Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Governor Culver Announces New College Student Aid Program For Students Impacted By This Year’s Floods
Program provides up to $5,000 to help students affected
DES MOINES – Today, Governor Chet Culver announced that the Iowa College Student Aid Commission (ICSAC) has created a new, one-time, grant program that will help students affected by this year’s historic flooding and natural disasters.
“Countless Iowans have been impacted by this year’s severe weather, including hundreds of Iowa’s college students,” said Governor Culver. “As these students go back to school, I am pleased to announce that state government is here to help. This new grant program will provide the resources needed to help affected students return life to normal, and ensure that this school year gets off to a great start.”
Administered by the Iowa College Student Aid Commission, the Disaster Relief Grant is a one-time, state-funded grant that will provide assistance of up to $5,000 to students impacted by the weather-related disasters that hit Iowa during the summer of 2008. The State has committed $500,000 for the program.
“I appreciate the State's commitment in helping the students and families who have been impacted by these disasters with resources to ease the burden of paying college expenses this year," said Karen Misjack, Executive Director of ICSAC. "It is important that students realize that their college goals are possible."
To be eligible for the Iowa Disaster Relief Grant:
- The student, his or her spouse, or a parent that the student is financially dependent upon (as stated on the student’s 2008-09 Free Application for Federal Student Aid - FAFSA) must have been financially affected by a natural disaster in the spring or summer of 2008;
- The student, his or her spouse, or a parent that the student is financially dependent upon (as stated on the student’s 2008-09 FAFSA) must have applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance and received certification of damage;
- The student must be an Iowa resident;
- The student must be enrolled (or planning to enroll) in at least 3 semester hours at an eligible Iowa college during the fall of 2008 or spring of 2009;
- The student must be making satisfactory academic progress as defined by the college or university if he or she is already enrolled in college;
- The student must complete and submit the Disaster Relief Grant application available on the Iowa College Aid website, http://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/commissioncentral/disasterreliefgrant.html;
- The student must file a 2008-09 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov, if he or she has not already done so.
- The student must complete any additional applications or documents required by the Iowa College Aid.
MAIL OR FAX APPLICATIONS
Iowa College Student Aid Commission
200 10TH ST FL 4TH
Des Moines, IA 50309
Fax: 515-725-3401
Award Notification
Students awarded the Disaster Relief Grant will be sent a letter of notification to their home address following the application submission deadline.
Disaster Relief Grants will be disbursed directly to the college or university. The financial aid office will adjust the student’s financial aid award to reflect the receipt of this grant. Students should contact the financial aid office at their college to determine how this award may adjust other types of financial aid.