CARES Act Funding and Compliance

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump on March 27, 2020. The $2 trillion economic relief package includes emergency aid funds to institutions of higher education. Phase 1 of the CARES Act funding provides emergency financial aid grants to students who meet the Department of Education eligibility guidelines. LaGrange College was awarded a total of $1,074,446. 50% of those funds, or $537,223, were provided as emergency financial aid grants to assist students in covering expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. Those costs include eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance.

In keeping with the intent of the grant as stated in the CARES Act, the leadership of LaGrange College determined that residential students suffered the greatest loss due to the disruption of campus operations. Therefore, 430 eligible residential students received an allocation based on the meal plan they chose for spring semester. For example, the student who chose a 5-meal plan received $400.00 while the student who chose an unlimited plus meal plan received $800. Meal grant allocations totaled $332,200. It was also determined that the transition to fully on-line courses during the Spring 2020 semester required all students previously enrolled in on-campus coursework to have the technological capability to participate in fully online coursework. LaGrange estimated 732 students met the Department of Education criteria to receive a small technology grant of either $200 or $250 totaling $181,600 to assist with those added costs. The total of both awards was $514,800 leaving $22,423 to be distributed to students with high need as determined by the Director of Financial Aid. The final grant funds of $22,423 were disbursed on July 23, 2020 to 38 Pell recipients identified by the Director of Financial Aid as having the greatest need.

Eligible students received a letter with each distribution. All distributions were made by a bank check mailed to each student’s residential address on file with the College.

Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) Reporting Requirements

1. LaGrange College acknowledges that the institution signed and returned the Certification and Agreement to the Department of Education on April 13,2020 ensuring compliance with Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act and has allocated no less than 50 percent of CARES funding as student emergency grant relief.
2. On May 1, 2020, LaGrange College received notification that $537,223 in funding was approved to provide emergency grant relief to students eligible under the Department of Education guidelines.
3. On May 26, 2020, LaGrange College distributed $514,800 as stated above. Funds were distributed by college check to the student’s residential address on file with the College. The institution determined there were 732 students eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and this eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grant Funds under Section 18004 (a)(1) of the CARES Act. A total of 732 students received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant.
4. On June 2, 2020, grants.gov released funding to LaGrange College to reimburse for the funds distributed on May 26, 2020.
5. On July 23, 2020, LaGrange College distributed $22,423 to 38 Pell recipients in spring semester 2020. Funds were distributed by college check to the student’s residential address on file with the College.

To view the CARES Act Funding email sent to students, click here. To view the CARES Act Funding letter sent to students and parents on May 26, 2020, please click here. To view the CARES Act funding letter sent to students and parents on July 23, 2020, please click here.

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report for the quarter ending 9/30/2020

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report for the quarter ending 12/31/2020

For further information please contact the Office of Business and Finance at LaGrange College.