FAQs for Financial Aid & COVID-19

We understand that many students and parents continue to have questions related to COVID-19 and available financial assistance. We recognize that you are face challenges as you return to UNO for the fall term, and we hope to help ease those to every extent possible. Please see below for answers to some of the frequently asked questions we have heard from our UNO Community. These questions will be updated as we continue through the 2021-2022 Aid Year.

 

I heard that the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office will relax certain requirements related to financial aid due to the COVID-19 outbreak, is that accurate?

Please rely on the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office for the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding financial aid, student employment, and scholarships. We will use every flexibility to help our students, but those are determined by federal and state offices. All important information will be announced to our students and UNO Community, so please continue to visit our website and check your UNO email accounts often.

 

I am enrolled for the Fall 2021 semester. How do I apply for emergency funding due to COVID-19 related financial hardship?

The University of New Orleans has established student emergency funding to assist students with emergency financial need as it relates to the coronavirus (COVID-19). The intent of the funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF III - aka CARES Act Funding) and other resources is to assist UNO students experiencing a temporary financial hardship. The funds are limited and not intended to provide ongoing relief throughout the fall semester.

UNO degree-seeking students enrolled in at least 6-credit hours may apply to the fund once using this application process. Students will be reviewed based on their need from their completed 2021-2022 FAFSA results and the HEERF III application information. International students who cannot complete the FAFSA will be reviewing based on financial information on file with UNO and the HEERF III application. All award decisions are final. Funding is not disbursed to the student’s UNO account until after attendance is verified on the census date (14th class date).

Please use link to apply online: Fall 2021 Emergency Relief Funds Application

 

Will I have to repay the HEERF III (aka CARES Act Grant)?

No, money through this program does not have to be repaid. If attendance cannot be verified at the census date, the funding will be cancelled and reallocated to another UNO eligible student in financial need.

 

If I have an emergency expense related to going to school, will the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office be open and available to help?

All functions of the Financial Aid, Scholarship, and Veterans Services Offices will remain intact.

Although our staff is working remotely, you may still contact them through their email accounts listed on our website. On-campus counseling hours are temporarily suspended; however, counselors continue to work remotely from 8 AM through 4 PM, Monday through Friday. 

If you have a unique expense related directly to COVID-19, contact your financial aid counselor for a review of your remaining aid options. Emergency funds are limited at this time. New funding provided by the federal or state government will be announced to our student population, so please be vigilant in reviewing our website for updated information and your UNO email accounts.

 

My verification process has not been completed for the spring semester. May I still submit my paperwork for completion? 

Yes. Please follow the instructions given to you for the Verification Process. All of our operations, including the awarding process, will continue as usual. If you or your parent(s) need assistance in completing this process, please contact your financial aid counselor through email.

 

Will payment of financial aid and scholarships continue throughout the fall semester?

Yes. All functions of the offices will remain intact. The process of paying aid to student accounts will continue. If you have not already done so, it is imperative that you set up Direct Deposit to receive any eligible excessive refund amounts as quickly as possible. You may do so online by following these directions:

Sign into WebSTAR, main menu, self-service, campus finances, self-service direct deposit.

You will need to enter your banking routing number and your account number. Please double check these numbers.

 

If I am unable to complete the fall semester, will I have to return or repay funds I have received for this semester?

If a student does not successfully complete a semester in which (s)he received federal funding, including federal loans, the student may have to return a portion of the funds. The amount that has to be returned, if any, is determined by the student’s last day of attendance or participation in his or her class. This review process is called Return of Title IV. If it is determined that a student owes funds due withdrawing or unofficially withdrawing (ceased attendance or participation in classes), the student’s aid package will be adjusted at the end of the term, and the student will be notified.

 

Who may I contact if I have additional questions?

Please email your questions to finaid@uno.edu, and a staff member from the Financial Aid Office will respond as quickly as possible.