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BYU rejects $32M in CARES Act funding, offers alternative financial aid for students

BYU campus
Posted at 1:19 PM, May 20, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-20 15:19:19-04

PROVO, Utah — Brigham Young University has turned down a $32 million emergency fund that had been earmarked for the school as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

“We believe we can assist our students without the CARES Act funds," the university said in a statement given to The Daily Universe. “BYU has decided not to accept any part of the funds allocated to our university. We have notified the Department of Education of our decision so that it might reallocate resources to others."

According to The Daily Universe's report, the university sent each of its students a questionnaire that asked them to list the expenses they've had difficulty paying, along with the amounts. BYU will begin to offer financial assistance once the responses to the questionnaire have been evaluated.

"These funds are meant to offset financial impacts, not to fully compensate students for all losses incurred by the COVID–19 pandemic. BYU will have to weigh and evaluate all requests individually and in total before determining final amounts," an FAQ document about BYU's financial assistance said.