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 know and understand 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 2020-2021 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 2020 semester.  How do I apply for emergency funding due to the COVID-19 outbreak?

The University of New Orleans has established student emergency funding to assist students with urgent financial need as it relates to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).  The intent of the funding from the CARES Act 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. 

Please note that students who are ineligible to for federal aid programs are not eligible to participate in the CARES Act Grant, per the US Dept. of Education.  UNO will use every measure available to find other means of assistance for these students.

UNO degree-seeking students may apply to the fund once using this application process, and will be reviewed based on their need from their completed 2020-2021 FAFSA results and the information given in the application.  All awarding decisions are final.  Eligible students will be notified via their UNO email account after the fall census date, September 8, 2020.

Please use link to apply online. 

 

Will I have to repay the CARES Act Grant?

No, money through this program does not have to be repaid.

 

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.