FAQs

Has there been additional allocation of federal government funds to Georgetown?

No. The awards to undergraduate students and the graduate student application for awards that were announced on October 1, 2021 are utilizing unspent allotments of funds from the original allocation of CRRSAA (CARES 2) and ARP (CARES 3) funds.

I have seen or read Department of Education notices about additional distributions of funds. Why is Georgetown not receiving any of those funds?

The American Rescue Plan, passed in March of 2021, contained several “buckets” of funds. Georgetown received funds as part of the bucket assigning funds to public and private not-for-profit colleges. The Department of Education finalized allocations and regulations surrounding that bucket in May 2021, because it was the largest bucket by far. Since then, it has more recently finalized allocations and regulations for the bucket for “proprietary” (for-profit) institutions and for the bucket for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions. Georgetown is not eligible to receive allocations from those buckets.

How much is remaining in unspent allotments?

Just over $1.5 million. In total, the university has allocated nearly $14.4 million in CARES 2 and CARES 3 funds to student emergency financial aid grants (nearly $3 million more than required by the legislation).  Georgetown has already issued nearly $13 million in CARES grants between February and July of 2021.

How did Georgetown divide the initial allocations between Undergraduate and Graduate students?

Half of each allocation was apportioned to undergraduate student awards, and half to graduate and professional student awards, with the graduate and professional student awards further split between campuses by relative enrollment. 

Why is Georgetown allocating half of its ARP allocation to undergraduates if undergraduates comprise less than half of the University’s total enrollment?

The federal government’s allocation method distributed funds in substantial part based on Pell Grant recipients enrolled at an institution, and Pell recipients are exclusively undergraduate students. Therefore, Georgetown’s ARP allocation was proportionally more associated with its undergraduate enrollment than its graduate enrollment. The allocation approach takes the needs of both graduate and undergraduate students seriously. 

How much in unspent allocations is available to each population?

There is slightly more than $700,000 reserved for undergraduates, slightly less than $700,000 reserved for graduate and professional students on the Main and Medical Campuses (excluding the School of Medicine), and slightly less than $100,000 reserved for Law Center students.

Will students at the Law Center be eligible for grants?

Yes. The Law Center has an ongoing student emergency funding committee that will continue to manage the eligibility criteria, notification, and disbursement of grants for their students until the unspent allocation is spent.

Will students at the School of Medicine be eligible for grants?

No. The School of Medicine has already spent all CARES funds allocated to its population of students.

How much in emergency student financial aid grants will individual Georgetown undergraduate students be receiving in this fourth round of student grant disbursement?

Each undergraduate student who is eligible for emergency grants, is enrolled at least half-time, and whose Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) for the 2021-22 academic year is less than $15,000, as calculated by the Office of Student Financial Services (OSFS), will receive $700.

How much in emergency student financial aid grants will individual Georgetown graduate and professional students be receiving in this fourth round of student grant disbursement?

Grants will be distributed to graduate and professional students in Main and Medical Campus programs, other than the School of Medicine, based on applications received for funding by October 15, 2021. Preference will be given to students enrolled with at least half-time status for the Fall 2021 semester.  Students who apply will also need to have submitted a FAFSA (if US Citizen) or an International Student Profile, available on the OSFS website at https://finaid.georgetown.edu/graduate/apply/#.

Award amounts will be determined by the number of eligible students and how much need they have documented, and will be communicated to students by the week of November 1.

How did Georgetown decide who would receive these grants?

Institutions were given latitude by the Department of Education on how to disburse their ARP funding, within certain constraints, and with the important caveat that institutions provide funding to students with exceptional need.

For undergraduate students, Georgetown made a determination to target the remaining unspent allocation to the students with the most acute need – those with Estimated Family Contributions of less than $15,000 – rather than distribute a lower award amount to a larger number of students.

For graduate and professional students, Georgetown decided that, given the lack of information on need it has for many students (as compared to undergraduates), that requesting applications to better determine need would be appropriate for this round of emergency grants.

Are these grants taxable?

No. The IRS has issued guidance that grants from the HEERF (whether funded by the CARES Act, CRRSAA, or ARP) will not be considered taxable income to students.

When can I expect to receive my payment?

Georgetown is scheduled to process payments to eligible undergraduate students on Wednesday, October 6. Students who have set up a direct deposit refund profile via Student Account Services should receive the funds in their bank account on Friday, October 8. Students without a direct deposit refund profile will have a paper check mailed to their local or permanent address listed in MyAccess on Friday, October 8.

Payments to graduate students will be made the first week of November, when award determinations are announced.

If I did not receive an award, can I appeal that decision?

Undergraduates may request reconsideration of the funding decision by emailing 2021-cares-act@georgetown.edu and stating the reasons for requesting reconsideration.

Appeals will be considered through October 15, 2021. 

Graduate students should take care to submit a complete application by the deadline (October 15), including filling a FAFSA or an International Profile if they have not already done so.  Completion of the FAFSA/International Profile, as well as completion of the online application, are required in order to be considered for an award

Will there be additional disbursements of emergency grants?

No. It is Georgetown’s intent to fully disburse all funds with this round of student emergency grants, and that all payments will be made by the first week in November.

There will be continued disbursements managed by the Law Center student emergency funding committee; it is GULC’s intent to also fully disburse all grants by the end of the Fall 2021 semester.

Who can I contact if I have questions about the ARP or Georgetown’s disbursements to students?

Students with questions regarding grant funding can contact 2021-cares-act@georgetown.edu.

What is the ARP?

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) is the third major piece of legislation passed by Congress to respond to COVID-19. Included in the legislation are additional funds for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), which allocates funds to institutions based on the number of students who are Pell Grant recipients and the institution’s total student enrollment. Of each institution’s HEERF allocation funded by the ARP, a minimum amount (equal to roughly half the total allocation) must be distributed directly to students in the form of emergency student financial aid grants. 

How much is Georgetown required to distribute to students in emergency financial aid grants from its ARP allocation?

$8,372,270.

How much in emergency student financial aid grants will individual Georgetown undergraduate students be receiving in the third round of student grant disbursement, following Georgetown’s ARP allocation?

Each undergraduate student who is eligible for emergency grants and whose Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) for the 2020-21 academic year, as calculated by the Office of Student Financial Services (OSFS), is less than $30,000 will receive between $1,600 and $2,500, with students receiving larger awards within that range as their EFC approaches $10,000 or less.

How much in emergency student financial aid grants will individual Georgetown graduate and professional students be receiving in the third round of student grant disbursement, following Georgetown’s ARP allocation?

Grants will be distributed to graduate and professional students in Main and Medical Campus programs, other than the School of Medicine, who are eligible for emergency grants and who demonstrate exceptional financial need as determined by OSFS. The large majority of students with exceptional need will be identified with reference to their “contribution from assets” towards their educational cost of attendance, as calculated using data submitted with their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 

Full-time students with “contribution from assets” of less than $10,000 will receive between $750 and $1,500 with students receiving larger awards within that range as their “contribution from assets” approaches $100 or less. 

Students enrolled less-than full-time, but at least half-time, with “contribution from assets” of less than $10,000 will receive $500.

Will students at the Law Center and students in the School of Medicine be eligible for grants?

Yes. Both the Law Center and the School of Medicine have ongoing student emergency funding committees that will continue to manage the eligibility criteria, notification, and disbursement of grants for their students. The Law Center and the School of Medicine will make separate announcements.

How did Georgetown calculate the amount of student grants following its ARP allocation?

The amount of each grant was calculated based on the total amount to be distributed to students in each population, the number of students qualified to receive ARP grants, and the number of students with exceptional financial need, as determined by OSFS using available student financial information for each student population. 

Why is Georgetown allocating half of its ARP allocation to undergraduates if undergraduates comprise less than half of the University’s total enrollment?

The federal government’s allocation method distributed funds in substantial part based on Pell Grant recipients enrolled at an institution, and Pell recipients are exclusively undergraduate students. Therefore, Georgetown’s ARP allocation was proportionally more associated with its undergraduate enrollment than its graduate enrollment. The allocation approach takes the needs of both graduate and undergraduate students seriously. 

How did Georgetown decide who would receive these grants?

Institutions were given latitude by the Department of Education on how to disburse their ARP funding, within certain constraints, and with the important caveat that institutions provide funding to students with exceptional need.

OSFS devised a method that allows students to get a significant amount of funding but also enables the university to reach as many students as possible who are deemed to have “exceptional need.” 

OSFS believes that undergraduate students with EFCs up to $30,000 meet the criterion of “exceptional need,” given our 2020-2021 cost of attendance was slightly over $80,000. Having used a threshold of $20,000 in EFC when distributing undergraduate awards under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) at the beginning of the Spring 2021 semester, it was clear from the subsequent student feedback, communicated both through our award appeals process and through our student leadership, that this $20,000 cut-off was too low even to meet the high standard of “exceptional need” established under both CRRSAA and ARP.

OSFS determined that graduate students with an expected contribution from assets in excess of $10,000 do not demonstrate “exceptional need.” For graduate students for whom the University did not have FAFSA information, OSFS determined “exceptional need” based on financial information separately provided by this population of students in connection with the CRRSAA-funded distributions during the Spring 2021 semester.

How does the OSFS calculate financial need?

The OSFS calculates an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) for undergraduate students and contributions from assets for graduate students based on details of each student’s cost of attendance and resources available to the student and their family. Details of the aid process are available on the financial aid website for undergraduates and financial aid website for graduate students.

Are these grants taxable?

The IRS has issued guidance that grants from the HEERF (whether funded by the CARES Act, CRRSAA, or ARP) will not be considered taxable income to students.

When can I expect to receive my payment?

Georgetown is scheduled to process payments to eligible students on Tuesday, June 8 for Main and Medical Campus students, excluding School of Medicine. Students who have set up a direct deposit refund profile via Student Account Services should receive the funds in their bank account on Thursday, June 10 or Friday, June 11. Students without a direct deposit refund profile will have a paper check mailed to their permanent address listed in MyAccess on Friday, June 11. Payments to eligible students enrolled in the Law Center and School of Medicine will be processed in accordance with the Law Center and School of Medicine’s distribution plans, respectively, which will be communicated separately to those student populations. 

If I did not receive an award, or received less than I expected, can I appeal that decision?

You may request reconsideration of the funding decision by emailing 2021-cares-act@georgetown.edu and stating the reasons for requesting reconsideration.

Appeals will be considered through July 31, 2021. 

Will there be additional disbursements of emergency grants?

Yes. There will be continued disbursements managed by the Law Center and School of Medicine student emergency funding committees. Additionally, portions of both the undergraduate and graduate student allotments will be held back to fund appeals to this current round of disbursements.

Who can I contact if I have questions about the ARP or Georgetown’s disbursements to students?

Students with questions regarding grant funding can contact 2021-cares-act@georgetown.edu.

What is the CRRSAA?

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) is the second major piece of legislation passed by Congress to respond to COVID-19. Included in the legislation are additional funds for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), which allocates funds to institutions based on the number of students with high financial need and the institution’s total student enrollment. Of each institution’s HEERF allocation funded by the CRRSAA, a minimum amount (equal to the student portion of the institution’s HEERF allocation funded by the CARES Act) must be distributed directly to students in the form of emergency student financial aid grants. 

How much is Georgetown required to distribute to students in emergency financial aid grants from its CRRSAA allocation?

$3,055,322, which was the amount it was required to distribute to students from its CARES Act HEERF allocation.

How much will Georgetown be distributing to students in emergency financial aid grants from its CRRSAA allocation?

Georgetown has committed to distributing $6,000,000 of its CRRSAA allocation to students in emergency financial aid grants. This total amount will be split evenly between its undergraduate student population (scheduled to receive $3,000,000 in total) and its graduate and professional student population (also scheduled to receive $3,000,000 in total). This amount is nearly double the amount Georgetown is required to distribute pursuant to the CRRSAA.

How much in emergency student financial aid grants will individual Georgetown undergraduate students be receiving from Georgetown’s CRRSAA allocation?

Each undergraduate student who is eligible for emergency grants under the CRRSAA and whose Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) for the 2020-21 academic year, as calculated by the Office of Student Financial Services (OSFS), is less than $20,000 will receive between $1,600 and $2,000, with students receiving larger awards within that range as their EFC approaches $15,000.

How much in emergency student financial aid grants will individual Georgetown graduate and professional students be receiving from Georgetown’s CRRSAA allocation?

Grants will be distributed to graduate and professional students in Main and Medical Campus programs other than the School of Medicine who are eligible for emergency grants under the CRRSAA and whose required contribution to cost of attendance from assets, as calculated by the OSFS, is less than $10,000. 

Graduate degree-seeking students who have received financial aid in the 2021 academic year, who are enrolled with a full-time registration status for Spring 2021, who filed a FAFSA, and who had a contribution from assets determined to be $100 or less for the 2020-21 aid year, will receive $1,000 in CRRSAA funding.

Graduate degree-seeking students who have received financial aid in the 2021 academic year, who are enrolled with a full-time registration status for Spring 2021, who filed a FAFSA, and who had a contribution from assets determined to be greater than $100 and $10,000 or less for the 2020-21 aid year, will receive $500 in CRRSAA funding.

Graduate degree-seeking students who have received financial aid in the 2021 academic year, who are enrolled less than full-time but at least half-time for Spring 2021, who filed a FAFSA, and whose contribution from assets was determined to be $10,000 or less for the 2020-21 aid year, will receive $250 in CRRSAA funding.

In addition to direct grants, which are intended to get resources to students in need as quickly as possible, Georgetown will offer degree-seeking graduate students who have not yet filed a FAFSA the opportunity to apply for funds to pay for expenses related to the COVID-19 emergency.

Will students at the Law Center and students in the School of Medicine be eligible for CRRSAA grants?

Yes. Both the Law Center and the School of Medicine have ongoing student emergency funding committees that will continue to manage the eligibility criteria, notification, and disbursement of grants for their students. The Law Center and the School of Medicine will make separate announcements.

How did Georgetown calculate the amount of student grants from its CRRSAA allocation?

The amount of each grant was calculated based on the total amount to be distributed to students in each population, the number of students qualified to receive CRRSAA grants, and the number of students with exceptional financial need, as defined by the metrics available for each student population (EFC for undergraduate students, and contribution from assets for graduate and professional students).

Why is Georgetown distributing half of its CRRSAA allocation to undergraduates, if undergraduates comprise less than half of the University’s total enrollment?

The federal government’s allocation method distributed funds in substantial part based on Pell grant recipients enrolled at an institution, and Pell recipients are exclusively undergraduate students. Therefore, Georgetown’s CRRSAA allocation was proportionally more associated with its undergraduate enrollment than its graduate enrollment.

How did Georgetown decide who would receive these grants?

Institutions were given wide latitude by the Department of Education on how to disburse their CRRSAA funding, with the important caveat that institutions provide funding to students with exceptional financial need.

How does the OSFS calculate financial need?

The OSFS calculates an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) for undergraduate students and contributions from assets for graduate students based on details of each student’s cost of attendance and resources available to the student and their family. Details of the aid process are available on the financial aid website for undergraduates and financial aid website for graduate students.

Are CRRSAA grants taxable?

The IRS has not issued guidance on CRRSAA grants at this time. The IRS has issued guidance that CARES Act grants will not be considered taxable income to students.

When can I expect to receive my payment?

Georgetown is scheduled to process payments to eligible students on Tuesday, February 23. Students who have set up a direct deposit refund profile via Student Account Services should receive the funds in their bank account on Thursday, February 25, or Friday, February 26. Students without a direct deposit refund profile will have a paper check mailed to their permanent address listed in MyAccess on Friday, February 26. 

Will there be additional disbursements of CRRSAA emergency grants?

In addition to disbursements managed by the Law Center and School of Medicine student emergency funding committees, Georgetown has reserved some of the amounts it is dedicating to emergency financial aid grants to Main and Medical campus students for later disbursements. Although the parameters of these later disbursements (i.e., who will be eligible, and in what amounts) have not been determined yet, the University is specifically planning arrangements for:

– Graduate and professional students who have not yet filed a FAFSA for academic year 2020-21 (and therefore could not have their contribution from assets calculated by OSFS)

– Graduate and professional students who have exceptional financial need so great that it warrants a supplemental distribution on top of the already distributed grants, reaching a total distribution of up to $2,000

– Undergraduate and graduate students not eligible for grants based on the University’s calculations as of the date of initial disbursements, but later determined to be eligible

Who can I contact if I have questions about the CRRSAA or Georgetown’s disbursements to students?

Students with questions regarding CRRSAA funding can contact 2021-cares-act@georgetown.edu.

How has the pandemic affected financial aid packages this fall and the University’s commitment to access and affordability?

Our commitment to financial aid remains strong. During this unprecedented pandemic and recession, we will continue to fulfill our commitment to ensuring that every student admitted to Georgetown can attend regardless of their ability to pay. 

Georgetown has taken a few new steps to ensure that financial aid packages this Fall honor our commitment to affordable access, including: 

1. Reducing tuition for Fall 2020, including a 10 percent reduction in tuition for undergraduate students.

2. Waiving the student summer work contribution entirely.

3. Considering requests for reconsideration of aid eligibility resulting from the reduction of 2020 income due to the COVID-19 pandemic immediately, while also continuing to review aid eligibility based on any other changes at any time.

4. Offering emergency loans ($2,500) to undergraduate students with completed financial aid applications to cover books and other expenses.

5. Delaying planned distribution of undergraduate billing statements and set billing due dates, payment plans and penalty assessment plans to afford maximum flexibility to students and families. 

When will I see the tuition credit post to my account?

Tuition credits will post to your account at the same time as tuition, on August 31, 2020.

Why didn’t I get a tuition credit?

Students who are not financial aid recipients will not receive a tuition credit; their tuition discount is represented in the lower price of tuition. Additionally, students with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $0 will not receive a tuition credit, since their entire tuition cost has been covered by GU Scholarship.

Why is my tuition credit less than the full $2,900 credit that was announced?

The $2,900 credit will only post in full for students who a.) are studying full-time, and b.) have an EFC of over $2,900. Financial aid recipients who are studying less than full-time will receive a tuition credit of 10% of their tuition. Financial aid recipients with an EFC of between $1 and $2,899 will receive a tuition credit equal to their EFC.

Why is my financial aid award less than what it has been in previous years?

There are many reasons a student’s financial aid award may be less than in prior years. Some of those reasons include an increase in EFC due to increased income or assets, a reduction in Cost of Attendance due to the tuition reduction, or the reduction in Cost of Attendance associated with a smaller housing and travel allowance for Fall 2020.

What should I do if I would like to appeal my financial aid award?

Students can submit requests for reconsideration via the forms and processes outlined on the Office of Student Financial Services website immediately. 

When can I expect my billing statement to be issued?

Undergraduates will have their first billing statements issued on Tuesday, September 1, 2020.

How long will I have to make payment?

The due date for undergraduate tuition is September 30. However, Georgetown will not penalize students for overdue payments until the end of October. All students with an outstanding amount due will have a reminder billing statement issued to them in early October.

What are the extended payment plans that Georgetown will offer?

Georgetown will offer variants of its standard payment plans to undergraduates in the Fall 2020 semester that stretch payment across three months (installments due 9/27, 10/27, and 11/27) or four months (installments due 9/15, 10/15, 11/5 and 12/15).

How do I enroll in the payment plan?

Undergraduate students and their authorized users will be able to enroll in payment plans online via Student Account Services starting on September 1.

What is an emergency loan?

An emergency loan is an up-front payment via direct deposit or paper check, intended to assist students in paying for personal expenses. It displays on the student account as a refund. Emergency loans must be repaid. 

Which students will receive a reduction in tuition for the fall 2020 semester?

For the fall 2020 semester, undergraduate students in credit-bearing classes will receive a 10 percent reduction in tuition, and graduate or professional students in credit-bearing classes will receive a 5 percent reduction in tuition. The University takes this step in recognition that given the virtual start to the semester, students will not have access to certain services. The discounted rates will be used to calculate new financial aid packages for students eligible for aid.

Will undergraduate students returning to campus receive a reduction in tuition for the fall 2020 semester? Will they receive a discount for housing and dining? 

All students will be charged a reduced tuition rate. Students in the very limited groups invited to on-campus residence halls will be charged the lower double-occupancy rate instead of the higher single-occupancy rate for board, and their housing and dining charges will be reduced by 20 percent to account for the shorter length of the semester. Students not invited back to campus residence halls will not pay room and board fees.

Are student fees being changed?

Student fees, such as the student activities fee and the one-time New Student Orientation fee (for new students), will still be charged as originally scheduled for all students. The tuition reductions are meant to acknowledge the services that will be unavailable to students while the semester begins virtually.

What impact will these changes have on my financial aid? 

To incorporate these changes, the Office of Student Financial Services will revise financial aid offers for first-year, transfer and continuing undergraduates to reflect the appropriate tuition, housing, and dining costs included in the “Cost of Attendance” that is used to calculate eligibility for our financial aid programs. We appreciate your patience as we work as quickly as possible to assess financial need for assistance using these new parameters.

What term do reductions in tuition, board, housing and dining apply to?

Discounts in tuition, board, housing and dining only apply to the fall 2020 semester. While the University has not made any decision on tuition beyond the fall 2020 semester due to the evolving nature of the pandemic, please know that University leaders, faculty and staff take students’ investments seriously and work hard each year to reduce direct costs, increase philanthropic support for scholarships and mitigate rising expenses of providing a Georgetown education. 

Will the university discount virtual classes for undergraduate students in the future?

Tuition reductions only apply to the fall 2020 semester. The University has not made any decision on tuition beyond the fall 2020 semester due to the evolving nature of the pandemic. 

What is the CARES Act?

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is legislation passed by Congress to respond to COVID-19. Included in the legislation is the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), which allocates funds to institutions based on the number of students with high financial need and the institution’s total student enrollment.  Of each institution’s HEERF allocation, 50% must be distributed directly to students in the form of emergency student financial aid grants to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. 

How much in emergency student financial aid grants will Georgetown undergraduate students be receiving from the student portion of Georgetown’s CARES Act funding?

Each undergraduate student who is eligible for emergency grants under the CARES Act and whose family contribution for the 2019-20 academic year, as calculated by the Office of Student Financial Services (OSFS), is less than $15,000 will receive $2,600 to cover expenses that the student incurred in connection with the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19.

How did Georgetown calculate the amount of each grant from this portion of its CARES Act funding?

The amount of each grant was calculated based on the emergency student financial aid portion of Georgetown’s CARES Act funding and the number of eligible undergraduate students whose family contribution for the 2019-20 academic year is less than $15,000.

Will any CARES Act funding be dedicated to graduate students?

The university elected to disburse the vast majority (approximately 90%) of the emergency student financial aid portion of its CARES Act funding to undergraduate students with financial need, as described above. Approximately 10% has been set aside for graduate students.

How did Georgetown decide who would receive these grants?

Institutions were given wide latitude by the Department of Education on how to disburse the emergency student financial aid portions of their CARES Act funding. With the portion the university has allocated to undergraduate students, Georgetown elected to disburse grants to those students with the highest demonstrated financial need, as calculated by the OSFS in order to help those students cover their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19, such as computing costs for transition to remote learning, emergency travel to/from Georgetown and/or from study abroad to home, and moving and storage costs incurred as a result of the COVID-19 emergency. 

Grants of $2,600 will be provided to undergraduate students, including seniors, whose family contribution toward educational expenses as calculated by the university was less than $15,000 during the 2019-2020 academic year. Undergraduate students who meet the financial need criteria but who are not eligible for federal CARES Act funds will receive a $2,600 grant funded by the university from institutional funds.

How does the OSFS calculate financial need?

The OSFS calculates an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) based on details of each student’s cost of attendance and resources available to the student and his/her family. Details of the aid process are available at: https://finaid.georgetown.edu/undergrad/aid-for-undergrads/. 

Are CARES Act grants taxable?

No. The IRS has issued guidance that these grants will not be considered taxable income to students.

When can I expect to receive my payment?

Georgetown is scheduled to process payments to eligible students on Tuesday, May 12. Students who have set up a direct deposit refund profile via Student Account Services should receive the funds in their bank account on Thursday, May 14 or Friday, May 15. Students without a direct deposit refund profile will have a paper check mailed to their permanent address as listed in MyAccess, on May 15. 

What can I do if I have financial need related to COVID-19 and did not receive a CARES Act grant?

The university has established a COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund for Students. The fund has received contributions from alumni, parents, friends, faculty and staff, and will be used to provide grants to students who require assistance covering emergency expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Georgetown’s COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund is intended to provide one-time, short-term relief for students who are experiencing immediate financial hardship. The maximum amount of any individual’s grant will be $1,000. The grants are not loans and are not expected to be paid back. Graduating students are eligible to apply for costs incurred while enrolled at Georgetown.

Students can submit applications here.

What is the amount of my meal credit?

If you were on a weekly or all-access plan, the amount of your credit is 45% of your Spring 2020 semester meal charges. Forty-five percent (45%) represents the portion of the semester from March 16 to the end of the semester.

If you were on a block plan, the amount of your credit was determined by the number of unused meals on your plan as of March 16, 2020.

Will this credit impact my financial aid package?

No. Meal credits were posted without adjustments to aid.

Were unused Flex Dollars refunded?

Yes, all unused Flex Dollars were posted as a credit to your student account as well, separately from the meal credit.

Will the meal credit be automatically paid out to me?

For the vast majority of students, the meal credit (as well as the Flex Dollar credit) was already automatically paid out. Students to whom the meal credit was automatically paid were sent an email on March 24 requesting that they update their direct deposit profile via Student Account Services and/or update their permanent address via MyAccess. Revenue and Receivables then began processing payments on March 26.

How was the meal credit paid out to me?

If you had a direct deposit refund profile on file as of March 26, then the refund was processed as a direct deposit payment to your bank account that day. Most students receiving payment this way would have seen the payment credit their bank account on March 3o.

If you did not have a direct deposit refund profile as of March 26, Revenue and Receivables processed a paper check to be printed and mailed to your permanent address. Given the difficulties of physical processing in current circumstances, checks were not mailed until April 3, and would likely have been received the week of April 6.

I didn’t receive an automatic payment. Can I have my meal credit and Flex Dollar credit paid out to me?

Absolutely. Please review your account to make sure that you don’t see a “Refund” transaction subsequent to your meal credit transaction. 

If you don’t see one, then please either request your refund via MyAccess, or email studentaccounts@georgetown.edu from your Georgetown email address requesting a refund of your meal credit.

If you do see one, then we have attempted to issue a refund to you. If you see an “ACH Refund” transaction, please double-check your bank account, as our records indicate this payment was successfully made to you. If you see a “Refund – Paper Check” transaction, then we attempted to send a paper check to your permanent address. Please contact us at studentaccounts@georgetown.edu or 202-687-7100 to discuss your options if you have not received it.

What is the amount of my housing credit?

The amount of the housing credit is 45% of your Spring 2020 semester housing charges.

Why is the percentage 45%?

Forty-five percent (45%) represents the portion of the semester from March 16 to the end of the semester. Standard move-in to housing for Spring 2020 was January 7, 2020. Standard move-out was scheduled for May 10, 2020. There were therefore 125 days of housing that were included in your Spring 2020 housing charge. There were 56 days remaining in the semester as of March 16. Dividing 56 by 125 yields 0.448 or 45%.

Will this credit impact my financial aid package?

It depends. Georgetown is committed to helping all students facing difficult financial challenges at this time. If you received a scholarship from Georgetown for the Spring 2020 term, the amount of your original scholarship has been reviewed and where necessary adjustments have been made to reflect a reduced housing charge and your individual circumstances. If your financial aid package included only loans and/or work-study it was not adjusted.

How will scholarship amounts be adjusted?

To determine whether a scholarship adjustment was necessary, Georgetown calculated   for each individual student the percentage of the original cost of attendance that was covered by a Georgetown scholarship (as opposed to the “out of pocket” student/family contribution). Any credits resulting from the housing refunds were adjusted by reversing the appropriate percentage of each student’s original Georgetown scholarship.

Example:

Jack Hoya’s cost of attendance for Spring 2020 was $40,000
Jack received institutional scholarship of $20,000
Percentage of Jack’s Spring 2020 charges paid by Georgetown: 50%
Jack’s housing charges were $5,000
Jack will receive a housing credit of $2,250 (45% of $5,000)
Jack’s scholarship will be adjusted by $1,125 (50% of the housing credit)

Why is Georgetown adjusting my scholarship? 

If you received a Georgetown scholarship, then the portion of your scholarship attributable to the reduction in your housing charge is now being returned to the scholarship pool.

Will the housing credit be automatically paid out to me?

No. The housing credit was placed on your student account. If necessary, your Georgetown scholarship was adjusted. Students may request a refund via MyAccess of a credit balance on their student account, or may leave the credit on the account to be applied against future charges. The Revenue and Receivables department processes refund requests in two to three business days, and strongly encourages students to establish a direct deposit refund profile in Student Account Services, accessible via MyAccess, before requesting any refund.

Who can I contact if I have more questions?

For billing questions, including how to obtain a refund of any resulting credit on your account,  email studentaccounts@georgetown.edu or call (202) 687-7100. For questions about impacts on scholarships and financial aid email 2020-Housing-Refund@georgetown.edu.

What is the amount of my study abroad housing credit?

Credits will be posted to your student account as a prorated percentage of your semester study abroad housing expense. The exact percentage will vary by program and is based on your unique program start date, program end date (as indicated in the Itinerary section of your MyGUABROAD account) and the day after Georgetown University suspended study abroad programs due to COVID-19 concerns.

Georgetown notified students of the immediate suspension of study abroad programs located in the Schengen area on March 12th with instructions to return to permanent addresses. Therefore, the date of March 13th will be used to signify the end of your overseas housing. Students will be refunded or reimbursed for the portion of housing between March 13th and the end of your program.  

Georgetown notified students of the immediate suspension of remaining study abroad programs on March 16th with instructions to return to permanent addresses. Therefore, the date of March 17th will be used to signify the end of your overseas housing. Students will be refunded or reimbursed for the portion of housing between March 17th and the end of your program.

Is this credit a refund or a reimbursement?

If payment was made through Georgetown University
If Georgetown paid your study abroad housing expense directly to your host program and subsequently placed that expense on your GU student account, you will receive a prorated refund in the form of an adjustment to your GU student account for the portion of your program housing that was not used.

If payment was made directly to a host program or third party
If you paid your study abroad housing expense directly to your housing provider, and you requested and were denied a refund for the pre-paid, unused portion of your housing, you are eligible to receive reimbursement for the prorated percentage of your pre-paid, unused housing. This reimbursement will be issued as a credit to your GU student account. Students will need to submit both proof of payment as well as documentation of your refund request and subsequent denial. Expenses incurred in foreign currencies – and the resulting prorated reimbursements – will be converted into USD using historical currency conversion rates published on www.oanda.com

Will this credit impact my financial aid package?

It depends. Georgetown is committed to helping all students facing difficult financial challenges at this time. If you received a scholarship from Georgetown for the Spring 2020 term, the amount of your original scholarship has been reviewed and where necessary adjustments have been made to reflect a reduced housing charge and your individual circumstances. If your financial aid package included only loans it was not adjusted.

How will scholarship amounts be adjusted?

To determine whether a scholarship adjustment was necessary, Georgetown calculated for each individual student the percentage of the original cost of attendance that was covered by a Georgetown scholarship (as opposed to the “out of pocket” student/family contribution). Any credits resulting from the housing refunds were adjusted by reversing the appropriate percentage of each student’s original Georgetown scholarship.

Example:

Jane Hoya’s cost of attendance for Spring 2020 was $38,000
Jane received institutional scholarship of $19,000
Percentage of Jane’s Spring 2020 charges paid by Georgetown: 50%

Jane’s housing charges were $2,925
Jane’s study abroad program dates were: 1/28/2020 to 5/9/2020 (total of 102 days)
Jane was studying abroad in the Schengen area and was emailed by GU on 3/12/2020 with instructions to return home as soon as possible. Georgetown assumes Jane departed the next day on 3/13/2020.  The portion of used housing is 45 days (44%); the portion of unused housing is 57 days (56%)

Jane will receive a housing credit of $1,638 (56% of $2,925)
Jane’s scholarship will be adjusted by $819 (50% of the housing credit)

Why is Georgetown adjusting my scholarship? 

If you received a Georgetown scholarship, then the portion of your scholarship attributable to the reduction in your housing charge is now being returned to the scholarship pool.

Will the housing credit be automatically paid out to me?

No. The housing credit was placed on your student account. If necessary, your Georgetown scholarship was adjusted. Students may request a refund via MyAccess of a credit balance on their student account, or may leave the credit on the account to be applied against future charges. The Revenue and Receivables department processes refund requests in two to three business days, and strongly encourages students to establish a direct deposit refund profile in Student Account Services, accessible via MyAccess, before requesting any refund.

Who can I contact if I have more questions?

If you have any questions about how your Spring 2020 study abroad housing credit was calculated, please do not hesitate to email globaleducation@georgetown.edu or call (202) 687-5867. 

For billing questions, including how to obtain a refund of any resulting credit on your account, email studentaccounts@georgetown.edu or call (202) 687-7100. For questions about impacts on scholarships and financial aid email 2020-Housing-Refund@georgetown.edu.