LCCC COVID-19 HEERF Funds
Federal pandemic funding has ended. The federal relief funding was available to students at the College from Fall 2020 to Spring of 2023. The following is a breakdown of the federal relief funding disbursed.
ReturnThe Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) II & III Grant - Academic Year 2022-23
Luzerne County Community College students who have faced unexpected educational expenses or experienced financial hardship directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II and III (HEERF II and III) grant. Per the U.S. Department of Education, grants may be used by students to pay for any component of the student's cost of attendance, education, and/or emergency costs that arise or have arisen due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or childcare.
The College's distribution plan is guided by U.S. Department of Education guidelines and eligible students are funded as follows based on the availability of funds;
Spring 2023
Full-time (12+ credits) students receive - $850
Half-time (6-11 credits) students receive - $300
Part-time (1-5 credits) students receive - $150
For the Spring 2023 semester, the College will not require an electronic application to receive funding. All eligible students will receive an automatic disbursement via check based on the above criteria and available funds. A text message will be sent to eligible grant recipients after disbursement.
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) II & III Grant - Academic Year 2021-22
Luzerne County Community College students who have faced unexpected educational expenses or experienced financial hardship directly related to COVID-19 pandemic can apply for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II and III (HEERF II and III) grant. The College will receive $7,653,268 to provide emergency financial aid grants to students. The estimated total number of unduplicated students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) this academic year is 3,690 full-time and 4,510 Part-time. An earlier version of this program was known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Per the U.S. Department of Education, these grants may be used by students to pay for any component of the student's cost of attendance education and/or emergency costs that arise or have arisen due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or childcare. Please complete this application only for approved expenses directly related to the COVID-19. Funding is limited and will be provided on a first-come-first-serve basis. Completing this form does not guarantee funding availability.
How much can each eligible student expect to receive?
The College's distribution plan is guided by guidelines from the U.S. Department of Education which gives priority to those with exceptional financial need as determined by their FAFSA expected family contribution (EFC). Students with exceptional need will receive a larger grant award than students without demonstrated exceptional need. Generally, full-time students with exceptional need will receive $1000. The College defines exceptional need as a Pell-eligible with $0 EFC, as determined by the student's 2021-22 FAFSA. If a student does not have a 2021-22 FAFSA on file, that student receive the amount designated students with an EFC greater than $0. All grant applicants will be notified of their eligibility upon submission of the application. Please know that receiving this emergency grant will not reduce your financial aid and repayment is not required. Students have the option to apply this grant or a portion of it towards a current balance on their account.
Fall 2021 and Winter Intersession 2022
Full-time Pell-Eligible $0 EFC students receive $1,000
Part-time Pell-Eligible $0 EFC students receive $700
Full-time students receive (with a greater than $0 EFC or who did not complete a FAFSA) $800
Part-time students receive (with a greater than $0 EFC or who did not complete a FAFSA) $500
Spring 2022
Full-time Pell-Eligible $0 EFC students receive $2,000
Part-time Pell-Eligible $0 EFC students receive $1,000
Full-time students receive (with a greater than $0 EFC or who did not complete a FAFSA) $1,750
Part-time students receive (with a greater than $0 EFC or who did not complete a FAFSA) $875
HEERF II & III grants are available to students who meet these criteria:
- Credit, degree-seeking student
- Enrolled in at least one course in a degree, diploma, or certificate program in the semester for which you apply to receive the grant.
- Student must have incurred an emergency expense due to COVID-19, subsequent to December 27, 2020.
As of each of the corresponding dates below, the following students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under the HEERF II Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 and/or the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
March 31, 2021
Number of Students: 0
Amount Distributed: 0
April 30, 2021
Number of Students: 0
Amount Distributed: 0
May 31, 2021
Number of Students: 0
Amount Distributed: 0
June 30, 2021
Number of Students: 0
Amount Distributed: 0
July 31, 2021
Number of Students: 0
Amount Distributed: 0
August 31, 2021
Number of Students: 533
Amount Distributed: $473,300
September 30, 2021
Number of Students: 1,242
Amount Distributed: $1,138,350
October 31, 2021
Number of Students: 453
Amount Distributed: $372,700
November 30, 2021
Number of Students: 106
Amount Distributed: $88,550
December 31, 2021
Number of Students: 32
Amount Distributed: $29,500
Janurary 31, 2022
Number of Students: 108
Amount Distributed: $89,650
February 28, 2022
Number of Students: 1532
Amount Distributed: $2,274,925
March 31, 2022
Number of Students: 204
Amount Distributed: $248,575
April 30, 2022
Number of Students: 532
Amount Distributed: $790,650
May 31, 2022
Number of Students: 68
Amount Distributed: $93,371
CARES Act
On April 16, 2020, Luzerne County Community College (LCCC) signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement assuring 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.
LCCC received $1,603,163 from the Department pursuant to the institution's Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
The Criteria for Cares Act Eligibility:
- Must meet all eligibility checks under Section 484 of the HEA which includes but are not limited to the following: U.S. Citizenship or eligible non-citizen; a valid social security number; registration with Selective Service (if male); and a high school diploma, GED, or completion of high school in an approved home-school setting.
- Per NASFAA (https://www.nasfaa.org/covid19 heerf) Section 484 of the HEA states that Title IV eligible students must:
- Be enrolled or accepted enrollment in a degree or certificate program
- Not be enrolled in elementary or secondary school
- For currently enrolled student, be making satisfactory academic progress
- Not owe an over payment on Title IV grants or loans
- Not be in default on a Title IV loan
- File "as part of the original financial aid application process" a certification that includes
- A statement of educational purpose
- Be a U.S. citizen or national, permanent resident, or other eligible non-citizens
- Have returned fraudulently obtained Title IV funds if convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to charges
- Not have fraudulently received Title IV loans in excess of annual or aggregate limits
- Have repaid Title IV loan amounts in excess of annual or aggregate limits if obtained inadvertently
- Not have a federal or state conviction for drug possession or sale, with certain time limitations.
- Students must file a FAFSA to determine title IV eligibility, and not for demonstrating financial need.
Cares Act Ineligible Students:
Regulations state that DACA students, undocumented students, fully online-only program students, and international students are not eligible for Cares Act grant funds.
Determination of Award Amounts
Award amounts are determined based on COVID-19 impact, as declared by the student via the online application and prioritized by the students with the greatest need. There is an established maximum funding threshold to ensure that funds are distributed as widely as possible.
Distribution of Funds
Eligible students enrolled in at least one face-to-face course in Spring 2020 or Summer 2020, and students enrolled in Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 have been notified of grant funding via email to the College email account and via LCCC student intranet web page. Students complete an online Cares Act grant application indicating what expenses they have incurred and the reasons. Reasons for requesting funding may include childcare, food/meals, housing and utility costs, technology-related expenses, books and supplies, others requiring explanation. Students provide an explanation of expenses that best describes how you have been impacted by COVID-19, including caring for a family member with COVID-19, being diagnosed with COVID-19, permanently laid off from a job, reduction of work hours, etc.
As of each of the corresponding dates, the following students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act based on the criteria outlined above:
June 30, 2020
Number of Students: 1,115
Amount Distributed: $402,001
July 31, 2020
Number of Students: 390
Amount Distributed: $58,400
August 31, 2020
Number of Students: 322
Amount Distributed: $211,700
September 30, 2020
Number of Students: 83
Amount Distributed: $31,400
October 31, 2020
Number of Students: 273
Amount Distributed: $100,350
November 30, 2020
Number of Students: 135
Amount Distributed: $53,750
December 31, 2020
Number of Students: 32
Amount Distributed: $11,500
January 31, 2021
Number of Students: 53
Amount Distributed: $19,850
February 28, 2021
Number of Students: 71
Amount Distributed: $36,500
March 31, 2021
Number of Students: 1928
Amount Distributed: $677,900
Expenditure Reporting under CARES Act Sections 18004(a) (1) Institutional Portion, 18804(a) (2), and 18004(a) (3)
HEERF I, II and III Institutional Portion Program Information