Here are some important facts for you to know regarding the acceptance of 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’ve 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. Please check WebRunner prior to Oct. 29th to make sure all your personal information is up to date.
• 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. 

The goal of the Task Force was 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 (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care).” 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:
• 1. Less unmet need ($0-$5,000)
  2. Medium unmet need ($5,001-$10,000)
  3. 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

CARES Act Stimulus Distribution to Students

1. 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
2. The total amount of funds awarded to Linn-Benton Community College is $1,303,338. To date, $788,096 have been received.
3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grant funds distributed to students as of August 20, 2020 is $788,096
4. The total number of students determined to be eligible for a distribution is 2,317 based on FAFSAs on file as of August 20, 2020. However, one student declined the distribution due to having no need, leaving a total of 2,316 distributions
5. The total number of students who received a distribution was as follows:
   • 1. 1,993 students received funds on May 14, 2020, for a total of $650,912.
     2. 26 students received funds on June 1, 2020, for a total of $8,433.
     3. 248 Students on July 21, 2020 for $110,952.
     4. 49 Student on August 6, 2020 for $17,999.
     5. 2,127 students on October 30, 2020 for $512,890
6. Recipients of funds:
   The goal of the Task Force was 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 (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care).” 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:
   1. Benefit all eligible students
   2. Students have a FAFSA on file
   3. Students meet the criteria set forth in the CARES Act
   4. 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)
   5. 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
   6. 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
7. Here are some important facts for you to know regarding the acceptance of these funds:
   1. 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’ve incurred related to disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic
   2. This is a grant, not a loan. You will not have to pay back these funds.
   3. These funds will not be applied to any current or future balances in your college account. They will be directly distributed to you.
   4. These funds will not count toward any Financial Aid or scholarships received.
   5. 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. Please check WebRunner prior to October 29th to make sure all your personal information is up to date.
   6. 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.

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