The CARES Act: Pace University Advocacy in the Time of COVID-19

On Tuesday, April 28th the Center for Community Action and Research (CCAR) teamed up with Government and Community Relations (GCR) to discuss the CARES Act and answer student questions about this legislation. Part of CCAR’s Everyday Activism Challenge, this event enabled students to remain civically engaged while social distancing. The CARES Act, which stands for the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act,” is the most recent federal COVID-19 stimulus bill. Pace worked with other universities to ensure that $14 billion was set aside in this bill to specifically support higher education institutions around the country. Pace University just received its first batch of money and will immediately begin distributing half of the funds to all eligible students.

All Title IV eligible students (you can check with financial aid if your note sure you qualify) will receive an emergency aid grant from the CARES Act. The grants are being evenly split regardless of student status (i.e. graduate/undergraduate students, PLV/NYC campus, commuter/resident, etc.). Pace subsequently sent out an email to all students with more information about CARES Act funding distribution, you can view the communication here.

Laurianne leading PSAGV’s visit to Representative Jerry Nadler’s office

Student involvement is always critical. I am proud to have worked with GCR in the past, as they have connected me with some pretty incredible opportunities as an undergraduate student. In spring 2019, GCR played a key role in advancing the on-campus anti-gun violence initiative I founded, Pace Students Against Gun Violence (PSAGV). Their office was instrumental in helping me coordinate meetings with our elected officials and I had the unparalleled opportunity to lead student activists in lobbying for non-partisan solutions to combat the gun violence epidemic.

GCR is currently advocating to ensure higher ed is included in the next stimulus bill. Students can participate in this advocacy by using a tool provided by The Commission on Independent Colleges & Universities (CICU) in New York to tell elected officials and staff why supporting students and higher ed is important. GCR is asking students to utilize this tool to contact their Member of Congress and US Senators asking them to support Higher Education in the next round of COVID-19 relief. This tool will automatically generate a pre-written letter for students to send to their specific representatives.

Click here to join GCR in advocating for student support! If you have any questions, you can contact GCR at gcr@pace.edu.