LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Steve Harmon,

(Laredo, Texas)-Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) will award some $4.75 million to assist students as part of its TAMIU CARES Act initial allocation which was announced last week.
TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz said student grants of up to $1,500 from this initial federal allocation will be flexibly structured to be responsive to assisting students with immediate needs this Spring and on through Summer and Fall semesters.
“Currently enrolled students will complete a simple online application now available at www.tamiu.edu/cares that will help us provide grants focused on housing, food insecurity, urgent medical needs, school and transportation expenses tied to the current Spring Semester. Additional grant opportunities will be established for students with similar needs enrolling in TAMIU Summer and Fall semesters,” Dr. Arenaz said.

The CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act is offered in various titles and parts by the Department of Education under the Sec. 18004(a)(1) Allocation.
Arenaz said that this allocation of the TAMIU CARES Act funding will have immediate availability and impact for students. Grants will be disbursed through BankMobile to deliver funds to students in the quickest, most reliable, and safest method possible. Students should visit the Card Services webpage at www.tamiu.edu/onecard for information on how to confirm their disbursement preferences are current.
“Thousands of TAMIU students and their families have been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Some students may even be questioning their ability to continue their degree dream. The availability of this assistance will be a welcome relief and we are thankful to our congressional delegation for their leadership on this,” he said.
He said the University is also optimistic that additional funding may be on the horizon.
“The next concern we share with other higher education institutions across the state and nation will be relief funding focused on the retention of students this Fall. This will be the next hurdle for TAMIU, and we will continue to urge Congress to help families and universities address this issue in the next relief package now under consideration,” he concluded.
For additional information on the TAMIU CARES Act application process and grants, visit www.tamiu.edu/cares or email TA********@ta***.edu .

As part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, TAMIU’s campus is closed only to the general public. Entry to campus continues for students, faculty, staff and those having legitimate reasons to be on campus. Online and virtual services at the University continue, practicing all CDC Guidelines on gathering, masking and social distancing and with most staff working remotely. Office hours are subject to change and it is recommended that phone or email contact be made first to determine the office’s schedule of operation. An online directory is here.
The University’s dedicated COVID-19 website is updated daily and includes information on office schedules and services, an expansive FAQ, quick links, student resources, official information links and much more.