CARES Act Funding

To keep students and the general public informed, and to be in compliance with Section 18004 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), Lewis-Clark State College publishes the following seven required information areas. For questions or more information please email coronavirus@lcsc.edu.

1. An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to 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.

Lewis-Clark State College received confirmation on April 28, 2020, that its application to access CARES Act funds was received. The institution has earmarked at least 50 percent of the overall funds to be used to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

$989,886 has been received by Lewis-Clark State College for the purposes of providing emergency relief to students. The total of all CARES Act funds allocated to the college is $1,979,772.

3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter). Aug. 31, 2020, Update: reporting requirement changed to quarterly.

$748,434 as of May 18 – Initial Spring Distribution
$795,111 as of June 23 – Includes Spring Distribution, Additional relief requests and Summer Distribution
$803,811 as of July 30 – Includes Spring and Summer Distributions and Additional relief requests
$834,842 as of Oct. 2 – Includes Spring and Summer Distributions and Additional relief requests (Fall Distributions are through application)
$868,137 as of January 5 – Includes Spring and Summer Distributions and Additional relief requests (Fall Distributions are through application)

4. The estimated total number of students at the institution 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.

 1,923 potential students.  

5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

Spring Distribution

1,561 students. The breakdown is as follows (duplication of students):

Part-time Degree-seeking         123       $24,600

Full-time Degree-seeking         1,438     $503,300

Pell Grant Recipients                880       $132,000

Board Refunds                          31         $4,666

Room Refunds                          58         $37,617       

Wages Lost                               97         $46,251

Summer Distribution

98 students were enrolled and eligible for Summer.  The breakdown is as follows (duplication of students): 

Part-time Degree-seeking                           93           $27,900

Full-time Degree-seeking                            5             $2,500

Pell Grant Recipients                                  31           $7,750

Late Spring Full-time Degree-seeking        1              $350

Additional Relief Applications                      30           $16,877

Fall Distribution

83 students were enrolled and eligible for Fall.  

Additional Relief Applications                     83           $64,326

6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

Spring Distribution

Using student data drawn from the college’s official census day (March 16, 2020), college personnel identified degree-seeking students who were eligible to receive Title IV funding or were likely to be eligible upon completion of the FAFSA. Students who were enrolled in 100 percent online or remote courses were removed from the list as were students receiving faculty/staff tuition waivers. Students who were already eligible to receive Title IV funds were selected and based on calculations derived from the total available dollars for emergency relief for students. The students were further divided into sub-categories. These were: 

• Full-time, degree seeking students who were enrolled as of March 16 ($350 was awarded to each student). 
• Part-time degree seeking students who were enrolled as of March 16 ($200 was awarded to each student). 
• Pell-eligible students (due to higher financial need) were given an additional $150. 
• Eligible students who were working on campus but who were no longer able to do so due to the switch to remote delivery of courses and related campus disruptions were awarded lost wages for the remainder of the academic year. Amounts varied according to rate of pay and hours scheduled. Federal Work Study students were paid out their work-study awards per separate guidance from the U.S. Department of Education. 
• Eligible students who were displaced from campus housing and who had not already received a partial refund of room and board were awarded partial refunds of room and board. 
• Additional funds have been set aside such that eligible students may apply for additional funding for significant extra expenses incurred as a result of the COVID-19 disruption. Students have been advised on how to apply to be considered for this funding per the message provided below.

Summer Distribution

Using the eligible roster from Spring Semester 2020, college personnel identified students who were enrolled in summer courses. Because Summer Semester 2020 was delivered exclusively online and is charged at a per credit rate, an increase in expenses may occur and therefore, the grant amount was increased. Students who were eligible to receive a distribution were selected and based on calculations derived from the total available dollars for emergency relief for students. The students were further divided into sub-categories. These were: 

• Full-time, degree seeking students who were enrolled as of June 23 ($500 was awarded to each student). 
• Part-time degree seeking students who were enrolled as of June 23 ($300 was awarded to each student). 
• Pell-eligible students (due to higher financial need) were given an additional $250. 
• Additional funds have been set aside such that eligible students may apply for additional funding for significant extra expenses incurred as a result of the COVID-19 disruption. Students have been advised on how to apply to be considered for this funding per the message provided below.

Fall Distribution

Fall distributions are based on the submission of an individual Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund CARES Act Funding Application, which is an internal form available on the college’s Financial Aid web page and referenced on the college’s Coronavirus Resource page.  Students are required to submit a completed application with supporting documentation.  The following eligibility requirements must also be met:

1. Currently enrolled, degree-seeking student not exclusively online
2. Title IV eligible as determined by the 2020-2021 FAFSA
3. Meeting institutional Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements

Application approval is based on an assessment of the needs and other requirements or circumstances related to the student’s ability to successfully continue educational pursuits. These considerations include, but are not limited to, technological needs, required COVID-19 testing, or reduced resources due to various local and state restrictions.  The amounts of approved distributions vary based on individual circumstances and requests. 

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

This email was sent directly from the LCSC Financial Aid Office to eligible or likely eligible students. This was sent on Friday, May 1, 2020. 

You may have read or heard about emergency student grant funding under the CARES Act. LCSC is securing funds to make available to eligible students impacted by campus disruptions due to the COVID-19 virus. The US Department of Education has provided several guidelines associated with this funding. In order to qualify, students must show that they are eligible to receive federal student financial aid. The only way to demonstrate your eligibility is to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Being eligible to receive federal student aid does not mean you have to demonstrate high financial need.  I just means that you would be qualified to receive some form of aid including unsubsidized student loans.  

We are contacting you because we do not have a current, valid FAFSA for you. Your FAFSA must be received by LCSC no later than Wednesday, May 13, in order to be considered for CARES Act emergency funding.  Don’t let your personal or family income be a reason you do not complete a FAFSA. 

Completing a FAFSA does not guarantee you will be eligible to receive emergency funding, but it is the first step to establishing your eligibility. In addition to having a current FAFSA on file with us, you must be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).  If you have submitted your FAFSA, you may have SAP or other issues to resolve before you can be considered. 

You can complete a FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa/ 

If you have any questions please contact us at finaid@lcsc.edu. Please note that our staff is working remote at this time and response times may be delayed. 

Financial Aid Office

Lewis-Clark State College 

This email was sent directly from the LCSC Student Accounts Office to eligible or likely eligible students. This was sent on May 5, 2020.

We are preparing to disburse Emergency Relief Funds to eligible students established by the Department of Education as part of the CARES Act. You are receiving this email because you may be eligible to receive these funds and you are not currently signed up for direct deposit.

Due to the current COVID-19 stay-home orders and the anticipated high payment volume, we encourage you to sign up for direct deposit on WarriorWeb by Monday, May 11^th.

To sign up for direct deposit, you just need to know your checking/savings account number and your bank or credit union’s 9-digit routing number. Please note that any incorrect or incomplete information will delay the receipt of your funds so we encourage you to verify your information with your financial institution, if necessary. 

How to Sign up for Direct Deposit

• Log in to WarriorWeb.
• Select the My Banking Information link.
• Review the terms, check I Agree and Submit.
• Enter your account information, check I Agree and Submit.
• Wait for your on-screen confirmation before you log out.
• No response is necessary once you complete these steps.

Once you are signed up for direct deposit, you will receive an email from LC State once your payment is processed and those funds are normally deposited into your account within 1-2 business days.

Continue to stay healthy and safe, Warriors! 

This information was provided to eligible or like-eligible students who could request additional funding consideration. 

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund 

Lewis-Clark State College has received the student relief installment of the CARES Act funding from the U.S. Department of Education in the amount of $989,886.00. 

The funds provided direct emergency assistance for LC State students who had incurred unanticipated   expenses due to the disruption of campus operations in response to COVID-19.  Funds were immediately available to students who met the following criteria: 

Currently enrolled, degree-seeking students not enrolled in exclusively online courses

Title IV eligible as determined by the 2019-2020 FAFSA

Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Not receiving a faculty/staff fee waiver

Not withdrawn as of March 25, 2020

Incurred unanticipated COVID-19 related expenses including, for example, additional childcare, technology, moving expenses 

Students not meeting the above criteria, but have incurred expenses due to the disruption of campus       operations in response to COVID-19, may apply to be considered. You must file a FAFSA to determine your Title IV eligibility. 

You must have attended 2020SP Semester at LC State to be eligible to submit a request for additional CARES Act funds. The deadlines for submitting the secondary application are: 

Summer Semester – Friday, June 12, 2020

Fall Semester – Friday, September 11, 2020 

You must provide documentation with your application demonstrating the impact to your education due to the disruption of campus operations in response to COVID-19.  The documentation may include, but is not limited to, letters of employment termination or reduced hours, receipts for increased food costs or utilities, or doctor’s notes showing need to self-quarantine or illness or care of the student or family member. 

Submit your application with all supporting documentation.   Incomplete applications will not be processed. 

Please allow 7-10 business days for review of your application and documentation. You will be notified by email of the decision and next steps in the process based on the outcome. 

Should your request be approved, direct deposit is encouraged to prevent delays in receiving the funds.  Without direct deposit, a check will be processed and sent through regular mail once your address is     confirmed with Student Accounts. 

Please send any questions to caresact@lcsc.edu or call 208-792-2224.