LCCC Emergency CARES Grant for Students Required Reporting

1. Laramie County Community College (LCCC) acknowledges that the institution signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the US Department of Education.  LCCC will use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

2. LCCC received $751,327 from the US Department of Education pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

3. LCCC has distributed $751,327 of Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a) (1) of the CARES Act.  Grants were distributed directly to students via paper check or direct deposit.  The disbursement of the emergency grants were unencumbered by the institution, i.e. no amounts due to the institution were deducted from the grants.  

4. 1,405 is the estimated total number of students at LCCC who are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.  Exclusively online students were excluded from this number as these students are not eligible for the emergency grants.   International students and non-degree seeking students were also excluded as these students are not eligible for Title IV funding, and thus not eligible to receive emergency grants.

5. 564students received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

6.  LCCC implemented an application process to identify students enrolled for Spring 2020 and/or Summer 2020 Semester that are in need of emergency grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.  LCCC’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships reviewed the student grant applications on a case-by-case basis and were mindful of each student’s particular socioeconomic circumstances.  The grant application asked students some qualifying questions and for a brief explanation of their circumstances, as well as an amount requested.  LCCC established a maximum grant amount per semester in an effort to distribute the grant funds as widely as possible to our students in need of emergency funds. LCCC awarded up to the established maximum grant amount, or the amount of the student’s request, if less.  Our average grant amount per student is $1,332. 

   
   Grants were awarded to eligible students following the US Department of Education’s guidance:  https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/heerfstudentfaqs.pdf. 
   
   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.  The criteria to participate in programs under Section 484 of the HEA include but are not limited to the following: U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen; a valid Social Security number; registration with Selective Service (if the student is male); and a high school diploma, GED, or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting.  
   
   Students who were enrolled exclusively in online classes on or prior to  March 13, 2020 are not eligible for this funding.
   
   Funds are being distributed on a first-come first-serve basis.   The majority of our funding is being distributed to our students with the highest financial need.  
   
   
7. Instructions, directions, and guidance provided by LCCC to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants can be found on our LCCC Emergency CARES Grant web page which includes the link to the electronic application: https://www.lccc.wy.edu/services/financialaid/caresGrant/index.aspx
   
   The information provided includes eligibility criteria and guidance that the grants must be used to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus that have impacted a student’s educational experience, and includes a list of allowable expenses.
   
   A link to this grant page Is listed on our general COVID-19 Information page:  https://www.lccc.wy.edu/virus-information.aspx
   
   LCCC announced the grant opportunity through a press release.
   
   All potentially eligible students were sent an email notification to their student email address to inform them of the grant availability that stated the following:
   Effective immediately, Laramie County Community College students that meet certain qualifications and are experiencing financial hardship because of the Coronavirus pandemic can apply for the LCCC Emergency CARES Grant. Due to federal funding included in the recently passed CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act, LCCC will distribute emergency grants to assist students with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the pandemic. These expenses include but are not limited to food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, child care, and other basic needs.  CARES funds are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please visit our LCCC Emergency CARES Grant web page for more information on qualifying for the grant and to submit your online application.  If you do not require grant assistance, you may disregard this message.
   
   Students were sent a follow-up text directing them to this email to ensure all students were aware of this funding opportunity.
   
   Students were sent an approval or denial email notification to their student email address following the review of their application.   The approval email included instructions on how to view the amount of the grant in myLCCC Self-Service, and informed students that the emergency grant funds would be sent to them within a week from our Student Accounts Office by direct deposit or check.
   
   Please note that LCCC student email is the official method of communication for LCCC students.

This information meets the US Department of Education’s reporting requirements for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund’s (HEERF) Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.  This information was reported 30 days after receipt of the HEERF funds and will be updated every 45 days thereafter, as required.

Initial Report Date: May 20, 2020

45-day Report Update: July 3, 2020

Final Report Date: August 10, 2020