To: Wellesley Students and Families
From: Piper Orton, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer; Joy St. John, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid; and Sheilah Shaw Horton, Vice President and Dean of Students
Re: Financial Support for Students
Date: May 9, 2020
Congratulations on finishing the last week of classes. This has been a spring semester like no other, and we are inspired by your continued dedication to your studies and your fortitude during this challenging time.
We want to share details regarding the financial support available to students who are facing hardship due to the disruption caused by COVID-19, from the federal CARES Act as well as other funding sources through Wellesley.
CARES Act funding for students eligible for federal financial aid
Wellesley is receiving $985,000 from the federal CARES Act for emergency grants to assist students eligible for federal (Title IV) financial aid with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations caused by COVID-19. The College will distribute these funds through grants that will range from $300 to $725 based on students’ level of calculated financial need. Students do not need to apply for these funds. The funds will be distributed directly to students and will not be applied to amounts due to the College. To receive CARES Act funds, students will need to confirm that the funds will be used for eligible expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care. Eligible students will receive instructions tomorrow or Monday. Seniors will need to respond quickly.
We will distribute over 75 percent of the funds immediately. We will disburse the remaining funds to students who are eligible to receive CARES funds who may need additional assistance this summer and fall. We ask that students use this form to request additional funds.
Wellesley Student Emergency Funds
Wellesley alumnae and other donors have contributed more than $80,000 to a COVID emergency fund. Over $40,000 was expended for travel and moving expenses in the first weeks of this crisis to enable students to leave campus and study abroad programs to return home. The balance will continue to be used to help students, including those who have stayed on campus this spring and need financial support to either travel home or find alternative housing this summer.
College Government has generously designated $50,000 of its Student Organization Funding Committee (SOFC) funds to address students’ emergency needs. This extraordinary gift will help alleviate financial stress caused by housing and food insecurity, cover unforeseen medical costs, and defray travel and other expenses this summer and fall. This fund will also assist international students and others who are ineligible for CARES Act funds. Students should use this form to request support.
We want to thank the Wellesley Students’ Aid Society for providing $50,000 immediately following the announcement of the disruption of the spring semester. More than 250 students have used these funds for emergency expenses associated with the transition to remote instruction, and we are grateful to WSAS for its tremendous generosity and support of Wellesley students.
In addition, the College has disbursed more than $500,000 to ensure that all students who left campus this spring would receive a minimum credit of $1,500, even if their payments to Wellesley were well below that amount. This minimum credit was to help students receiving significant financial aid cover unplanned expenses, such as for food, housing, technology, or health care.
We hope this information is helpful and answers some of your questions. We expect to distribute the initial CARES Act student emergency grants next week. Students with direct deposit information on record should expect to see funds in their accounts by May 15.
Please take care of yourselves this summer. The College will continue to be in touch regarding planning for the fall, and we are looking forward to seeing you in the next academic year.
