Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Student Grants
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law to provide economic relief from COVID-19. One section of the CARES Act established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) provides emergency financial aid grants to students, for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. Eligible expenses include but are not limited to food, housing, such as having to move off-campus when dormitories closed, course materials, technology, health care, childcare, and others.
18004(A) (1)-Student Portion
Lake Region State College CARES Act Distribution Final Report August 20, 2020
Lake Region State College CARES Act Distribution Report July 20, 2020
Lake Region State College CARES Act Distribution Report July 13, 2020
Lake Region State College CARES Act Distribution Report May 2020
18004(A) (1,2,3)-Institutional Portion
Lake Region State College Quarter 1 Report September 30, 2020
Lake Region State College Quarter 2 Final Report December 31, 2020
U.S. Department of Education CARES Act Guidance
Only students who are or could be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), may receive emergency financial aid grants. Additionally, the Department of Education has told institutions that those students who were enrolled exclusively in online programs on March 13, 2020, the date of the President's "National Emergency" Proclamation, are not eligible for emergency CARES Act grants.
Who is Eligibility for CARES Act Student Grant?
This grant may be available to students who have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and were enrolled and attending Lake Region State College after March 13, 2020. The student must have experienced additional expenses due to the disruption of campus services because of COVID-19. Eligible expenses include but are not limited to food, housing, such as having to move off-campus when dormitories closed, course materials, technology, health care, childcare, and others.
After the Spring 2020 semester ends, students must be registered for Summer and/or Fall semesters to be eligible for a CARES Act Student Grant.
Students enrolled in a program that has been approved by HLC as an eligible online program are not considered eligible for the CARES Act Grant if they are enrolled 100% in online courses.
How to Apply for the CARES Act Grant?
To apply for the CARES Act Student Grant through LRSC, students must have completed an online application. The application deadline has now closed.
Awarding and Disbursement Process
- Eligible students will complete the CARES Act Grant Funding for Student Request Form.
- LRSC will review applications as they are submitted and will disburse funds to eligible students on a rolling basis. CARES Act Funds will be disbursed directly to students via Direct Deposit if they are enrolled for the Direct Deposit or via check mailed to the home address listed in Campus Connection.
- Grant requests for expenses $500 or less will not require documentation.
- Grant requests for expenses for more than $500 will require the student to complete the application and provide documentation of the expense. An example: Student purchases a computer for $800. The student could provide a receipt or estimate from the vendor as documentation.
- Funding not requested by the end of spring 2020 will be disbursed to students with 2019-2020 EFC’s below 5577. (Pell Grant Eligible)
- Emergency funding may be available for the summer and fall semesters as long as the student was enrolled during the Spring 2020 semester and summer and/or fall semester
- The financial aid office with the input of the Director of Trio (or designate), Director of Housing, Counseling, and Director of Financial Aid will determine who is approved for the grant aid based on application.
- The grant would be entered on Campus Connection Award Entry but will not affect the current financial aid. The item type will be set to bypass the student's institutional account and create a check to be mailed to the student or Direct Deposited to their bank account.