Revised: Tuesday, May 10, 2022
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III), authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and signed into law on March 11, 2021, provides $39.6 billion in support to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following information is provided by Lake Superior College in response to the Department of Education’s reporting requirements.
- An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the ARP program to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
Lake Superior College signed and submitted the Certificate and Agreement for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the HEERF I – Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on April 13, 2020 which included assurances to use at least 50% of the total CARES Act allocation for student emergency funds.
Lake Superior has received notification of a supplemental HEERF III award through the American Rescue Plan Act, but as a recipient of HEERF I – CARES Act funding, was not required to submit a certification agreement for the HEERF III award. Lake Superior College intends to use the applicable amount of funds designated under the ARP program to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
- 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 under the ARP program.
On May 13, 2021, Lake Superior College was notified of a supplemental HEERF III Student award from the American Rescue Plan Act in the amount of $3,795,931.00.
- The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the ARP program as of quarter ended:
September 30, 2021: No ARP Student Aid funds awarded yet
December 31, 2021: $2,377,000.00
March 31, 2022: $3,795,931.00
- The estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the ARP program.
The estimated number of students eligible to receive the ARP Emergency Financial Aid Grants under the College funding plan was 5,758.
- The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the ARP program.
As of December 31, 2021 a total of $2,377,000.00 has been disbursed to 2,845 students.
As of March 31, 2022 a total of $3,795,931.00 has been disbursed to 4,513 students under the ARP Student Aid program. An additional $1,465,369.00 was set aside from LSC’s ARP Institutional Aid to fund emergency financial aid grants and is currently being awarded to students. These funds are reported separately in the “additional emergency financial aid grants to students” category of the HEERF Quarterly Institutional report.
- The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the ARP program.
All students enrolled in a credit-based course received a distribution except PSEO students. Our understanding is that they are not eligible under federal regulations.
Pell eligible students and state grant recipients received $1000 due to their increased need and Non-Pell eligible students received $750. The College disburses these funds through the Bank Mobile Disbursement platform. For the very few students who have not yet used that system, we will provide guided phone, email, or limited face-to-face interaction options to get the funds directly to all students.
- Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
The funding distribution method, simple form for applying for additional emergency funds, and all other details will be publicly shared on the website, with social media alerts to send students to the website and to any telephone or email contacts they may need.
For more information on the HEERF, please visit the Department’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.
