CARES Act Emergency Grants for Students

April 30, 2020

Dear Cal Poly Pomona students,

As you may know, the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides federal funds to address the basic needs of our nation’s college students, especially the most vulnerable. Additionally, the CARES Act designates funds to support critical operations at colleges and universities. The amount a university receives is largely based on the number of full-time students who are eligible for Pell Grants and federal scholarships for low-income students. For our part, Cal Poly Pomona was allocated $30.9 million, with at least $15.5 million going to emergency grants for students.

While we are not yet in receipt of the funds, I am pleased to report that we are in the final stages of finalizing our method for allocating the emergency grants. Our distribution process is being guided by federal law and regulations, guidance from the CSU, and our determination to support student success and be equitable while also ensuring that the funds get to the students most in need as quickly as possible. We expect to begin distributing funds to students in mid-May. Additional information will be sent directly to eligible students via email to their CPP account as the funds become available.

The U.S. Department of Education has prescribed the eligibility for these funds and does not allow distribution to international students, undocumented students (including those under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), or students enrolled in distance-only degree programs. Cal Poly Pomona is committed to supporting all our students, and we continue to pursue options to provide emergency support for these students.

Please visit our webpage (www.cpp.edu/csu-cares) to access details and information about the CARES Act. We are also establishing a direct email address and hotline to answer questions related to the CARES Act emergency grants for students. I appreciate your patience as we navigate this complicated process to assure that we get resources to those who need it most as well as adhere to federal and CSU directives.

This is truly a challenging time, particularly for so many of our students. Please know that as part of the Bronco Family, Cal Poly Pomona is here for you. We want to support you in any way we can and strongly encourage you take advantage of the full range of resources available to students. Please stay safe and remain connected to your classmates, friends, faculty, and advisors who are all committed to your success as we head into finals. I look forward to the time that we will be together again on campus.