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CARES Act Reporting

LMC has signed and returned to the U. S. Department of Education (ED) a Certification and Agreement and the assurance that LMC 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. LMC refers to this program as CARES Grants.

Funding

LMC received $1,133,204 of the grant funds from Postsecondary Department of Education under LMC’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants (CARES Grant 2020) to be award to students. In the applications section explains the distribution.  

LMC received $3,566,805 from the Postsecondary Department of Education under LMC’s Certification and Agreement for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplement Appropriations (CRSSA) Act of 2021 for institutional expenses related to the pandemic. LMC also received an additional $205,089 under our Certification and Agreement for the Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) to support institutional expenses related to the pandemic. CARES Act quarterly budget and expenditure reports are listed as follows:

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting 2022 Quarter 2 Ending 6/30/22

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting 2022 Quarter 1 Ending 3/31/22

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting 2021 Quarter 4 Ending 12/31/21

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting 2021 Quarter 3 Ending 09/30/21

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting 2021 Quarter 2 Ending 6/30/21

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting 2021 Quarter 1 Ending 3/31/21

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting 2020 Quarter 4 Ending 12/31/20

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting 2020 Quarter 3 Ending 09/30/20

Applications

Phase I

Between Apr. 28 and Jun. 25, 2020 LMC awarded $418,250 to 457 students from CARES Grant funds; these applications were for special assistance with cost associated with the disruption of moving to an online teaching mode for students.

The criteria for determining eligibility for the CARES Grant for this round of funding was the following:

  • Student must have been enrolled in the Spring 2020 semester; the term in which the school closed for a brief period and all courses were moved online.
  • Priority in this phase of awarding CARES Grants was targeted for students who are Federal Pell Grant recipients.
  • Student must have met, or continued to meet, all Federal Title IV student eligibility requirements at the time of awarding.
  • In general, students had to primarily be enrolled in on-ground classes as compared to online course work at the College.
  • Students who were enrolled half-time were awarded a $500 CARES Grant; and students who were enrolled more than half-time were awarded $1000.

Phase II

The second wave of CARES fund awarding commenced on Oct. 8, 2020 and was disbursed to eligible students via an application process. This wave of funding was earmarked for students with current technology need for a maximum of $600 and other extenuating circumstances as described in their application. All PELL eligible students that did not previously receive CARES grant funding were eligible to apply online.

Thirty-five LMC students were awarded a total of $18,462 in this round of funding between Oct. 8 and Dec. 14, 2020. The following were used to determine eligibility for this round of funding

  • Student must be currently enrolled in the Fall 2020 semester and did not previously receive CARES grant during the initial spring disbursement.
  • Priority in this phase of awarding CARES Grants was targeted for students who are Federal Pell Grant recipients.
  • Student must have met, or continued to meet, all Federal Title IV student eligibility requirements at the time of awarding.
  • In general, funding in this phase was awarded to students with current technology needs. Student could purchase an approved device from the bookstore or submit documentation supporting such purchase.
  • Students who were enrolled at least half-time and met all the requirements were awarded CARES Grant funds not to exceed $600

Communication

Students received an email notification indicated that the CARES Grant application could be completed on the LMC web page. The communication is listed below and students may continue to apply for the Grant.

Dear Student:

As we continue to navigate this COVID crisis, we know that the pandemic has especially affected the way we learn, and our technology needs are evolving. For many, it also has created additional financial hardships. Lake Michigan College remains committed to helping you face these challenges, which is why we are excited to report that LMC has available federal grant funding available to students with expenses related to technology needs during this COVID-19 crisis.

Our web page at LMC describes the Federal support we have received to providing funding to students:


CARES Act Grant Application | 2020-2021
Emergency Cash Grants for Students | (Provided by the U.S. Department of Education)

The funding for the CARES Grant is available through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law by the President in March 2020.

In general; the CARES ACT Grant fund is to provide cash grants to students for expenses related to disruptions to their educations due to the COVID-19 outbreak, including things like course materials and technology as well as food, housing, health care, and childcare.


If you are receiving this email, you are eligible to apply for this grant to go towards the purchase of a laptop. The LMC bookstore currently has available the 2 models below that are allowable under this grant but if you chose to purchase a similar device outside of the bookstore, you will need to submit verification/receipt for the cost of the purchase to the financial aid office. Submit to: finaid@lakemichigancollege.edu

Image of two eligible laptops from the bookstore.

To be eligible for the CARES Grant, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and complete the special application online. You will be asked to submit if you plan to purchase your laptop from the Bookstore or if you plan to purchase it from another vendor. Documentation should include a written statement along with any receipts or information that confirms expenses you incur if you purchase for another source.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Students will be notified following the review of their application. For questions or more information, email the Financial Aid Office.

Whether you are eligible for this grant or not, there are still a number of other resources available to you.

Students or families facing a loss of income related to COVID-19, may be eligible to file a request for a Special Circumstances Review. Dependent Students should click here. Independent Students should click here. More resources can be found on the college's COVID-19 webpage.

If you are struggling, please reach out to us. Your LMC family is here to help.
Financial Aid Office
2755 E. Napier Avenue
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
Phone: 269-927-8112/ Fax: 269-927-8183
Email: finaid@lakemichigancollege.edu

Application Processing

LMC will assess the applications based on information provided by each student related to cost a student has incurred with the disruption of the COVID19 and the overall academic program of the College. Awards will vary for students based on the applications submitted by each student.

LMC will continue to award CARES Grants for new applications that are received until funding has been exhausted.

Phase III

On Nov. 19, 2020, after the state of Michigan issued a stay at home order and moved all college classes to remote learning, LMC awarded a total of $16,800 to 42 students living in the residence hall who needed financial assistance to travel and had previously not received the CARES grant. Each student was awarded $400 each to assist with travel needs.

Phase IV

In addition to the applications that have been received, on Dec.14, 2020 LMC awarded an additional 263 students $430 each of CARES grant funds for a total of $113,090.

LMC awarded this funds to students who meet the following criteria:

  • Student must have been enrolled in the Spring 2020 semester; the term in which the school closed for a brief period and all courses were moved online and enrolled in the current Fall term.
  • Priority in this phase of awarding CARES Grants was targeted for students who had a completed FAFSA.
  • Student must have met, or continued to meet, all Federal Title IV student eligibility requirements at the time of awarding.
  • In general, students had to primarily be enrolled in on-ground classes as compared to online course work at the College.
  • Students who had not previously been awarded CARES grant funds.

CRRSAA Act (CARES II)

In response to the continued impact of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) the U.S. Congress passed the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA Act), which was enacted on Dec. 27, 2020. This federal stimulus funding is the second act of federal relief in response to COVID-19, following the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law on March 27, 2020.

Funding

On Jan. 16, 2021, Lake Michigan College received supplemental award grant through the Education Stabilization Fund under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA Act). A total of $566,602 was earmarked to LMC students.

Applications

Phase I

A total of $452,300 was awarded on Feb. 25 to 983 students. Students that had previously received CARES (392 students) were awarded $400 while first time recipients (591 students) were awarded $500.

The criteria for determining eligibility for the CARES II Grant for this round of funding was as follows:

  • Student had an aid eligible admission code.
  • Student had an ISIR on file for 2021 Aid Year.
  • Student completed verification (if selected), or student not selected for verification.
  • Student did not have any outstanding tracking requirements.
  • Student’s most recent SAP status is aid eligible.
  • Student enrolled in at least 6 credits for the Spring 2021 term.
  • Student not on official withdraw report or withdrawn from Spring 2021 term.

Phase II

After the initial CARES II award to eligible students in Phase I, the remainder of $114,302.00 was made available to award to students through the application process as situations arise. The CARES application has also been updated on our website.

Expenses such as course materials and technology for remote learning as well as food, housing, childcare, healthcare and more, may qualify you for a CARES II Grant.

These funds are available for expenses after Jan. 1, 2021, when LMC continued to primarily offer online instruction as a result of the pandemic. Students may include anticipated expenses, such as monthly internet access for example, but under federal guidelines, these funds cannot be used to cover outstanding balances on a student account.

To have your expenses reviewed for eligibility for the CARES II Grant, students must also fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). LMC is authorized to use these new funds through May 11, 2021, or until they have been exhausted.

Quarterly Reports

HEERF Quarterly Report Jan. 01, 2022 to March 31, 2022 (pdf)

HEERF Quarterly Report Oct. 01, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2021 (pdf)

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