reminder notification was made on April 28, and an email containing the link to the application portal was distributed on May 7. Information about the CARES Act was widely publicized in all media channels by the federal government, the U.S. Department of Education and a variety of other sources. The university announced that it had received its notice of eligibility and that students would have an opportunity to apply for emergency grants on April 28, 2020. An email notification containing the link to the application portal was distributed on May 7.
Will students who receive funding be notified? Eligible undergraduate, graduate and professional students will be able to view their scholarships in the Inside Pacific portal. Additionally, applicants who submitted a 2020-2021 FAFSA* will be able to view their scholarship on their financial aid offer letter. Eligible undergraduate, graduate and professional students will receive a notice that their application for a CARES Act Emergency Grant has been approved and will receive funds via check or direct deposit.
How will funds be disbursed? Eligible undergraduate, graduate and professional students will be able to view their scholarships in the Inside Pacific portal. The scholarship amount will be credited to the eligible student’s account for the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters.

For eligible undergraduate students who enroll full-time, which is defined as 12–18 units (or more) per semester for this award, the scholarship will be disbursed to the student account in a maximum amount of $725 for the fall semester and $725 for the spring semester.

The annual amount of the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship is variable for graduate and professional students. Half of the annual award will be disbursed to eligible students for the fall semester and the remaining half will be disbursed for the spring semester.
Eligible undergraduate, graduate and professional students will receive a notice that their application for a CARES Act Emergency Grant has been approved and will receive funds via check or direct deposit.
Will students who do not receive funding be notified? Graduate and professional students who apply for a COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and are not selected will receive notification. Undergraduates who do not meet the eligibility criteria (due to part-time enrollment or not being matriculated) are considered to have been notified by published information. Undergraduate, graduate and professional students who apply for a CARES Act Emergency Grant and are not selected will receive notification.

In this section information about the maximum number of semesters that eligible students can receive the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and the CARES Act Emergency Grant, as well as a variety of circumstances and enrollment statuses that affect students’ eligibility for these programs, is presented. Not every circumstance that affects student eligibility is or can be described here.

Questions COVID-19 Relief Scholarship CARES Act Emergency Grant
What is the maximum number of semesters that undergraduates can receive funds? Eligible undergraduates who enter the university as first-time students for the fall 2020 semester can (but are not guaranteed to) receive the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for a maximum of eight semesters. Eligible undergraduate transfer students can (but are not guaranteed to) receive the scholarship for a maximum of six semesters. Eligibility for currently enrolled undergraduate students will be calculated based on the university’s estimate of the number of semesters required to complete the current undergraduate program’s courses, with the maximum possible number being seven. The CARES Act Emergency Grant is a program of one year’s duration that, as currently regulated, is not renewable. All funds will be disbursed beginning as soon as possible and not later than March 2021 (or until funding is exhausted).
Are students who are enrolled in a pre-professional program (e.g., dental, pharmacy) or a blended program (e.g., accounting, engineering) eligible to receive a COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and/or CARES Act Emergency Grant when they transition to the professional or master’s degree portion of their program? The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship is limited to full-time matriculated undergraduate students while they are enrolled in the undergraduate portion of their programs. Students who initially received the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship as undergraduates are not eligible to continue to receive the scholarship when they enroll in their professional or master’s degree coursework.

Students who are initially offered the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship as graduate or professional students may continue to receive it for a maximum of two semesters so long as they meet all eligibility criteria.
The CARES Act Emergency Grant is a program of one year’s duration that, as currently regulated, is not renewable. Eligible students can receive funding as undergraduates, graduates or professional students.
Is funding renewable for subsequent academic years for undergraduate students? The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship is renewable so long as undergraduates meet all eligibility criteria and have not exhausted their maximum number of semesters of eligibility (see above). The CARES Act Emergency Grant is a program of one year’s duration that, as currently regulated, is not renewable. All funds will be disbursed as soon as possible.
What is the maximum number of semesters that graduate and professional students can receive funds? Eligible graduate and professional students can (but are not guaranteed to) receive the scholarship for a maximum of two semesters that must occur within the 2020-2021 academic year. The CARES Act Emergency Grant is a program of one year’s duration that, as currently regulated, is not renewable. All funds will be disbursed as soon as possible.
Is funding renewable for subsequent academic years for graduate and professional students? The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship is not renewable. Eligible graduate and professional students can (but are not guaranteed to) receive the scholarship for a maximum of two semesters that must occur within the 2020-2021 academic year. The CARES Act Emergency Grant is a program of one year’s duration that, as currently regulated, is not renewable. All funds will be disbursed as soon as possible.
Can students who graduate in December receive the entire annual amount of the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship, for the fall semester (or for any single semester)? Eligible undergraduate students can receive a maximum of $725 per semester when they enroll full-time, which is defined as 12–18 (or more) units per semester for this award.

The annual amount of the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship is variable for graduate and professional students. Half of the annual award will be disbursed to eligible students for the fall 2020 semester and the remaining half will be disbursed for the spring 2021 semester.

Neither undergraduates, graduates nor professional students are eligible for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship during any summer semester.
The CARES Act Emergency Grant will be disbursed as soon as possible after the eligible student’s application is processed. Disbursement may occur in the summer 2020 semester or in the following fall or spring semesters if funds remain available.
Can the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship be increased to offset the additional tuition cost for students who take an overload of units during a semester? The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship is offered at a maximum amount of $725 each semester that the eligible undergraduate student is enrolled full-time, which is defined as 12–18 units (or more) per semester for this award. The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship is offered to graduate students in variable amounts that will not increase to cover overload units. This question does not apply to the CARES Act Emergency Grant program.
Are students who changed their majors or programs eligible to continue to receive the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and/or CARES Act Emergency funds? The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship is available for a maximum of eight semesters, based on time of initial matriculation and initial financial aid award year for eligible undergraduate students. Students who received the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for fewer than eight semesters and have maintained Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP*) in the original degree program, may appeal for an extension of the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. The number of semesters of estimated eligibility is based on the university’s calculations at the time the student initially received the scholarship.

The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship is available for a maximum of two semesters, based on time of initial matriculation and initial financial aid award year for graduate and professional students. The duration of eligibility for graduate and professional students cannot be extended beyond the 2020-2021 academic year to permit the student to complete a change of major or program.
The CARES Act Emergency Grant is a program of one year’s duration that, as currently regulated, is not renewable. All funds will be disbursed beginning as soon as possible and not later than March 2021 (or until funding is exhausted).
Are students who take a leave from Pacific eligible for an extension of the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship beyond its original expiration date? Students who take a leave from the university due to extenuating circumstances, such as to recover from a serious medical condition, may appeal to the Office of Financial Aid to extend the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship beyond its original expiration date so long as they have received the scholarship for fewer than the maximum number of allowable semesters. The university reserves the right to substitute other funds for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for students who are approved to continue their eligibility after appealing. This question does not apply to the CARES Act Emergency Grant as it is a program of one year’s duration that, as currently regulated, is not renewable. All funds will be disbursed beginning as soon as possible and not later than March 2021 (or until funding is exhausted).
Are students who will be enrolled for another semester or two before completing their programs eligible to extend their COVID-19 Relief Scholarship beyond its original expiration date? The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship is available (but not guaranteed) for a maximum of eight semesters, based on time of initial matriculation and financial aid award year for eligible undergraduate students. Students who received the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for fewer than eight semesters and have maintained Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP*) in their degree program, may appeal for an extension of the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. The number of semesters of estimated eligibility is based on the university’s calculations at the time the student initially received the scholarship. The university reserves the right to substitute other funds for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for students who are approved to continue their eligibility after appealing.

The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship is available (but not guaranteed) for a maximum of two semesters, based on time of initial matriculation and initial financial aid award year for graduate and professional students and cannot be extended for additional semesters that may be required to complete the degree.
The CARES Act Emergency Grant is a program of one year’s duration that, as currently regulated, is not renewable. All funds will be disbursed beginning as soon as possible and not later than March 2021 (or until funding is exhausted).
Are incoming students who defer their admission eligible to also defer receipt of the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship to the 2021-2022 academic year or later? Incoming undergraduate, graduate and professional students who defer their admission beyond the 2020-2021 academic year are not eligible to receive the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Students who defer their admission will be considered for the scholarships, grants and other financial assistance that the university is offering at the time of their entry to the institution. Undergraduate, graduate and professional students are only eligible to apply for funding under the CARES Act during the year that begins in April 2020 and ends in March 2021 (or until funding is exhausted). Thus, students who defer their admission beyond the 2020-2021 academic year are not eligible to receive a grant from the university’s current CARES Act Emergency fund.

Glossary*

The abridged financial aid glossary below contains terms that are used above and that have specialized meaning, defined by federal and state regulations, when used in the context of the financial aid programs.

COA* — Cost of Attendance

The total amount the Office of Financial Aid estimates it will cost a student to attend Pacific for one academic year. The COA includes tuition and fees; housing and food; and allowances for books, supplies, transportation, loan fees and personal expenses.

CSAC* — California Student Aid Commission

CSAC offers a number of California state grant programs for college students, including the Cal Grant. Students who receive Cal Grant funding are subject to state regulations which govern the total amount of additional gift aid (grants and scholarships) they are eligible to receive. Students must submit a FAFSA, meet state residency requirements and other eligibility criteria.

EFC* — Expected Family Contribution

A comparative measure, calculated according to the need analysis formula specified by law and based on the information from the FAFSA, of the minimum amount the student/family can be expected to contribute to the cost of the student’s education for one academic year. The EFC is used to determine a student’s eligibility for federal aid like grants, loans and work-study as well as assistance from other sources, including grants from University of the Pacific.

FAFSA* — Free Application for Federal Student Aid

The FAFSA is the only approved application currently in use that can be used to apply for Title IV or federal financial aid in the U.S. The analysis of the FAFSA yields an EFC that is then used to calculate a student’s eligibility for financial aid. The FAFSA can be filed beginning October 1 prior to the next academic year. First-time applicants can file the FAFSA and returning students can submit a renewal FAFSA for free.

Need*

The difference between a student’s Cost of Attendance (COA) and the student’s calculated contribution, the EFC. The COA minus the EFC equals the student’s financial need. The student’s need is the maximum eligibility for need-based aid. The possible calculated EFCs range from $0 to $999,999. COA – EFC = Need

SAP* — Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students must maintain the university’s minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards as one condition of renewing the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship. Briefly, the SAP regulations require students to meet certain grade point average (GPA) and rate-of-credit accumulation thresholds.

Students who fall below the GPA and credit accumulation thresholds will lose their eligibility for the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship as well as other financial aid. Students who experienced significant, documentable, extenuating circumstances are permitted to appeal. Students who successfully appeal are able to receive financial aid on a probationary basis

Title IV* — Federal Student Aid

Federal financial aid programs for postsecondary students, authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). The programs are administered by the U.S. Department of Education and include those offered at Pacific among others. Title IV federal student aid programs offered at Pacific include:

 

In order to apply for the Title IV programs, the student must submit the FAFSA for the applicable award year. The student must then meet all program eligibility requirements in order to be awarded Title IV funds.

Additional Information

If after reading this comparison chart you have additional questions that were not answered in these FAQs, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

In response to the rapidly evolving events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the staff at University of the Pacific, including the financial aid team, are working remotely. We are, however, still answering telephone calls and responding to emails Monday through Friday. You can email us at financialaid@pacific.edu or call us between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Please note that on Wednesdays, we begin taking calls at 10:30 a.m.

The COVID-19 Relief Scholarship is governed by federal, state, NCAA and institutional regulations. University of the Pacific has sole authority to set policies and guidelines for distribution and renewal of COVID-19 Relief Scholarship funding.

The CARES Act Emergency Grant is governed by both federal and institutional regulations. Distribution of the CARES Act Emergency Grant will be based on each recipient institution’s status. Each recipient institution will have the authority and obligation to distribute the CARES Act Emergency Grant fund as appropriate for their institution. University of the Pacific has sole authority and responsibility to set guidelines for the distribution of CARES Act funding.

All information regarding the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and the CARES Act Emergency Grant programs is subject to change based on updates in regulations, processing requirements and availability of funds. University of the Pacific may make updates at any time and without prior notice.