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COVID-19 Relief Funds

COVID-19 Relief Funds

If you have been impacted by COVID-19, you may be eligible for federal grants to help offset the cost for you to attend Middle Georgia. The grants have different criteria, therefore, you need to review the criteria for each grant and apply for all grants that you may be eligible to receive. Each section will have a link to the application following the requirements.

The application will ask you in which of the following ways you were impacted by COVID-19.

  • Personally, lost employment or reduced income
  • Immediate family members lost employment or reduced income
  • Incurred medical expenses
  • Incurred other pandemic related expenses
  • Other circumstances (please explain)

These funds may be in addition to any financial aid you may receive and you are not required to pay the grants back. Please read the requirements carefully and apply.

Note: Unlike HEERF II funding, HEERF III funding is available to a wider group of students.

Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund

The Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund is a Federal grant program by which the US Department of Education awards grants to Governors in order to provide education related entities with emergency assistance because of COVID-19. Governor Kemp has designated $5 million from the grant awarded to Georgia to aid students within the University System of Georgia who are struggling to pay bills for tuition and fees due to impacts related to COVID-19.

The Governor’s allocation of funds has been determined and Middle Georgia State University received $272,000. The funds were allocated to institutions based on the institutions’ percentage or share of the total number of Pell-eligible students enrolled in each USG institution. Middle Georgia will disburse the funds beginning with the students enrolled in the Spring 2021 Semester for second session. Guidelines were provided to each USG institution and must be followed when determining a students’ eligibility to receive funds and for disbursing funds to students.

  • The funds may be awarded to assist students who have been financially impacted by COVID-19, are having trouble paying tuition and fees, and are at risk of being dropped from enrollment due to non-payment.
  • Funds are to be made available for the Spring 2021 semester to currently enrolled and degree-seeking undergraduate students. Any portion of funding not used in Spring 2021 may be awarded to similarly situated students needing aid in Summer 2021, or potentially in Fall 2021 should funds remain available. Remaining funds are now available for Spring 2022, Summer 2022 and Fall 2022 semesters.
  • Institutions will require the completion of the application for each grant request in order to assess student need and eligibility.
  • All applications will be reviewed by the MGA GEER team (staff members from Finance and Operation and Enrollment Management) to determine the student’s eligibility and funding priority prior to making grant funds available. Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received.
  • The use of awarded funds is to be limited to the direct payment of tuition and fee expenses.

Student Eligibility

Students receiving GEER funding awards must meet these criteria:

  • Enrolled in an undergraduate program leading to a degree.
  • In good academic standing, and making progress toward degree attainment, as defined by meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) guidelines for Federal financial aid.
  • Have suffered a financial impact due to COVID-19 pandemic as determined by the institution.
  • Have filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and been determined eligible for Title IV federal student assistance.
  • Student must have an outstanding balance of direct charges to the institution.
  • Priority will be given to Pell eligible students. If funds remain after awarding all Pell-eligible applicants that qualify, funds may be used to assist other students that have direct charges owed to the institution and unmet need based on the standard financial aid formula (COA- EFC-all other aid = unmet need)
  • Institutions should ensure awards will satisfy student obligations.
  • Students that meet the eligibility criteria will be prioritized based on the following categories.

Award Guidelines

Financial awards made to the student must meet these criteria:

  • Not to exceed $2,500 per student.
  • Not to exceed the student’s total balance due the institution, after all other aid, including federal loans, has been applied, and including any 3 rd party guarantees which may be pending but not yet received.
  • GEER awards may not be directly refunded to the student as surplus financial aid, nor can these awards cause other funds from other sources to be refunded directly to the student as surplus financial aid.

Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER) Scholarship Application

This award of up to $2,500 provides one-time emergency financial assistance to students encountering unforeseen circumstances due to COVID-19 that may prevent them from continuing their education at Middle Georgia State University. Circumstances that may lead a student to apply for these funds can vary widely. These funds are intended to assist students with financial hardships to complete their education.

How to Apply

Students are encouraged to apply for this funding if the need arises and should complete the application as soon as possible. Students must complete an application that requests supporting documentation of the financial or personal circumstances prompting the application. Upon review of the student's application and situation, the MGA GEER Team determine the funding amount. These funds will then be applied to the student’s outstanding balance.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

  • Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program leading to a degree.
  • Be in good academic standing, and making progress toward degree attainment, as defined by meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) guidelines for Federal financial aid.
  • Have suffered a financial impact due to COVID-19 pandemic as determined by the institution.
  • Have filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and been determined eligible for Title IV federal student assistance.
  • Student must have an outstanding balance of direct charges to the institution.
  • Institutions should ensure awards will satisfy student obligations.
  • Priority will be given to Pell-eligible students. If funds remain after awarding all Pell-eligible applicants that qualify, funds may be used to assist other students that have direct charges owed to the institution and unmet need based on the standard financial aid formula (COA- EFC-all other aid = unmet need)
  • Students that meet the eligibility criteria will be prioritized based on the following categories.
    • Bachelor Degree Seeking Students
      • Graduating Seniors –Submit your graduation application (hyperlink)
      • Seniors
      • Juniors
      • Sophomores
      • Freshmen
    • Associate Degree Seeking Students
      • Graduating Sophomores and Above Submit graduation application (hyperlink)
      • Sophomores
      • Freshmen

Award decisions will be based on the established criteria outlined in the application. Award amounts will be determined based on the request, proof of need, and available funds. 

Awards will be applied to the student’s account and may not be directly refunded to the student as surplus financial aid, nor can these awards cause other funds from other sources to be refunded directly to the student as surplus financial aid.

International students are ineligible for state and federal financial aid, so they are not required to complete this process and are not eligible for the funding.