Arkansas State University-Newport received CARES Act funding during the Spring 2020 semester to assist students facing a multitude of hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

ASU-Newport received $633,319 in CARES Act funding and agreed to the terms of using no less than 50% of the funds for student issued grants. ASU-Newport’s 30-Day Funding Report shows that students received $214,104 in disbursements. As of May 24, 2020, 676 students were eligible for the institution-initiated, student-certified award. More students can become eligible based on student-initiated requests for additional or one-time funding amounts.

At this time, 649 students received institution-initiated CARES Act funding, and 61 students received student-initiated awards.

In the ASU System, the method to disburse funds was left up to each individual institution. To best serve our student population, ASU-Newport based student awards on the student’s enrollment status and Pell eligibility as of March 16, 2020. Students must complete the 2019-2020 FAFSA to be eligible for consideration of funds.

Students received information regarding how to qualify through email and their online student account portals. For further questions, ASUN’s Cares Team created a special email, , to give students direct access to those disbursing payments.

ASUN plans to replicate this process for Summer I & II to assist more students through these uncertain times.

While funds are still be distributed to qualifying Spring 2020 students, ASU-Newport’s Cares Team is working diligently to make sure each student receives their awards. For more information regarding the award process click here.