Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students

In order to comply with guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE), Lurleen B. Wallace Community College (LBWCC) is making publicly available information about the receipt and distribution of its Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) allocation.

LBWCC signed and returned to the USDOE its Recipient’s Funding Certification and Agreement, affirming that the College will use no less than 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. The Agreement was uploaded to grants.gov on April 14, 2020. The College was notified of a supplemental award on January 17, 2021.

The College received $773,069 for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, pursuant to its initial Certification and Agreement. LBWCC was notified of the award on April 24, 2020. An additional $773,069 was awarded in January of 2021 under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA).

As of April 7, 2021, the College has distributed $772,169 to students under CARES and $771,300 under CRRSAA, for a total of $1,543,469.

An unduplicated total of 1,477 students were eligible under CARES, and 1,545 were eligible under CRRSAA. The College determined that 916 students were eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and were therefore eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act during the Spring 2020 semester. During the Fall 2020 semester, 995 students were deemed eligible, though many of these were students that were already included in the Spring 2020 eligibility list.

As of April 7, 2021, the College has distributed funds to 933 students under CARES and 1,545 students under CRRSAA.

Spring 2020 grant funds were awarded to those students who were enrolled in at least one in-person class on March 13, 2020, and are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Criteria for participation in Title IV programs include, but are not limited to, the following: U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status; valid Social Security number; registration with Selective Service, if required; and a high school diploma, GED, or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting. Non-degree seeking students, noncredit students, those who withdrew from courses prior to March 13, and those who were only enrolled in Mini-term 1 courses at LBWCC are not eligible. The College has determined varying amounts of funding, which are dependent upon students’ circumstances:

$550. This grant amount will be awarded to all eligible students who have certified that they have incurred expenses.
$1,050. This grant amount will be awarded to all eligible students who have certified that they have incurred expenses and who have the highest need. Need was determined based on information provided in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This amount includes a $550 grant available to all eligible students and an additional supplement of $500.
$1,406.98. This grant amount will be awarded to all eligible students who have certified that they have incurred expenses and who were residents in the College-managed residence facility, Saints Hall. This amount includes a $550 grant available to all eligible students and an additional supplement of $856.98, which covers students’ unused Saints Hall rent for the spring semester.
$1,906.98. This grant amount will be awarded to all eligible students who have certified that they have incurred expenses; who were residents in the College-managed residence facility, Saints Hall; and who have the highest need. Need was determined based on information provided in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This amount includes a $550 grant available to all eligible students; a supplement of $856.98, which covers students’ unused Saints Hall rent for the spring semester; and an additional supplement of $500.

The remaining funds were distributed to eligible students attending courses during the Fall 2020 semester. Those students each received $363. Under CRRSAA, eligibility guidelines were relaxed to include both online and in-person students, as well as non-degree seeking and non-credit students. High-need Pell recipients were prioritized, in accordance with Department of Education Guidance. During Spring 2021, Pell recipients received $700, and all remaining eligible students received $370.

Detailed information was sent to students via email. A sample email is included below.

Dear _____________,

You are eligible to receive an emergency financial aid grant from Lurleen B. Wallace Community College (LBWCC) to offset any expenses you have incurred that are related to campus disruptions resulting from COVID-19. In order to receive this funding, please click on the following link and sign the affidavit. In addition to your full name and five-digit LBWCC student number, you must select at least one of the eligible expenses in order to receive funds. Students must complete and submit this affidavit by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, in order to receive funds. Please see the information below for additional details.

Click to sign: [link removed]

Why am I receiving this notification?

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act established a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to assist students who have incurred expenses related to the disruption of campus operations as a result of the coronavirus. Lurleen B. Wallace Community College has received funds to provide emergency financial aid grants to students and has determined that you are eligible to receive funds.

How was eligibility determined?

Grant funds will be awarded to those students who were enrolled in at least one in-person class on March 13, 2020, and are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Criteria for participation in Title IV programs include, but are not limited to, the following: U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status; valid Social Security number; registration with Selective Service, if required; and a high school diploma, GED, or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting. Non-degree seeking students, noncredit students, those who withdrew from courses prior to March 13, and those who were only enrolled in Mini-term 1 courses at LBWCC are not eligible.

How will I receive these funds?

Funds will be disbursed via direct deposit if the College has your banking information on file. All other students will receive a mailed check.

How should these funds be used?

Emergency grant funds should be used for eligible expenses such as housing, food, course materials, technology, health care, or child care. Students are not required to submit receipts or documentation to LBWCC. Grants do not need to be repaid.

How much will I receive? [This section was tailored to each student, as described in section 6 above.] $550. This grant amount will be awarded to all eligible students who have certified that they have incurred expenses.

Who can I contact with questions?

If you have questions about this emergency financial aid grant available through LBWCC, please contact Shannon Levitzke, Associate Dean of Institutional Effectiveness and Quality (slevitzke@lbwcc.edu) or Jason Jessie, Dean of Student Affairs (jjessie@lbwcc.edu).

Students receiving the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 distribution received a similar email, with updated totals and submission dates.