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Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

 

Even as the United States has ended the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Saint Xavier University continues to monitor information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) to keep everyone on campus safe and informed.

SXU created this web page order to bring the latest news to the campus community. To view this information in Spanish, Arabic, Italian, and Polish, please scroll to the top of the page and in the drop-down labeled "translate page" select the language to which you would like the page to be translated.

Coronavirus

COVID-19 Vaccines and Testing

The Health Center is able to provide COVID-19 testing and vaccinations for the SXU community and members of the public. It is highly recommended that all students and employees remain up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

Learn more about how and where to get vaccinated against or tested for COVID-19.

Champ the Cougar getting vaccinated at the Health Center

CARES Act/HEERF Reporting

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Saint Xavier University has been awarded about $11,380,002 through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF II), which is authorized by the American Rescue Plan passed in March 2021. SXU is required to distribute $5,704,981 directly to students.

As in prior rounds of funding, the grants will be disbursed directly to students and will not affect student financial aid awards.

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed under HEERF III to eligible SXU students as of:

  • June 30, 2021: $27,629
  • September 30, 2021: $1,899,600
  • December 31, 2021: $2,433,229
  • March 31, 2022: $5,533,329
  • Effective June 30, 2022, student emergency grant reporting is included with the HEERF Institutional Reporting Form.

The total number of SXU students (unduplicated headcount) who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under HEERF III as of:

  • June 30, 2021: 28
  • September 30, 2021: 1,902
  • December 31, 2021: 2,433
  • March 31, 2022: 2,838
  • Effective June 30, 2022, student emergency grant reporting is included with the HEERF Institutional Reporting Form.

The methods used by SXU to determine which SXU students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under HEERF III are as follows.

As of June 30, 2021:

  • Eligible undergraduate students received $600.
  • Additionally, Pell recipients received an extra $400.

As of September 30, 2021:

  • Eligible undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need as determined by their financial aid application received an automatic $1,000 distribution.
  • Undergraduate students who did not automatically qualify for funds based on their financial aid application who completed a certification form indicating exceptional financial need received a $1,000 distribution.
  • Students were given the option to request the distributions be applied to their tuition balance or have the funds distributed to them directly, either via direct deposit or mailed check.
As of December 31, 2021:
  • Eligible undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need as determined by their financial aid application received an automatic $1,000 distribution.
  • Undergraduate students who did not automatically qualify for funds based on their financial aid application who completed a certification form indicating exceptional financial need received a $1,000 distribution.
  • Students were given the option to request the distributions be applied to their tuition balance or have the funds distributed to them directly, either via direct deposit or mailed check.
As of March 31, 2022:
  • Eligible students with demonstrated financial need as determined by their financial aid application received an automatic $1,300 distribution.
  • Students who did not automatically qualify for funds based on their financial aid application who completed a certification form indicating exceptional financial need received a $1,300 distribution.
  • Students were given the option to request the distributions be applied to their tuition balance or have the funds distributed to them directly, either via direct deposit or mailed check.
As of June 30, 2022:
  • Student emergency grant reporting is included with the HEERF Institutional Reporting Form.

Students are encouraged to sign up for direct deposit to expedite receipt of funds.

If you do not already have an electronic refund account created please go to Self-Service on the mySXU portal:

  1. Students
  2. Financial Information
  3. E-Check Banking Information

Be sure to check the routing and account numbers to verify they are correct. If you have old banking information entered, be sure to completely delete those numbers before adding new information.

For those opting to receive a check, please make sure your mailing address in Self-Service on the mySXU portal is up to date.

Students who have any questions about the federal emergency grants should contact CARESActFREESXU.

Saint Xavier University has been awarded about $6.5 million through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II), which is authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act passed in December. About $2.028 million is required to be distributed to students.

HEERF II money has been distributed to all eligible undergraduate students enrolled during the Spring 2021 semester, as of February 25, 2021. Eligible undergraduate students received $600. Additionally, Pell recipients received an extra $400.

As of March 31, 2021, the grants were disbursed to 2,437 eligible undergraduate students.

As of March 31, 2021, a total of $2,028,571 in student emergency grants has been disbursed.

These grants did not affect student financial aid awards. Eligible undergraduate students do not need to apply for these funds.

The best way to receive these funds is through direct deposit. Those who have already signed up for direct deposit will receive their grants faster than those who will be mailed checks.

If you do not already have an electronic refund account created please go to Self-Service on the mySXU portal:

  1. Students, Financial Information, E-Check Banking Information
  2. Verify the routing and account numbers are correct.
  3. If old banking information is present, be sure to delete the outdated information entirely before entering new information.

For those opting to receive a check, please make sure your mailing address in Self Service on the mySXU portal is up to date.

If you opt for a paper check and do not receive your check by April 1, then please contact the Office of Student Accounts to have your check reissued. Mailed checks that are not cashed within 60 days will be canceled.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Education does not allow these grants to be allocated to undocumented students or international students. As an alternative, students may apply for assistance through the Student Emergency Fund. The webpage also includes a link to contribute to this critical fund.

Students who have any questions about the federal emergency grants should contact CARESActFREESXU.

Important Information about CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund- Student Aid

  1. Saint Xavier University (SXU) signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the Recipient's Funding Certification and Agreement regarding Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (the "Certification and Agreement"). SXU 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 SXU students.
  2. The total amount of funds that SXU has received from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to SXU's Certification and Agreement is $2,028,571.
  3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to SXU students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of:
    • July 22, 2020: $1,388,250
    • September 30, 2020: $2,014,650
    • October 1, 2020: $2,028,571
  4. The estimated total number of students at SXU eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is:
    • Spring 2020: 2,431 (Estimate based on number of students who have completed a 2019-2020 FAFSA)
    • Fall 2020: 2,695 (Estimate based on number of students who have completed a 2020-2021 FAFSA)
  5. The total number of SXU students (unduplicated headcount) who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of:
    • July 22, 2020: 1416
    • September 30, 2020: 1,696
    • October 1, 2020: 1,704
  6. The methods used by SXU to determine which SXU students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act are as follows:
    1. Priority for the initial tranche of funds was given to eligible undergraduate students. On Monday, May 4, an initial equal distribution of $650 was made available to eligible undergraduates, as determined by:
      1. The student filed a 2019-2020 FAFSA and submitted all required documentation to the Office of Financial Aid; and
      2. The student was enrolled in an in-person, degree-seeking program prior to March 13, 2020 and remained enrolled through the semester.
    2. Eligible undergraduates were advised to submit the certification of eligibility by May 29, 2020.
    3. On Friday, May 29, and initial equal distribution of $650 was made available to eligible graduate students, as determined by:
      1. Filed a 2019-2020 FAFSA and submitted all required documentation to the Office of Financial Aid; and
      2. Been enrolled in an in-person, degree-seeking program prior to March 13, 2020, and remained enrolled through the semester.
    4. Eligible graduate students were advised to submit the certification of eligibility by June 29, 2020.
    5. On Thursday, June 18, an additional $550 distribution was made to 806 Pell eligible undergraduate students who had completed the certification of eligibility. After June 18, Pell eligible undergraduate students who complete the certification of eligibility will automatically receive $1200, while non-Pell eligible undergraduates and graduate students will receive $650 upon completion of the certification of eligibility. This will ensure that priority for emergency grants are given to Pell eligible undergraduate students.
    6. Notification of the extension of the deadline to July 31, 2020 along with a reminder email was sent to both eligible undergraduate and graduate students on June 29, 2020.
    7. On September 14, 2020, an equal distribution of $650 was made available to eligible undergraduates, as determined by:
      1. Filed a 2020-2021 FAFSA and have met the eligibility requirements for receiving federal student aid; and
      2. Are enrolled in an in-person, degree-seeking program.
    8. Eligible undergraduates were informed that the certification form would be open until November 1, 2020, or until such time as the funds were completed disbursed, whichever date was sooner.
    9. As of October 1, 2020, all student emergency grant funds have been disbursed. Students completing the certification after October 2, 2020, received an automatic reply as follows:

"All CARES Act funds have been disbursed. Students in emergency situations should contact their Financial Aid counselor to discuss what options might be available. Should Congress authorize additional funds, the University will contact students as quickly as possible; however, at this time no additional funds have been authorized."

The following guidance has been provided by SXU to its students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants: Email sent out to eligible students on May 4, 2020.

Another email was sent out to eligible undergraduate students on September 14, 2020.

For the fall 2021 semester, an email was sent out to all Pell-eligible students on September 9, 2021. An email for students who are not eligible for the Pell Grant was sent out on September 14, 2021.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, is economic assistance provided by the government to support individuals and businesses impacted by the pandemic. To help relieve the financial impact of COVID-19 and propel our Mercy mission forward, Saint Xavier submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Education to receive its first installment of emergency funding from the CARES Act. In total, SXU is slated to receive $4 million -- at least half of which is allocated for direct student aid for financial hardship caused by COVID-19.

As of May 1, 2020, per regulations set forth by the U.S. Department of Education, SXU is developing a distribution formula to release $2 million in emergency aid from the CARES Act to eligible undergraduate students. These guidelines state that students must be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, to receive emergency grants; and that students who were enrolled exclusively in an online program on March 13, 2020, are not eligible for emergency grants.

According to the regulations, the aid can be used for:

"expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student's cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care)."

Eligible undergraduate students received an email within a week from the Office of Financial Aid outlining necessary steps to request emergency funding. Forms should be completed and submitted by May 29, 2020.

As of May 22, 2020, requests for CARES Act funds will be open to eligible graduate students. Graduate students who are eligible received an email to complete the certification form to request funds. Forms should be completed and submitted by June 1, 2020.

For questions regarding eligibility, please contact CARESActFREESXU.

Please know that we are actively pursuing all relief opportunities to meet outstanding costs associated with COVID-19 and continue to work closely with our higher education partners and our local, state and federal elected officials.

Public Health Links

City/State

Chicago/State of Illinois


 

    NATIONAL

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

    • COVID-19
    • Repiratory Virus Guidance (Practical recommendations and information to help people lower risk from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, including COVID-19, flu, and RSV)