Covid-19 information, resources for the LBCC community

Frequently Asked Questions About the Federal HEERF Plan

What is HEERF?

HEERF stands for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. Three individual acts of Congress (CARES – Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, CRRSA – Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations, ARP – American Rescue Plan) were combined into one set up funding and compliance rules called HEERF.
HEERF provides funds to institutions to help pay for direct costs associated with managing operations during the pandemic. Quarterly reports on that institutional spending are prepared by LBCC and uploaded in the HEERF Institutional Grant Reporting section on this page.
HEERF also provides funds to institutions for emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to educational disruptions caused by the pandemic. Additional information on the student portion of HEERF funds can be found in the below sections.

How are the awards determined under the CARES Act?

Linn-Benton Community College signed and returned the Certification and Agreement, with an email acknowledgment of receipt provided to us on April 16, 2020. This is an assurance that LBCC 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. The total amount of funds awarded is $1,303,338.

Linn-Benton Community College signed and returned the Certification and Agreement, with an email acknowledgment of receipt provided to us on April 16, 2020. This is an assurance that LBCC 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.

A Task Force was created to determine the most equitable and efficient way to provide funds to the greatest number of students. Institutions must use these CARES Act funds “to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.

The college has determined that LBCC students experienced expenses related to the closure of on-campus dining and food pantries, additional costs for internet access, computers and other instructional materials and supplies, childcare expenses, transportation, increased utility bills, increased cell phone usage, and medical supplies and bills.

Knowing that the disruption of campus operations as a result of the current pandemic did indeed affect every student, the Task Force developed a system where every Title IV-eligible student will benefit.

The following criteria were established:

Benefit all eligible students
Students have a FAFSA on file
Students meet the criteria set forth in the CARES Act
Three categories were established based on unmet need:
- Less unmet need ($0-$5,000)
- Medium unmet need ($5,001-$10,000)
- Most unmet need (over $10,000)
Using the Title IV requirements,12 credits were used as the standard for full-time and 6 credits as the minimum; awards were prorated for students based on the number of credits taken
Smallest award (least unmet need and fewest hours) is $200. Largest award (highest unmet need and full-time hours) is $375. Awards were prorated for students enrolled in fewer than 12 credits (e.g., 6 credits equals 50% of the award amount).
- $0-$5,000: $200
- $5,000-$10,000: $300
- Over $10,000: $375

How are the awards determined under the CRRSA Act?

Linn-Benton Community College was provided with approximately $1.3 million from CRRSAA (Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act) to distribute to our students to help manage some of the disruption created by the current COVID-19 pandemic. We have worked diligently to make these distributions fair and equitable to all students who are eligible based on the CRRSAA guidelines.

The following criteria were established to determine eligibility and award amount:

Students have a FAFSA on file.
Students meet the criteria outlined in the CRRSA Act.
Three categories were established based on unmet needs:

- Less unmet need ($0-$5,000).
- Medium unmet need ($5,001-$10,000).
- Most unmet need (over $10,000).

The smallest award (least unmet need and full-time hours) is $200. The largest award (highest unmet need and full-time hours) is $700.
Awards were prorated for students enrolled in fewer than 12 credits (e.g., 6 credits, equals 50% of the award amount).

- $0-$5,000: $200
- $5,000-$10,000: $700

How are the awards determined under the ARP Act?

Linn-Benton Community College was provided with approximately $5.36 million from the ARP (American Rescue Plan Act) to distribute to our students to help manage some of the disruption created by the current COVID-19 pandemic. We have worked diligently to make these distributions fair and equitable to all students who are eligible based on the ARP guidelines.

The following criteria were established to determine eligibility and award amount:

Students meet the criteria set forth in the ARP Act
Students taking three credits or more of credit courses in Fall term were awarded $300.
Students who are Pell eligible are awarded an additional $500.

Students who are part of the ABE/GED program were awarded $800.

What do I need to know before accepting these funds?

This money can be used for the following:
- Food
- Housing
- Course materials
- Health care
- Child care
- Technology-related expenses (for taking online classes)
- Transportation
- Other expenses you have incurred related to disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic
This is a grant, not a loan. You will not have to pay back these funds.
These funds will not be applied to any current or future balances in your college account. They will be directly distributed to you.
These funds will not count toward any Financial Aid or scholarships received.
If you have set up direct deposit in WebRunner, these funds will be electronically deposited. Otherwise, a paper check will be mailed to the address on file in WebRunner.
Accepting these funds affirms that you have been impacted by the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic to an extent equal to or greater than the grant total. You will not be required to provide documentation of this impact. If you choose not to accept these funds, please contact the resource below.

How much of the HEERF student funds have been distributed?

Students received distribution of funds as follows:

1,993 students received funds on May 14, 2020, for a total of $650,712.
26 students received funds on June 1, 20202, for a total of $8,433.
248 students received funds on July 21, 2020 for $110,952.
49 students received funds on August 6, 2020 for $17,999.
2,131 students received funds on October 30, 2020, for $515,242.
1,952 students received funds on February 18, 2021, for $644,028
1,745 students received funds on April 26, 2021, for $550,176.
328 students received funds on July 22, 2021, for $128,882.
4,442 students received funds on November 4, 2021 for $1,933,100
32 students received funds on November 9, 2021, for $25,600

Who can I contact for more information?

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the LBCC Business Office at 541-917-4300.

HEERF Institutional Grant Reporting

HEERF Reports