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Coronavirus Information

Progress Report, July 17, 2020

On March 27, 2020, the federal government enacted P.L. 116-136, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). The CARES Act includes a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”). The statute requires that at least 50 percent of the HEERF funds go directly to eligible students in the form of additional emergency financial aid grants for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 crisis (“HEERF Student Share Grant Funds”). In accepting the funds, Johns Hopkins University decided to use its entire CARES HEERF allocation for student relief.

The following information is provided by Johns Hopkins University as required by the U.S. Department of Education (“ED”) in order to comply with the reporting requirements under the CARES Act. This is the University’s first 30-day progress report and presents information as of July 17, 2020. Additional reports will be provided every 45 days.

Certification and Agreement

On June 19, 2020, Johns Hopkins University (JHU) signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the Certification and Agreement for funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. On July 15, 2020, JHU was notified that our application was approved.

AMOUNT TO BE RECEIVED

JHU is eligible to receive $3,133,470 in HEERF Student Share Grant Funds.

AMOUNT DISTRIBUTED TO DATE

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter) is $0. Student notifications will begin going out on July 17, 2020, and we anticipate making the first round of refunds available to students the week of July 19, 2020.

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS

As of the spring 2020 term, JHU estimates that approximately 2,600 students may be eligible for the HEERF Student Share Grant Funds. This represents approximately 10% of JHU’s total enrollment.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED HEERF STUDENT SHARE GRANTS

As of the date of this submission, no students have received HEERF Student Share Grants.  JHU began notifying students of their eligibility on July 17, 2020, and we anticipate making the first round of refunds available to students the week of July 19, 2020.

METHOD OF DETERMINING WHICH STUDENTS WOULD RECEIVE HEERF STUDENT SHARE GRANTS

The method(s) used by JHU to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act are outlined below:

  • In alignment with the recommendations from Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, JHU distributed the funds to Title IV aid-eligible students with an expected family contribution (EFC) of $16,000 or less, i.e., to those students with the greatest identified need;
  • Each undergraduate recipient must have received need-based institutional aid in the spring 2020 term and each graduate or professional recipient must have received federal loans in spring 2020 term; and
  • Recipients were also enrolled in at least one face-to-face instructional class in spring 2020 (as of the February 20, 2020 spring census date) and did not graduate in May 2020.

Students meeting these criteria will receive grants in the amount of $1,200 to support their needs related to the disruption of campus operations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This approach is estimated to provide aid to approximately 10% of all JHU’s students. The grants will not impact current or future financial aid packages.

INSTRUCTIONS, DIRECTIONS, GUIDANCE REGARDING HEERF STUDENT SHARE GRANTS

Eligible students were directly notified by email from the Office of Student Financial Services beginning July 17, 2020, with information and instructions about how to claim their funds. The notification included the following information:

  • Notice of eligibility to receive an award (emergency financial aid grant) through CARES Act funding provided to the university;
  • Instructions on how to electronically certify that they incurred expenses that met the criteria to receive a cash grant;
  • The amount of the award;
  • A reminder to review and update their direct deposit banking information in the student portal;
  • Confirmation that the award/refund would be generated from individual student accounts and provided via direct deposit; and
  • For those who do not use direct deposit, notice that a check will be mailed to the student’s permanent address on file.