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    • Panther Emergency Student Aid Fund

     Direct Emergency Grant

    Student Application Procedure

    Federal funding has been made available to South Florida State College (SFSC) to provide students with cash grants, which are not required to be paid back, for expenses related to disruptions to their educations due to the COVID-19 outbreak, including things like course materials and technology as well as food, housing, healthcare, and childcare. SFSC, with the support of the federal government, has developed the PANTHER EMERGENCY STUDENT AID FUND to help with immediate financial needs. 

    STUDENT ELIGIBILITY

    The U.S. Department of Education has provided direction regarding who is eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants. Only students who are or could be eligible to participate in programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), may receive emergency financial aid grants.

    If a student has filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), then the student has demonstrated eligibility to participate in programs under the HEA. Students who have not filed a FAFSA, but who are eligible to file a FAFSA, may also receive emergency financial aid grants but only after completing and submitting a FAFSA. The criteria to participate in programs under the HEA include but are not limited to the following: U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen; a valid Social Security Number; registration with Selective Service (if the student is male); and a high school diploma, GED, or completion of high school in an approved home school setting. 

    SFSC encourages all students who need aid and resources as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak to apply. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis and measured against the eligibility criteria. If there are questions about individual eligibility, please apply and we will follow up.

    You must be an enrolled, degree-seeking student during the semester in which you are applying for funds.

    You must be actively participating in your current classes.

    You must be experiencing or have experienced unexpected financial hardship resulting from the Coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak that adversely impacts your ability to complete the academic year.

    APPLICATION PROCEDURE

    1. Complete this application and attach supporting documentation electronically.
    2. Please submit receipts or other documentation for all expenses for which you are requesting support, to the extent available. If you cannot attach these items to the online application, you can email them to finaid@southflorida.edu. 
    3. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and students will be notified of the status of their application as soon as possible.
    4. If denied, you may submit a new application with additional supporting documentation.

    WHAT EXPENSES CAN BE COVERED BY THE PANTHER EMERGENCY STUDENT AID FUND?

    Below lists some, but not all, of the expenses that will be considered:

    • Emergency housing assistance which could include rent, security deposit, short-term hotel costs incurred to relocate, quarantine or isolate, for personal safety, etc.
    • Unexpected medical, mental health, or dental costs not covered by insurance
    • Unplanned travel expenses to receive medical care, to self-quarantine, or isolate. Examples could include airfare, car rental, bus or train fare, etc.
    • Costs of additional equipment, software, or internet services to complete educational requirements via remote online learning
    • Course materials necessary to complete class assignments
    • Temporary assistance with food insecurity
    • Unplanned or additional childcare costs necessary to complete classwork
    • Emergency personal or “incidental” expenses such as clothing, hygiene items, etc.

    The fund is intended only for costs directly to the student but could be incurred as a result of providing care to a dependent or other family member.

    HOW TO APPLY

    If you would like to apply for this grant, complete the PANTHER EMERGENCY STUDENT AID FUND Application along with supporting documentation.

    • Please submit receipts or other documentation for all expenses for which you are requesting support, to the extent available. If you cannot attach these items to the online application, you can email them to finaid@southflorida.edu. 
    • Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and students will be notified of the status of their application as soon as possible.
    • If denied, you may submit a new application with additional supporting documentation.

    AWARD CRITERIA

    Each application will be reviewed as they are received by the Panther Emergency Student Aid Fund Committee which is made up of administrators, professionals, and faculty.

    Many factors are taken into consideration when making the decision to approve or deny a request and in determining the amounts to be awarded.

    These factors include, but are not limited to:

    • The amount of requests received compared to the funds available at the time
    • The nature and urgency of the student’s emergency/negative impact during the COVID-19 outbreak
    • The specific and immediate impact the emergency may have on the student’s living and academic circumstances
    • Other resources or support that the student may have available to them

    The initial maximum award will be $1,000. Exceptions may be made if circumstances warrant and the PANTHER EMERGENCY STUDENT AID FUND Committee recommends.

    PAYMENT OF GRANT

    Grants, once approved, will be mailed by the Cashier’s Office to the student’s address on file in the Registrar’s Office. Please be sure your address is accurate.