Gannon is about to distribute CRRSAA funds to students

Posted: March 19, 2021

Gannon University has received its allocation of CRRSAA funds for higher education emergency relief.

The University received $1.3 million from the federal government and is forwarding this support directly to students via direct deposit or check. The transfers are expected to begin Tuesday, March 30.

For eligible students to receive these funds via direct deposit, please ensure you are signed up for direct deposit by this Sunday, March 21. See instruction below on how to complete this.

Additional details on eligibility, funding amounts that will be awarded, phases of awards, and more are outlined below.

Please know that we are here if you need anything and we are working diligently as you all are to make the best of this semester. We want to see you be successful, manage through the spring and summer, and return to continue your education in the coming year.

Who is eligible to receive funds? 
If you meet the following eligibility, you will be notified the week of March 29 by the Financial Aid Office that you will be receiving funds. If you do not receive notification from the Financial Aid Office, this means you will not be eligible to receive this funding based on the federal requirements established by the U.S. Department of Education.

There are three eligibility requirements a student must meet to receive CRRSAA funds:

1. The student must be a United States citizen. Because these grants are federally funded, global students will not be eligible to receive a CRRSAA award. 
2. The student must be currently enrolled at Gannon University during the 2021 spring semester, or was enrolled at the university during the 2020 fall semester. 
3. The student must have completed the 2020-21 FAFSA.

How will CRRSAA funds be awarded?
The university has received a limited amount of funding and not everyone will receive a CRRSAA award. CRRSAA grants will be distributed in three separate phases.

• Phase 1 will provide tiered awards to full-time undergraduate students based on their expected family contribution (EFC), and will provide full-time graduate students with a flat award amount.
• Phase 2 and 3 of CRRSAA awarding will be requested through an application process. This will include part-time students. 

We recognize that there might be some students with extenuating financial circumstances. Phases 2 and 3 will provide those students with the opportunity to apply for funding in addition to what they are awarded in Phase 1. A small portion of the CRRSAA funds have been held in reserve to help resolve special situations for students in need.

Students are encouraged to reach out to our Financial Aid Office at 814-871-7337 or financialaid@gannon.edu if they wish to request consideration for these additional funds. They will then be provided further instruction on applying for Phase 2 and 3 funds.

How will award amounts be determined for Phase 1?
The university will use a tiered awarding scale for determining CRRSAA awards in Phase 1. Based on the 2020 FAFSA, full-time undergraduates will receive a CRRSAA award ranging between $200 and $800. Full-time graduate students will receive a $300 award. 

If eligible, how much should I expect to receive during Phase 1?
For undergraduate students, Phase 1 awarding tiers will be based on a full-time student’s expected family contribution (EFC). Your EFC is an index number that measures a student’s and the family’s ability to pay postsecondary expenses. The information you report on your FAFSA, including specific tax information and family income, is used to calculate your EFC. Full-time graduate students will receive the same award of $300, regardless of EFC.

What are the differences between the Phase 2 and Phase 3 application process?
The Phase 2 application process will open immediately after the initial Phase 1 awarding has concluded. All eligible students who did not receive an award in Phase 1 will have an exclusive four-week window to submit an application for a CRRSAA grant. Applications for Phase 2 may be submitted beginning on Monday, March 29, 2021.

The application will be posted to the https://update.gannon.edu/FAQ/Cares prior the start of the application period. Students may also request a copy of the application by contacting financialaid@gannon.edu.

After the exclusive four-week window has concluded, the Phase 3 application process will begin. During Phase 3 all eligible students can submit an application to request additional CRRSAA funding up to the maximum combined award. Applications for Phase 3 may be submitted beginning on Monday, April 26, 2021. The Phase 3 application period will remain open until all CRRSAA funding has been exhausted. 

Is there a maximum amount of CRRSAA funds I may receive?
The combined award amount for any student may not exceed $1,000. For example, if a student receives a $600 CRRSAA award during Phase 1, the student may apply for additional funds during the Phase 3 application process. However, during that application process the student will only be eligible to receive an additional $400, which brings the cumulative award amount to $1,000. If a student requests more than what they are eligible to receive during the application process, the review committee will process the application, but the award amount will be reduced as to not exceed the $1,000 limit. 

How will I receive my CRRSAA funding?
Students who have previously set up direct deposit through the Cashier’s Office should expect the CRRSAA award to be deposited into the checking or savings account you have on file. Students who have not established direct deposit will have a check mailed to their home address. 

To receive your award via direct deposit, ensure you have this setup by Sunday, March 21 through the following steps:
Login to my.gannon.edu
Go to :  GUXpress
Select:  Students
Select:  Student Account Center
Select:  Bank Info (U.S.) for Direct Deposit

• Complete the information requested
• Agree to the terms and conditions and submit
• Future disbursements will then be direct deposited

How long will it take to receive my award if I apply for additional funds?
Please expect about a two-week period to review applications and to distribute funds. Applications that had been submitted by noon on Wednesday will be reviewed each Thursday morning during a committee meeting. Approved applications will be awarded and funds will most likely be issued the following week. Please allow some additional time if you are receiving a paper check.     

If you have a question or a comment, you can submit it at https://www.gannon.edu/Questions-or-Comments/.