Hello everyone! We are doing such an amazing job. I have a major update: Barnard College, one of the schools at Columbia University, has announced an update on the CARES Act funding and is distributing 80% of the funds to students!! I have included a copy of an email that a Barnard student received earlier this week. Keep signing and sharing this petition so the rest of Columbia University does the same! SEND EMAILS TO ADMINISTRATION BY JOINING OUR EMAIL CAMPAIGN HERE. This is working! We are going to get the justice and the grants we need! Thank you so much for your support, we are almost there.
The email from Barnard:
" Dear [Student],
We hope you and your family are safe and well.
We know the pandemic has presented a myriad of challenges, including additional financial strain for many of our students. We are writing to inform you that you will be receiving funds through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to assist you during these unparalleled times.
Through the CARES Act, the College has received a total of $1,712,644, fifty percent of which, or $856,322, must be distributed directly to students as emergency financial aid grants. Colleges and universities have the discretion to determine how emergency financial aid grants will be allocated among their eligible students. Barnard has chosen to distribute these funds to students with the highest financial need, defined as students whose annual family contribution for the 2019-2020 academic year was $20,000 or less.
Accordingly, you will be receiving an emergency financial aid grant of $1,200 for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, including eligible expenses under your cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care.
This emergency financial aid grant will be issued by July 31, 2020 to you via direct deposit if we have your bank account information. Otherwise, we will mail a check to the most recent address we have on file. Please note that this grant will not be reflected as part of your Semester bill and will be paid directly to you.
Please do not hesitate to email us at finaid@barnard.edu if you have any questions or require any additional guidance.
Sincerely,
Nanette M DiLauro
Director of Financial Aid
Barnard College"