Delaware State University is providing a second round of debt relief to more than 1,100 students, using federal CARES Act funding.
This time, DSU is making $2.9 million available for students in need. No student who received funding during the first round will receive funding this time. The previous debt relief was for graduate students.
Pell Grant eligible students will receive $2,500 while students not eligible for Pell Grants will receive $1,000.
DSU spokesperson Carlos Holmes breaks down how the university created its list of students eligible for funding in this round.
"Only students that are eligible for federal funds. So international students, unfortunately Dreamers, could not benefit from this. We looked at the students that had the highest amount of debt, and that's how we developed our list. Yes, there are other students that are not benefiting from this particular debt reduction."
Holmes says certain students will be eligible.
"This is students that are Pell Grant students or non-Pell grant students, current students that are currently enrolled and enrolling for the 21-22 school year. A lot of these students have debt. This will help out a lot."
Eligible students will receive an email, and they have to agree to accept the money, allowing DSU to apply it to their outstanding debts.
So far, DSU has invested about $8.5 million from various sources to support students since the pandemic started.
In the 2020, DSU raised over $1.6 million in private funding for a university sponsored Student Emergency Relief Fund which provided instant support for students facing an unanticipated move off campus.
Over $200,000 worth of laptops, tablets, and portable WiFi devices were distributed to students with device and connectivity needs while working from home during the same March-to-June 2020 period the Student Emergency Relief Fund money was raised.
DSU also provided $3.3 million in direct financial support to students throughout 2020.
This past May, DSU was the first Historically Black College of University to make $735,000 available to clear the debts of 225 graduating seniors.
DSU officials plan to continue helping students throughout the school year with the goal of reaching as many students as they can.
