Adams State University is establishing a new program of emergency financial support called Grizzly Persistence Aid to help students meet unexpected costs and needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to help ensure Adams State students persist in the pursuit of their degree.

Adams State has been allocated $784,457 in immediate student emergency relief funds through the federal CARES Act. It has also secured support from other partners, including the El Pomar Foundation and the Project Success Emergency Aid Program, and will combine these funds to establish the Grizzly Persistence Aid program.

In addition to direct emergency financial aid support, Adams State is working quickly and carefully to assist students and families with housing and meal adjustments. The University is evaluating a prorated adjustment for unused housing and dining charges for the Spring 2020 semester for students who lived on campus. Adams State is taking into account a student’s financial aid awards, including scholarships, to determine adjustments on student accounts.

Prorated adjustments to housing and meal plans will begin to be made to student accounts starting April 24, 2020.

The Grizzly Persistence Aid program, using $100,000 of the federal CARES Act relief funds, will distribute immediate awards of up to $500 through an online application process to undergraduate and graduate degree-seeking students who were taking courses on campus this Spring 2020 semester.

Adams State will use another $684,457 in federal CARES Act relief to support the return of students who enroll for the upcoming summer or fall semesters. Current Adams State students who register for summer 2020 courses or the fall 2020 semester at Adams State may receive a credit to their student account to cover costs for the upcoming summer and fall semesters. The credit amount for each student will be based on current financial need and enrollment status. Students registered by May 8 will be given priority consideration and credit awards will be posted to students’ financial aid accounts, separate from standard financial aid packages.

Adams State is expected to receive an additional $784,000 through the CARES Act to bring its total allocation of federal aid to $1.5 million. It will be used for institutional COVID-19 expenses.

The Adams State Foundation has also launched a private fundraising effort to help add additional emergency aid to the Grizzly Persistence Aid program. Grizzly Persistence Aid will be an ongoing effort by Adams State designed to assist students in dealing with unforeseen financial emergencies, which if not quickly resolved, could cause students to drop out of school. Students pursuing a college degree are sometimes derailed by a temporary financial emergency, such as the loss of a job or an unexpected increase in rent, which may cause them to leave school without earning a credential. Students typically request emergency funds for housing followed by transportation, childcare, and other unexpected costs.

Adams State believes the Grizzly Persistence Aid program will be one more way to remove barriers and increase persistence and graduation rates.

Visit Grizzly Persistence Aid program to apply.

Students may view their account at Adams State Onestop. Students and authorized payers can view the student account to make payments.