Quarterly Report

La Salle University has received funding from the federal government for a grant under the CARES Act as part of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). The University signed and returned the Certification and Agreement required under the CARES Act with its assurance that the University will use no less than 50% of the CARES Act funds for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

The total amount awarded from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) as part of the CARES Act pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students was $2,138,650. This funding is being distributed as emergency cash grants to eligible students in need who were enrolled in the Spring, Summer and Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 terms to pay for expenses incurred as a result of the necessary shift to remote instruction. The estimated total number of students eligible to participate and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under the CARES Act was 4,209.

As of March 31, 2021, the University has distributed all of the funding to students and as such, the University has drawn the corresponding funds from our federal account (G5). The total amount that has been distributed to students as of March 31, 2021 was $2,138,650. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act stands at 4,209 as of March 31, 2021.

The Department of Education has given colleges and universities discretion to determine how this emergency assistance will be disbursed to eligible students. Understanding that many of our students have experienced financial hardships as a result of the pandemic, the University’s intention is to ensure that students with the most urgent need are the first to receive the emergency grant funds. In accordance with the directive from Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, institutions are to prioritize funding for those students with the greatest need, while distributing grants as widely as possible for maximum impact. Accordingly, the University distributed grants to eligible students in Phase 1 as follows:

As funding remained and the pandemic continued to impact students, Phase II CARES Act grant awards were distributed based on an application process targeted to identify eligible students with additional qualifying expenses beyond their Phase I distribution. Phase II award amounts were as follows:

As funding remained and the pandemic continued to impact students, Phase III CARES Act grant awards were distributed based on an application process targeted to identify eligible students with additional qualifying expenses beyond their Phase I and Phase II distribution. Phase III award amounts were as follows:

Finally, in March 2021, the final amounts available from the CARES Act were combined with funding received through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) to make further amounts available to qualifying students as follows:

In accordance with federal requirements, only students who were Title IV eligible (those who are eligible for federal student financial aid) based on their FAFSA have an opportunity to receive a grant. Grants were not awarded to non-Title IV eligible Students, International Students, DACA Students, Students who do not meet satisfactory academic progress or Students enrolled in a fully online program prior to March 13 and therefore not impacted by the disruption to campus operation (for first three rounds of awards, this parameter was removed for the final disbursements). Additionally, La Salle University employees (except those hired as student workers) are also ineligible to receive a CARES grant.

These grants were not applied against existing account balances (unless appropriate authorization was received) and were sent by direct deposit if eRefunds were elected. (Here’s how to register for eRefunds.) If you are not enrolled in eRefunds, a check was issued and mailed to the student’s billing address. CARES Act grants will be available to eligible students so long as funds are available.  La Salle’s intention is to assist as many students as possible while being sensitive to need.

If you have not received a CARES grant at this point and believe that you are eligible based on the parameters described in this update, please email CARESFUND@lasalle.edu.  While the initial CARES Act grant is fully spent, additional government aid in response to COVID is available.

We thank you in advance for your patience as we continue to assist our students in navigating through this difficult time.