LCCC students can apply for emergency funding due to COVID-19

CHEYENNE, WYOMING – Laramie County Community College students facing financial hardship because of the Coronavirus pandemic can now apply for emergency financial aid grants to help their situation.

Because of significant funding through the recently passed CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act, LCCC will be able to distribute approximately $750,000 in emergency financial aid grants to the college’s students impacted by COVID-19. These expenses may include food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, child care, and other basic needs.  

A student who is currently enrolled or was enrolled in an LCCC credit course for the spring 2020 semester on or after March 13 is eligible to apply for the funds; no limitations are in place based on number of hours enrolled or the students’ degree-seeking/non-degree-seeking status. Fully online and international students are not eligible.  The brief application to apply for support and additional information about the grant can be found at lccc.wy.edu/COVID.

The LCCC Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships will review the applications and award funding. There is currently no application deadline, but grants must be distributed by the college within one year of receiving the funds.     

“Our students are of utmost concern to us,” said LCCC's Director of Financial Aid Brandi Payne Cervera. “We hope this funding will help minimize the immense financial impact many of our students are experiencing during this crisis.   Our goal is to distribute the emergency grants as quickly as possible to our students with the greatest needs"

LCCC will also receive additional funding from the CARES Act for institutional use. Guidance and directions for those funds will come from the U.S. Department of Education later this month.

The college named the student portion of this money the LCCC Emergency CARES Grant.

In a press release from the Department of Education, Secretary Betsy DeVos said: "What’s best for students is at the center of every decision we make. That’s why we prioritized getting funding out the door quickly to college students who need it most. We don’t want unmet financial needs due to the coronavirus to derail their learning."

For those with additional questions, contact Payne Cervera at bcerveraFREELARAMIE.

NOTE: Changes to this grant including student eligibility have occurred since this release was distributed. For the most current information, visit lccc.wy.edu/covid - April 23, 2020