Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds

Luther College signed and returned a certification and agreement to the Department of Education on April 11, 2020 with the assurance that the institution 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.

To qualify for CARES Act HEERF student grant aid, students must be eligible for federal aid. Luther awarded the student emergency relief grant aid using the following criteria:

• Aid was distributed to all students who demonstrated eligibility for federal financial aid (Title IV) funds, and those with more need received more assistance. Luther’s existing financial aid need framework was used to apportion these funds.
• Financial need was calculated as the cost of attendance (COA) less the expected family contribution (EFC) as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Graduates, non-degree seeking students, high school students taking PSEO, those auditing classes, and those who did not file a FAFSA, did not receive emergency financial aid.

Luther’s portion of the CARES Act for student emergency grant aid is $690,342.  Luther distributed $690,346.07 to 1,415 students out of a possible 1,417 eligible students. Grant recipients were notified that the awards were for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.

The funds were made available to Luther on April 22, 2020, and refunds were sent to students on May 2, 2020.  If a student qualified, the funds were sent to them via direct deposit (if available) or by mailed check to the address on file. This is the final reporting for the student portion of the college’s HEERF award, as all funds were disbursed on May 2, 2020.

Luther used the institutional portion of its HEERF award to support room and board credits to students in spring 2020. The institutional portion financial report can be found here.

Luther awarded the student emergency relief grant aid using the following criteria:

• Aid was distributed to all students who are US citizens and those with more need received more assistance. Luther’s existing financial aid need framework was used to apportion these funds.
• Financial need was calculated as the cost of attendance (COA) less the expected family contribution (EFC) as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Graduates, non-degree seeking students, high school students taking PSEO, those auditing classes, and those who did not file a FAFSA, did not receive emergency financial aid through the CRRSAA Act.

Luther’s portion of the CARES Act for student emergency grant aid is $690,342.  Luther distributed $690,344.50 to 1,441 students out of a possible 1,441 students. Grant recipients were notified that the awards were for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.

The funds were made available to Luther on January 15, 2021, and refunds were sent to students on January 23, 2021.  If a student qualified, the funds were sent to them via direct deposit (if available) or by mailed check to the address on file. This is the final reporting for the student portion of the college’s HEERF award, as all funds were disbursed on January 23, 2021.

Separate institutional funds provided by the college were also used to deliver $103,375.86 in aid to 321 additional students who did not document their eligibility by completing the FAFSA.

The institutional portion financial report can be found here.

Luther awarded the student emergency relief grant aid using the following criteria:

• Aid was distributed to students who have demonstrated financial need by completing the application process and those with more need received more assistance. Luther’s existing financial aid need framework was used to apportion these funds.
• Financial need was calculated as the cost of attendance (COA) less the expected family contribution (EFC) as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Students who were expected to register for Fall 2021 were invited to complete the Google application for the Emergency Grants.  Any student who didn’t complete the application process by August 10, 2021 did not receive emergency financial aid from the student portion of the HEERF III award.

Luther’s portion of the CARES Act for student emergency grant aid is $1.8 million.  Luther distributed $1,313,748.60 to 893 students out of a possible 1,825 students. Grant recipients were notified that the awards were for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.

The funds were made available to Luther on May 15, 2021, and allocated funds to students on August 12, 2021.  In the Google application, the students indicated if they preferred funds to be applied to student balance or refunded directly to them. If a student chose to refund, the funds were sent to them via direct deposit (if available) or by mailed check to the address on file.

Luther distributed $35,847.86 to 23 new incoming students on September 29, 2021.  These students were previously eligible but did not have ability to apply for award.

$450,000 (or 25%) of the $1.8 million of the student portion of HEERF III funds was maintained for special circumstances that adjust student need levels, transfer students, and a second disbursement of emergency grants to the neediest students.

The institutional portion financial report can be found here.

Luther awarded the student emergency relief grant aid using the following criteria:

• Aid was distributed to students who have demonstrated financial need by completing the application process and those with more need received more assistance. Luther’s existing financial aid need framework was used to apportion these funds.
• Financial need was calculated as the cost of attendance (COA) less the expected family contribution (EFC) as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Students who were expected to register for Spring 2022 were invited to complete the Google application for the Emergency Grants.  Any student who didn’t complete the application process by November 24, 2021 will not receive this second round emergency relief from the student portion of the HEERF III award.

Luther’s portion of the CARES Act for student emergency grant aid is $1.8 million.  Luther distributed $418,805.00 on December 6, 2021 to 1,106 students out of a possible 1,648 students in this second round of distribution. New incoming students were awarded $960.00 on February 21, 2022.  Distributions to date totaled $1,769,361.46.  Grant recipients were notified that the awards were for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.

The funds were made available to Luther on May 15, 2021, and allocated funds to students on December 9, 2021 and February 21, 2022.  In the Google application, the students indicated if they preferred funds to be applied to student balance or refunded directly to them. If a student chose to refund, the funds were sent to them via direct deposit (if available) or by mailed check to the address on file.

The institutional portion financial report can be found here.