Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act

Limestone University POLICY ON Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSAA) Act, 2021 (HEERF II)

Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Limestone University is a recipient of $675,252 in HEERF II funds that must be distributed to students (including students exclusively enrolled in distance education). 

Section 314(d)(5) of the CRRSAA requires Limestone to provide at least the same amount of funding in financial aid grants to students as was required to be provided under sections 18004(a)(1) and (c) of division B of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Under section 314(c)(3) of the CRRSAA, Limestone University is required to prioritize grants to students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants. However, students do not need to be Pell recipients or students who are eligible for Pell grants in order to receive a financial aid grant.  In addition, as required under section 314(c)(3) of the CRRSAA, Limestone University will use the funds received to make financial aid grants to students to be used to help cover expenses related to the cost of attendance or emergency costs that arise due to Coronavirus, such as but not limited to tuition, food, housing, health care, mental health care, or childcare.

Upon receipt of the Grant Award Notification (GANS) from the Department of Education, Limestone University will promptly make available emergency financial aid grants to students as funded by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA). 

• Per guidelines, the institution is required to provide an update on the distribution of funds to the students 30 days from receipt of allocation or June 12, 2021, whichever comes later.  As of June 12, 2021, Limestone disbursed $440,060 of the $675,252 student grant funds to 855 students out of a total of 1449  students eligible for HEERF II funds.
• Per guidelines, the institution is required to provide an update on the distribution of funds to students every quarter. For quarter ending June 30, 2021, Limestone disbursed $446,090 of the $675,252 student grant funds to 866 students out of a total of 1449 students eligible for HEERF II funds.
• Per guidelines, the institution is required to provide an update on the distribution of funds to students every quarter. For quarter ending September 30, 2021, Limestone disbursed $533,745 of the $675,252 student grant funds to 1084 students out of a total of 1449 students eligible for HEERF II funds.
• Per guidelines, the institution is required to provide an update on the distribution of funds to students every quarter. For quarter ending December 31, 2021, Limestone disbursed $566,095 of the $675,252 student grant funds to 1170 students out of a total of 1449 students eligible for HEERF II funds.
• Per guidelines, the institution is required to provide an update on the distribution of funds to students every quarter. For quarter ending March 31, 2022, Limestone disbursed $586,562 of the $675,252 student grant funds to 1213 students out of a total of 1449 students eligible for HEERF II funds.

Student Eligibility

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Must have been enrolled in the Spring 2021 semester as of January 11, 2021 (Day Campus and Term 1 Online).
• Must be a degree-seeking student- Undergraduate or Graduate
• Must be a U.S. citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen
• Must have a completed/verified 2020-2021 FAFSA on file (determines need and confirms citizenship)
• Students must submit a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) Certification Agreement

 Limestone University retains the discretion to:

• Determine the amount of each individual Emergency Financial Aid Grant consistent with all applicable laws including non-discrimination laws.
• Prescribe the methodology for distribution of funds across the student population.

The CRRSAA funding will be managed by the Vice President of Finance and Administration.  In addition, the Director of Financial Aid and Director of Finance/Controller also contributed to calculations and administration of funds. The University will prioritize the awarding of student emergency grants based on financial need. The University will allocate emergency grant awards to students across multiple categories.

Disbursement Eligibility

Eligible students (Day, Online, and Graduate) enrolled for Spring 2021 semester as of January 11, 2021 were reviewed for eligibility.  Students were removed for eligibility if: 1) they were an international or undocumented student 2) did not have a current verified FASFA on file with Limestone University. 

Categories

Expected Family Contribution (EFC) was used in determining the EFC Categories. The first category is Full Pell, students with an EFC of $0.  The second category was Partial Pell. The third category includes students with EFCs over the Pell limit but not more than 50% of a full year tuition and fees. The fourth category includes students with EFCs of more than 50% of a full year tuition and fees but not more than 100% of a full year’s tuition and fees. The last category is any student that had an EFC of greater than a full year’s Tuition and Fees. Each category was based on the students’ program: Day, Online, and Graduate.

Disbursement Dollars

The calculation started with a set dollar amount for Full Pell Day students. Eighteen percent of a full years Pell was used which when rounded came to $1,100. The next category was adjusted by fifty percent, i.e. Partial Pell received $550. The last three categories were adjusted by fifty percent of the previous, and the award amount was $275.

For Online and Graduate students, the calculation started with the Full Pell Dollar amount for the day students, which was divided by 12 credit hours (full time status). That made the full Pell rate for Online and Graduate, when rounded, $90 per credit hour. The next category was adjusted by fifty percent, ie. Partial Pell received $45 per credit hour. The last three categories were adjusted by fifty percent of the previous, rounded to the nearest multiple of 5, which was $25 per credit hour.  Once the per credit hour amount was determined for each student, that number was multiplied by the number of credit hours enrolled as of January 11, 2021 to determine award amount.

Instruction, Directions, and/or Guidance Provided to the Student

Students who were deemed eligible by Limestone University received individualized emails from the Business Office providing the amount they were to receive as well as instructions on completing the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) Certification Agreement.

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) Certification Agreement must be completed by the eligible student in order to receive HEERF II funds.  Active confirmation on the method of delivery must be chosen by the student. The student must choose to have the grant funds disbursed directly to them, or to authorize Limestone to apply the grant funds directory to their Limestone student account.

Limestone University will report:

• The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from ED.
• The total amount of HEERF grants distributed to students.
• The estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive HEERF grants.
• The total number of students who have received an HEERF grant.
• The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive HEERF grants and how much they would receive.
• Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the HEERF grants.