HEERF FAQs

I have questions about Financial Aid and Scholarships. Can I make an appointment?

DBU encourages you to make a phone appointment with a financial aid counselor. If you would like to make an appointment, please contact our office at (214) 333-5363 or email finaid@dbu.edu. Unless the University campus closes, our office will also remain open during normal business hours.

What if I have extra expenses caused by COVID-19?

Our counselors can evaluate your circumstances and increase your Cost of Education budget to cover illness-related expenses. Please contact our office to request a budget increase evaluation. Please note that documentation of the extra expenses will be required.

What if my parents’ and/or my income has been affected by illness?

For the 2019/2020 Academic Year

Our financial aid counselors can reassess your family’s ability to help with your educational expenses if their employment is affected by an illness and their income this year will be significantly less than the income reported on your FAFSA (2017 income was reported on the FAFSA for 19/20). You can find the required forms below:

Parent Request

19-20 Change in Circumstances: Parent Request

19-20 Income Verification Worksheet: Dependent Student

Independent Student Request

19-20 Change in Circumstances: Independent Student Request

19-20 Income Verification Worksheet: Independent Student

For the 2020/2021 Academic Year

Our financial aid counselors can reassess your family’s ability to help with your educational expenses if their employment is affected by an illness and their income this year will be significantly less than the income reported on your FAFSA (2018 income was reported on the FAFSA for 20/21). You can find the required forms below:

20/21 Parent Request

20-21 Change in Circumstances: Parent Request

20-21 Income Verification Worksheet: Dependent Student

20/21 Independent Student Request

20-21 Change in Circumstances: Independent Student Request

20-21 Income Verification Worksheet: Independent Student

For the 2021/2022 Academic Year

Our financial aid counselors can reassess your family’s ability to help with your educational expenses if their employment is affected by an illness and their income this year will be significantly less than the income reported on your FAFSA (2019 income was reported on the FAFSA for 21/22). You can find the required forms below:

Parent Request

21-22 Change in Circumstances: Parent Request

21-22 Income Verification Worksheet: Dependent Student

Independent Student Request

21-22 Change in Circumstances: Independent Student Request

21-22 Income Verification Worksheet: Independent Student Request

What if my parents’ and/or my income has been affected by unemployment due to Covid-19?

Our financial aid counselor may have the ability to adjust financial aid eligibility based on your special circumstances, including for recently unemployed individuals who may not know that their changed circumstances could make them eligible for Federal Pell Grants and other need-based student aid. You may use documentation of unemployment—including, but not limited to, receipt of unemployment benefits—to aid in assisting our counselors with reducing or adjusting income earned from work for a student and/or parent, as well as make corresponding adjustments to Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) on the FAFSA application.

What happens if I need to drop a class?

The U.S. Department of Education does not have the authority to relax compliance requirements related to unit requirements. Financial aid eligibility is verified based on the hours you are enrolled in at the end of 02/03/2020. You must be enrolled half time (4.5 hours for graduate students, 6 hours for undergraduate students) to remain eligible for financial aid. Most undergraduate grant programs require full time enrollment and your eligibility will be reduced, if you are enrolled in less than 12 hours at census.

What happens if I withdraw?

Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Education does not have the authority to relax compliance requirements related to withdrawals. If you withdraw (officially or unofficially), the Office of Financial Aid is required to perform a calculation to determine how much of the financial aid you received for the term needs to be returned. The later in the term you withdraw, the more of your financial aid will be considered “earned,” and the impact on your financial aid will be smaller. You can find additional information by reviewing the What is DBU’s Refund Policy guidance.

What happens if I decide to take a term off?

If you do not enroll, you will not receive financial aid for that semester. However, your eligibility for future semesters will not be affected. We recommend that you see your academic advisor any time your enrollment plans change to make sure that you are still on track to graduation.

What about my on-campus work study that I rely on to pay for my personal expenses?

We will be working through the impacts for those relying on work-study.

I am studying abroad. What happens if my program gets suspended?

DBU’s Global Studies staff and Financial Aid staff are in constant communication, and we are made aware of any programs that have been suspended.

I am a student who received an emergency financial aid grant under section 3504, 18004, or 18008 of the CARES Act for unexpected expenses, unmet financial need, or expenses related to the disruption of campus operations on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. Is this grant includible in my gross income?

No. Emergency financial aid grants under the CARES Act for unexpected expenses, unmet financial need, or expenses related to the disruption of campus operations on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as unexpected expenses for food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, or childcare, are qualified disaster relief payments under section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code. This grant is not includible in your gross income.

I received an emergency financial aid grant under the CARES Act and used some of it to pay for course materials that are now required for online learning because my college or university campus is closed. Can I claim a tuition and fees deduction for the cost of these materials, or treat the cost of these materials as a qualifying education expense for purposes of claiming the American Opportunity Credit or the Lifetime Learning Credit?

No. Because the emergency financial aid grant is not includible in your gross income, you cannot claim any deduction or credit for expenses paid with the grant including the tuition and fees deduction, the American Opportunity Credit, or the Lifetime Learning Credit. See section 139(h) of the Internal Revenue Code.

How will DBU’s financial hardship committee determined which students will receive emergency financial aid grants?

Enrolled students that meet Title IV guidelines and have completed the 2019-2020 FAFSA Application must complete the Financial Hardship Application to be considered by the committee.

How will students be notified that they have been approved or denied for emergency financial aid grant under the CARES Act?

Students will receive an email notification to the primary email address on file with the university concerning the committee decision once their hardship application has been reviewed.

What eligibility criteria are in section 484 of the Higher Education Act (HEA) which are required to be eligible for emergency funds?

Section 484 of the HEA states that Title IV eligible students must:

Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree or certificate program
Not be enrolled in elementary or secondary school
For currently enrolled students, be making satisfactory academic progress
Not owe an overpayment on Title IV grants or loans
Not be in default on a Title IV loan
File "as part of the original financial aid application process" a certification that includes
- A statement of educational purpose
- Student's SSN
Be a U.S. citizen or national, permanent resident, or other eligible non-citizen
Have returned fraudulently obtained Title IV funds if convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to charges
Not have fraudulently received Title IV loans in excess of annual or aggregate limits
Have repaid Title IV loan amounts in excess of annual or aggregate limits if obtained inadvertently
Have Selective Service registration verified
Have Social Security Number verified
Not have a federal or state conviction for drug possession or sale, with certain time limitations

Financial Aid COVID Information

Has DBU signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement for the Cares Act funds?

DBU signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

What is the estimated total of students who are eligible to participate in the CARES Act program?

2,442 Title IV Eligible DBU Students out 4,014 Enrolled Students for Spring 2020

How much student funding did DBU receive to date to distribute as a part of the CARES Act?

To date (8/6/20), DBU has received $1,099,339.00 to be distributed.

To date (8/6/20), DBU has distributed $1,099,339.00 to 414 students.

The total amount still available for distribution is $0.00. Request for funds is currently closed.

To date (7/15/20), DBU has received $1,099,339.00 to be distributed.

To date (7/15/20), DBU has distributed $1,074,800.32 to 394 students.

The total amount still available for distribution is $24,538.68. DBU is continuing to evaluate requests on a daily basis and distribute funds.

To date (7/2/20), DBU has received $1,099,339.00 to be distributed.

To date (7/2/20), DBU has distributed $1,002,326.06 to 373 students.

The total amount still available for distribution is $97,012.94. DBU is continuing to evaluate requests on a daily basis and distribute funds.

To date (6/22/20), DBU has received $1,099,339.00 to be distributed.

To date (6/22/20), DBU has distributed $936,829.23 to 353 students.

The total amount still available for distribution is $162,509.77. DBU is continuing to evaluate requests on a daily basis and distribute funds.

To date (6/4/20), DBU has received $1,099,339.00 to be distributed.

To date (6/4/20), DBU has distributed $716,417.40 to 261 students.

The total amount still available for distribution is $382,921.60. DBU is continuing to evaluate requests on a daily basis and distribute funds.

To date (5/14/20), DBU has received $1,099,339.00 to be distributed.

To date (5/14/20), DBU has distributed $663,465.15 to 155 students.

The total amount still available for distribution is $435,873.85. DBU is continuing to evaluate requests on a daily basis and distribute funds.

Fill out the DBU Hardship Application to see if you are eligible to receive these funds.

How much student funding did DBU receive under CRRSA ACT (HEERF II)?

To date (04/10/21), DBU has received $1,099,339.00 to be distributed.
To date (04/10/21), DBU has distributed $558,307.17 to 145 students.
The total amount still available for distribution is $541031.83. DBU is continuing to evaluate requests on a daily basis and distribute funds.

To date (07/10/21), DBU has received $1,099,339.00 to be distributed.
To date (07/10/21), DBU has distributed $1,029,309.50 to 259 students.
The total amount still available for distribution is $70,029.50. DBU is continuing to evaluate requests on a daily basis and distribute funds.

How much did DBU receive in HEERF I, II & III (a)(1) Institutional Portion?

Quarter-Ending Reporting Form

September 30, 2020, form for HEERF I (a)(1) Institutional Portion

June 30, 2021, form for HEERF I, II, & III (a)(1) Institutional Portion.

September 30, 2021, form for HEERF II & III (a)(1) Institutional Portion.

December 31, 2021, form for HEERF I, II, & III (a)(1) Institutional Portion.

March 31, 2022, form for HEERF I, II, & III (a)(1) Institutional Portion.

How will DBU’s financial hardship committee determine which students will receive emergency financial aid grants under Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA)?

Students are considered for emergency financial aid grants by the following methods:

Enrolled students who meet Title IV guidelines and have completed the 2019-2020 FAFSA application must complete the financial hardship application to be considered by the committee.
Current students who have a 20/21 FAFSA application on file and have experienced financial hardship towards components of your cost to attend DBU are identified and sent an application to apply for CRRSSA funds.