• On April 6, 2022, the U.S. Department of Education extended the student loan payment pause through Aug. 31, 2022. The pause includes the following relief measures for eligible federal student loans:
  • a suspension of loan payments
  • a 0% interest rate
  • stopped collections on defaulted loans

  For more information, visit COVID-19 Loan Payment Pause and 0% Interest | Federal Student Aid.

• In Spring 2021, more than half of CUNY degree-seeking students received federal stimulus grants on average between $600 to $1,000, depending on financial need and other factors. For Fall 2021, CUNY will be identifying new and returning students who may be eligible for additional federal stimulus grants.
• In accordance with the US Department of Education’s Dear Colleague Letter dated July 13^th 2021, CUNY will waive most of the previous federal verification requests for income information, confirmation of household size and the number of family members in college for the 2021-2022 Academic Year.  Students selected for the Verification tracking Groups V4 and V5 are still required to provide proof of identity, complete a Statement of Educational Purpose, and submit proof of High School Completion status, as necessary. Note: requests to resolve FAFSA comment codes in reference to student eligibility, conflicting information and verification for the purposes of professional judgement reviews are still valid and must also be resolved before federal Title IV aid can be administered.
• CUNY has finalized the methodology and distribution methodology for the CRRSAA HEERF II Student Emergency Grant. For additional information, please visit CRRSAA FAQs.

• The FCC announced the Federal Emergency Broadband Benefit, providing eligible students with up to $50 per month towards broadband service for an eligible household as well as a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute $10-$50 toward the purchase price. If you received a Pell Grant for 2020-2021, you are eligible. Applications open May 12, 2021. Visit How to Apply – EBBP (getemergencybroadband.org) for other qualifications and to apply.
• On December 22, 2021, the office of Federal Student Aid extended the emergency relief measures on ED-owned federal student loans through May 1, 2022. The temporary emergency relief covered suspension of loan payments, stopped collections on defaulted loans, and a 0% interest rate. The original deadline was due to expire on January 31st, 2021.
• Students with private student loans should contact their servicer directly for new financing options that may now be available.
• Students who experience a loss in income based on the COVID-19 pandemic, may qualify for additional federal student assistance.  When completing the FAFSA, a student reports income information from two years prior.  If you have had a loss in income and previously did not qualify for a Federal Pell Grant, you may be eligible for additional funds based on an income adjustment.  Possible circumstances may include unemployment, death of a wage-earner (parent, if dependent; spouse, if independent), divorce, loss of untaxed income (such as child support). A review of your circumstance will require income and substantiating support documentation for the circumstance. Visit your college’s financial aid website for more information.

• As part of the federal government’s CARES Act legislation, eligible CUNY students will automatically receive emergency grants to help cover education-related expenses caused by COVID-19. Eligibility is based on a student’s FAFA on file. If you have not completed your FAFSA, please do so at the FAFSA website today. No other action is required to apply for or receive these grants – they will be automatically deposited into the bank accounts of students enrolled in direct deposit and mailed to students who have not enrolled. Please visit here for additional information.
• Nelnet payment plans will see adjustments to their payment schedule. Please check here for more details.
• There are options available if you have experienced a change in your family or financial situation in the current 2019-2020 academic year as well as for 2020-2021. Special circumstances such as income loss, or death of a parent may qualify you for additional Financial Aid. After completing the FAFSA form and/or NYS Aid application listing your school code, contact your college’s financial aid office to discuss available options. A review process and supporting documentation will be required, at the determination of the college financial aid office. All documents can be submitted securely to your college by using the CUNYfirst Student Document Upload tool.
• New York State’s High Education Services Corporation (HESC) has ensured that no HESC state financial aid programs will be disrupted by coronavirus. See NYS HESC’s Guidance on COVID-19 Updates & FAQs for Students and Parents.
• Students are advised to check their CUNYfirst To Do list in Student Center to see if they have outstanding documents required for their financial aid process. In response to COVID-19, students can upload documents using the CUNYfirst Student Document Upload feature.

The Ultimate Guide to Virtual Museum Resources, E-Learning, and Online Collections provides the most extensive collection of free, virtual resources at museums and cultural institutions.

The Frick Collection’s Piero della Francesca in America was on view in the Oval Room in 2013. Click on any painting in the virtual exhibition to learn more about the work of art.

The National Women’s History Museum has online exhibits and oral histories to educate, inspire, empower, and shape the future by integrating women’s distinctive history and culture in the United States.

The Google Art Project helps its users discover and view important artworks online in high resolution and detail, including through Google’s partnerships with 1200 cultural institutions from around the world.

The Guggenheim features over 1,700 artworks by more than 625 artists, including a collection online that presents a searchable database of selected artworks from the Guggenheim’s permanent collection of approximately 8,000 artworks.

The Met Online allows you to browse the Met’s entire collection of some 200,770 objects covering 5,000 years of art history.

NASA offers free virtual tours of the Langley Research Center, the Glenn Research Center, and a Space Center Houston app that provides virtual tours, augmented reality experiences, and videos and audio stories about space exploration.

The National Museum of the United States Air Force offers free virtual tours of its entire grounds, and its wide array of military weapons and aircraft.

The Smithsonian, National Museum of Natural History virtual tours allow visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room tours of select exhibits and areas within the museum.

The Vatican Museums feature an extensive collection of important art and classical sculptures curated by the Popes over many centuries. You can take a virtual tour of the museum grounds and iconic exhibits, including Michelangelo’s ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.

Stay connected with MoMA online through access to the Museum’s free online courses on Coursera, and our MoMA Learning website populated with resources for teaching online or self-guided learning.

Force yourself to sign up for a club

Joining a club through your campus’ club fair is an easy way to find your squad and make campus feel smaller. Plus, if you don’t find a club you like, start your own!

Say hi to the people from your classes in past semesters

We know it’s hard to initiate a conversation, but in almost every case, you will be glad you did.

Make your schedule your wallpaper

Don’t risk being late to class because you’re trying to load CUNYfirst. Take a screenshot and make it your wallpaper until you memorize your schedule.

Raise Issues & Concerns

Browse through fellowships & scholarships

Fellowships and scholarships can make a huge difference for your resume, work exposure, or even wallet. Find some that interest you and make an appointment with your college’s advisor ASAP.

Keep in touch with old professors

Maintain your relationship with some past professors by going to their office hours or sending them an email just to say hi and to ask for their input on your academic path.

Over-organize to Focus

Planning and organizing is key to maintaining some semblance of normalcy as frequent changes arise due to the coronavirus crisis. Using check-lists, calendars, and mobile apps may help you create structure in your life, even if you are working from home. Recruit a friend to serve as your accountability buddy to help you stay on top of things.

Visit your professor’s office hours early in the semester

All professors appreciate a stop to their office hours but many especially appreciate it early on. Even if the bulk of the coursework has not yet begun, you can bring a set of questions about your professor’s work.

Sign up to be the first to present in class

Yes, it may seem scary but chances are you’ll be graded a little more leniently if you do. Plus, you’ll get it out of the way and be thankful you did!

Research apps that will help make life a little easier

There’s an app for that. Use apps that transcribe your voice for long writing assignments, anti-procrastination apps to help you focus, and scanner apps so you never have to scan in the library again!