Answering your questions about Course Hero Student Emergency Aid Fund

 

1. What is the Course Hero Student Emergency Aid Fund?

 

This emergency aid response is an initiative of Course Hero, in collaboration with Believe in Students and Edquity. It’s designed to help all postsecondary students, including non-Title IV-eligible students, gain access to emergency grants in the wake of COVID-19. We want to ensure that all students, regardless of background, circumstance, and immigration status, have the financial support needed to attain the credential they’re working so hard to achieve.

 

Aid will be distributed to students in two phases. In Phase I, five nonprofit organizations, convened by Course Hero, will make grants directly to their member schools. The schools will then make these emergency funds available directly to their students. Students will be able to apply through each school’s website.

 

In Phase II, Edquity will distribute funds more broadly to students through a common application and administer the overall application and reward process. Students at Edquity’s community college partners in Dallas, Seattle, and Los Angeles; new partner institutions across the country; and Course Hero users will all be eligible to apply to Edquity for support.

  

2. Who are Course Hero Partner Organizations?

 

Achieving the Dream, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Excelencia in Education, United Negro College Fund, and the University Innovation Alliance have all demonstrated a commitment to ensuring the success of all postsecondary students. These partners are uniquely positioned to champion the values of this initiative and rapidly fund students in need.

We are in the process of adding more partnerships. Please check back later to see our new partners.

 

 3. Which schools are participating in the Fund?  

 

We are currently in the process of curating the full group of schools that will participate, you can find the current list of participating schools on this page.

 

4. Who is eligible to apply?

 

Please note the eligibility differs for each phase of this initiative. During Phase I (currently open), students are eligible to apply if they are enrolled in one of the participating schools listed on this page.

 

Specific eligibility criteria may vary by school. Please follow the link for your school on this page for more specific information regarding eligibility.

 

We are currently in the process of curating the group of schools that will participate in Phase II. We will share information about Phase II eligibility when that phase launches.

 

5. Do I have to have a Course Hero account to apply to this fund?

 

Nope. A Course Hero account is not a requirement for eligibility during Phase I. We believe all students should have access to support during this unprecedented time of need.


6. Are Course Hero Campus Reps eligible to apply?

 

During Phase I, Course Hero Campus Reps are eligible to apply, provided they are enrolled at one of the participating schools. Each school’s financial aid office, not Course Hero, runs the selection process. Student reps will not be given preference or penalized for their employment with Course Hero

 We will share information about Phase II eligibility when that phase launches.

 

7. Do I have to be a US citizen to be eligible to apply?

  

One of the intentions of the Initiative is to specifically support those students who cannot apply for federal aid: DREAMERS, international students, and others. Please refer to this page and the specific link provided for your school for the most accurate information regarding eligibility.

  

8. How do I apply?

 

Select the link for your school on this page and follow the instructions to apply. If your school is not listed among the schools in Phase I, please check back again for the once Phase II launches over the summer.


9. What are the documents required for application?

 

Please refer to this page and the specific link provided for your school.

 

10. How do I demonstrate financial need?

 

Please refer to this page and the specific link provided for your school.


11. When is the application deadline?

 

The application deadline varies by school. Please refer to this page and the specific link provided for your school.


12. When will I be notified if my application is accepted?

  

The selection process varies by school. Please refer to this page and the specific link provided for your school.

 

13. How do you decide who gets the award?

 

Individual schools and/or nonprofit partners will evaluate applications based on demonstrated financial need and other school-specific criteria.

 

14. How much can I receive in this emergency fund?

 

The amount of aid that students will receive varies by school. Please refer to this page and the specific link provided for your school.

 

15. How will the funds be delivered to me?

 

For information about fund disbursement, please refer to this page and the specific link provided for your school.

 

16. When will funds be released? 

 

The funds will be released per the timeline announced on each school’s application page. For information about funding awards, please refer to this page and the specific link provided for your school.

 

17. What if I don’t go to one of the schools listed on this page?

 

We understand that many students aren’t currently eligible to apply. Please check back as we continue to explore other partnerships. We will list new partnerships on our program page.


We’ve also compiled a list of other emergency relief programs. We welcome your additions. If you hear of similar programs, please send that information to support@coursehero.com.

 

18. Do I have to be enrolled in a school to qualify or just being accepted to a program is fine?

 

You must be currently enrolled in one of the schools on the list in order to apply for this emergency aid.