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important update
Funding for the Emergency Aid (HEERF) assistance has been exhausted. As a result, we are no longer accepting new applications.
On March 11, 2021 the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) was signed into law. The ARP included additional COVID-19 aid for students under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). The US Department of Education encourages institutions to prioritize domestic students, especially undergraduates, in allocating this funding. Domestic students include citizens, permanent residents, refugees, asylum seekers, DACA recipients, and similar students.
Students may use the grant toward emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus. Examples of allowable expenses include tuition, food, housing, health care, and child care. HEERF Grant funds are not considered financial aid, do not need to be coordinated with other financial aid received, and are tax exempt. Given this is a grant, repayment is not required.
HEERF Eligibility Requirements -
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Students who are or were enrolled on or after March 13, 2020
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Students with exceptional need, examples include:
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Pell Grant recipients or undergraduates with extraordinary financial circumstances
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Students who may be eligible for other federal or state need-based aid
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Student who have faced significant unexpected expenses or that would affect their financial circumstances
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Emergency Aid (COVID-19) Questions
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law to provide economic relief from COVID-19. One section of the CARES Act established the Higher Education Emergency Relief fund and sent money to schools to use for emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the pandemic.
On December 27, 2020 the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 was signed into law. This Act included additional COVID-19 relief through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act. This new COVID stimulus bill included funds for higher education institutions and their students known as the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).
Students who meet basic eligibility criteria for federal financial aid and who have the greatest financial need can be considered for these funds. The Office of Financial Aid will use Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data to determine your eligibility. If you are eligible to file a FAFSA but have not yet filed for 2020-21 and need assistance, please submit a FAFSA at studentaid.gov. Under the U.S. Department of Education rules for the program, these funds can be awarded to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students pursuing degree programs and enrolled at the LLU.
The U.S. Department of Education encourages institutions to prioritize domestic students, especially undergraduates, in allocating this funding. Domestic students include citizens, permanent residents, refugees, asylum seekers, DACA recipients, and similar students.
Funds will be based on the student’s application and the availability of funds.
Eligible expenses for funding include, but are not necessarily limited to tuition, food, housing, health care, and child care. Expenses must be incurred by you, the student, as a result of the emergency disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19.
Funds will be sent through direct deposit or a check to the student’s mailing address. It is recommended that students set-up direct deposit to receive funds sooner.
Direct Deposit Set-up: Please enter your direct deposit banking information by logging into Banner Web using your LLU Student Services login, select the “Finance Menu”, then select the “Account withdrawals Menu”, and finally select the “Set Up Direct Deposit for Future Withdrawals” menu. You will need to provide your bank routing number, bank account number and the type of account you have.
HEERF funding is not required to be coordinated with a student’s financial aid package. Howver, awards made from donated funds to LLU must be coordinated with other financial aid.
We understand that you may still be facing financial challenges due to the COVID-19. Unfortunately, we are unable to award funds for every situation, even if the need exists. The CARES/Higher Education Emergency Relief funding is not meant to duplicate other benefits that exist through federal/state agencies. Funding has been appropriated at the national level to assist individuals facing unemployment. If you or a family member has experienced the loss of employment, we encourage you to contact your state's Unemployment Insurance office. Additionally, other benefits, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) may be available.
Unfortunately, due to limited funding and other quantifiers, we are unable to award funding to all students even if they have a significant financial hardship. Some reasons for being denied may include not applying for financial aid (completing a FAFSA), having access to funds already (credit balance on account), or denying loans that had been offered. As we must determine eligibility and greatest need, some of the factors will include debt already incurred (compared to their cohort) and the ability to access funds or having other financial options.
No. Emergency funding is designed to be a grant/scholarship, not a loan.
Funding from CARES/Higher Education Emergency Relief funds are non-taxable. However, awards to international students may be subject to tax withholdings.
PUBLIC REPORTING ON CARES ACT/CRRSAA/ARP
00121800_HEERF_Q22023_071123 – Quarter Ended June 30, 2023 Final Report (PDF)
00121800_HEERF_Q12023_040423 – Quarter Ended March 31, 2023 Report (PDF)
00121800_HEERF_Q42022_011023 – Quarter Ended December 31, 2022 Report (PDF)
00121800_HEERF_Q32022_101022 – Quarter Ended September 30, 2022 Report (PDF)
00121800_HEERF_Q22022_070622 – Quarter Ended June 30, 2022 Report (PDF)
00121800_HEERF_Q12022_041022 – Quarter Ended March 31, 2022 Report (PDF)
Section 18004(a)(1), Section 314(a)(1), Section 2003(a)(1) Student Portion – Quarter Ended March 31, 2022 Final Report (PDF)
00121800_HEERF_Q42021_011022 – Quarter Ended December 31, 2021 Report (PDF)
Section 18004(a)(1), Section 314(a)(1), Section 2003(a)(1) Student Portion – Quarter Ended December 31, 2021 Report (PDF)
00121800_HEERF_Q32021_101021 – Quarter Ended September 30, 2021 Report (PDF)
Section 18004(a)(1), Section 314(a)(1), Section 2003(a)(1) Student Portion – Quarter Ended September 30, 2021 Report (PDF)
Section 18004(a)(1), Section 314(a)(1), Section 2003(a)(1) Institutional Portion – Quarter Ended June 30, 2021 Report (PDF)
Section 18004(a)(1), Section 314(a)(1), Section 2003(a)(1) Student Portion – Quarter Ended June 30, 2021 Report (PDF)
Section 18004(a)(1), Section 314(a)(1) Institutional Portion – Quarter Ended March 31, 2021 Report (PDF)
Section 18004(a)(1), Section 314(a)(1) Student Portion – Quarter Ended March 31, 2021 Final Report (PDF)
Section 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion – Quarter Ended December 31, 2020 Report (PDF)
Section 18004(a)(1) Student Portion – Quarter Ended December 31, 2020 Final Report (PDF)
Section 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion – Quarter Ended September 30, 2020 Report (PDF)
Section 18004(a)(1) Student Portion – October 10, 2020 (PDF)
Section 18004(a)(1) Student Portion – August 5, 2020 (PDF)
Section 18004(a)(1) Student Portion – June 16, 2020 (PDF)