CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Program

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act)

LIM College is participating in the CARES Act

May 27, 2020

On March 27, 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which established and funded the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). Institutions of higher education are directed to use no less than 50 percent of funds received under Sections 18004(a)(1) and 18004(c) of the CARES Act 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).

In accordance with guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) on 4/9/20, 4/21/20, 5/6/20, and 5/21/20 (available at: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/caresact.html), LIM College is using the following criteria to define students who are eligible to be considered for CARES Act – HEERF assistance:

  • LIM students who are eligible to apply for federal financial aid (Title IV) and who were enrolled on-campus in a degree-granting program as of March 13, 2020 (the date the President declared COVID-19 a national emergency).
  • To demonstrate eligibility to participate in federal financial aid (Title IV) programs, LIM students must have a valid 2019-2020 FAFSA (Free Application for Financial Aid) on file with the College by no later than June 30, 2020. Students do not have to receive federal Title IV funds in the 2019-2020 academic year in order to demonstrate eligibility.
  • LIM students must have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus and must sign an electronic certification statement to verify this (included on the LIM CARES Act – “HEERF 2” Application & Certification Form or the LIM CARES Act – “HEERF 1” Certification Form).

The USDOE guidance referenced above indicates that students who were studying in a fully online modality on March 13, 2020 and students who are not eligible to participate in federal financial aid (Title IV) programs (including international students on a student visa) are not eligible to receive CARES Act – HEERF assistance.

Application Process

If you meet the above eligibility criteria you must submit the LIM CARES Act – “HEERF 2” Application & Certification Form in order to be considered for a “HEERF 2” Emergency Grant Award. You will need to indicate which COVID-19 related expenses you have and write a brief statement describing how the coronavirus pandemic and the disruption of campus operations has financially impacted you.

Click Here to Apply for the: LIM CARES ACT – “HEERF 2” EMERGENCY GRANT

Please note that applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis until funds are exhausted. For information on the “HEERF 1” Emergency Grant selection process, priority consideration criteria, and further awarding details see the below FAQ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, based on U.S. Department of Education recommendations for recognizing financial need, LIM will give Priority Consideration to students who have demonstrated financial need (An Expected Family Contribution (EFC) < the 2019-20 Cost of Attendance (COA)) on a valid 2019-20 FAFSA received by LIM no later than May 1, 2020. Eligible students will be identified and notified by the Office of Student Financial Services (SFS) regarding a one-time “HEERF 1” Emergency Grant Offer = $375.

  • Students receiving a “HEERF 1” award offer will be sent a link to the LIM CARES Act - “HEERF 1” Award Certification Form, which will need to completed and electronically signed within 30 days of notification in order for these funds to be disbursed as a student refund. These “HEERF 1” awards are intended to quickly provide funds to students with financial need to primarily assist with immediate needs such as food, medical co-pays, and other basic living expenses.
  • No application (other than a valid 2019-20 FAFSA) is required for “HEERF 1” consideration and students receiving a “HEERF 1” Award can also apply for a “HEERF 2” award using the above application.
  • Unclaimed “HEERF 1” funds will be added to the pool of “HEERF 2” available funds.

Priority consideration will also be given to “HEERF 2” Emergency Grant applicants with demonstrated financial need and those requesting assistance for eligible covered expenses.

The U.S. Department of Education defined covered eligible expenses as: food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care. LIM College has established standard amounts that will be awarded for these expenses.

Students can also write in other COVID-19 related discretionary expenses on their application and provide supporting documentation. These requests will be reviewed and considered on a case-by-case basis and may be held while priority consideration is given to eligible covered expenses first.

No, U.S. Department of Education guidance does not consider loss of income to be an expense for HEERF Emergency Grant consideration, even though many students and parents have experienced employment loss or reductions in earnings due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ongoing loss of income in 2020 related to COVID-19 can be reviewed by the Office of Student Financial Services (SFS) through the Professional Judgment Income Review process to determine if a student is eligible for additional federal financial aid funds. Please contact the SFS Office at sfs@limcollege.edu or 212-310-0689 for further information.

COVID-19 related expenses while the College conducts remote instruction for the spring/Semester 2 term 2020 and the summer/Semester 3 term 2020 can be considered for otherwise eligible students enrolled in those terms.

Updates/Reporting

July 2021

LIM College (OPE ID: 00746600) received education stabilization funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), Public Law No: 116-136. This Final Quarterly Fund Report applies to the student portion received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) that is designated exclusively for emergency financial aid grants to students.

LIM College is making the below information available for transparency purposes and in compliance with the U.S. Department of Education’s (“Department”) August 31, 2020 Federal Register notice, which revised the Electronic Announcement of May 6, 2020. For questions or concerns regarding this Fund Report, please contact Christopher E. Barto, Vice President of Government Relations and Community Affairs, at christopher.barto@limcollege.edu.

The following updated CARES Act HEERF expenditure information is as of June 30, 2021 and reflects the final cumulative award activity that has occurred since the College’s initial receipt of this HEERF Student Award, inclusive of the award activity published in the College's previous reports below. All CARES Act HEERF emergency financial aid grants to students have been disbursed and were done so within the period stipulated in the College’s Grant Award Notification (GAN) as follows:

The total amount of emergency financial aid grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of June 30, 2021 is $646,941.

The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of June 30, 2021 is 661.

April 9, 2021

LIM College (OPE ID: 00746600) received education stabilization funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), Public Law No: 116-136. This Fund Report applies to the student portion received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) that is designated exclusively for emergency financial aid grants to students.

LIM College is making the below information available for transparency purposes and in compliance with the U.S. Department of Education’s (“Department”) August 31, 2020 Federal Register notice, which revised the Electronic Announcement of May 6, 2020. For questions or concerns regarding this Fund Report, please contact Christopher E. Barto, Vice President of Government Relations and Community Affairs, at christopher.barto@limcollege.edu.

The following updated CARES Act HEERF expenditure information is as of March 31, 2021 and reflects the cumulative award activity that has occurred since the College’s initial receipt of this HEERF Student Award, inclusive of the award activity published in the College's previous reports below.

The total amount of emergency financial aid grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of March 31, 2021 is $572,427.

The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of March 31, 2021 is 642.

January 8, 2021

LIM College (OPE ID: 00746600) received education stabilization funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), Public Law No: 116-136. This Fund Report applies to the student portion received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) that is designated exclusively for emergency financial aid grants to students.

LIM College is making the below information available for transparency purposes and in compliance with the U.S. Department of Education’s (“Department”) August 31, 2020 Federal Register notice, which revised the Electronic Announcement of May 6, 2020. For questions or concerns regarding this Fund Report, please contact Christopher E. Barto, Vice President of Government Relations and Community Affairs, at christopher.barto@limcollege.edu.

The following updated HEERF expenditure information is as of December 31, 2020 and reflects the cumulative award activity that has occurred since the College’s initial receipt of this HEERF Student Award, inclusive of the award activity published in the College's previous reports below.

The total amount of emergency financial aid grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of December 31, 2021 is $572,427.

The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of September 30, 2020 is 642.

October 30, 2020

LIM College (OPE ID: 00746600) received education stabilization funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), Public Law No: 116-136. This Fund Report (available at the below link) applies to the institutional portion received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) that is designated for institutions to use towards covered COVID-19 related expenses.

LIM College is making this information available for transparency purposes and in compliance with the U.S. Department of Education’s (“Department”) reporting requirements. For questions or concerns regarding this Fund Report, please contact Christopher E. Barto, Vice President of Government Relations and Community Affairs, at christopher.barto@limcollege.edu.

HEERF-Institutional Portion-Final Quarterly Fund Report: 9/30/2020

October 30, 2020

LIM College (OPE ID: 00746600) received education stabilization funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), Public Law No: 116-136. This Fund Report applies to the student portion received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) that is designated exclusively for emergency financial aid grants to students.

LIM College is making the below information available for transparency purposes and in compliance with the U.S. Department of Education’s (“Department”) August 31, 2020 Federal Register notice, which revised the Electronic Announcement of May 6, 2020. For questions or concerns regarding this Fund Report, please contact Christopher E. Barto, Vice President of Government Relations and Community Affairs, at christopher.barto@limcollege.edu.

The following updated HEERF expenditure information is as of September 30, 2020 and reflects the cumulative award activity that has occurred since the College’s initial receipt of this HEERF Student Award, inclusive of the award activity reported on the 30 Day and 45 Day Reports below.

The total amount of emergency financial aid grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of September 30, 2020 is $571,308.

The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of September 30, 2020 is 642.

July 26, 2020

LIM College (OPE ID: 00746600) received education stabilization funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), Public Law No: 116-136. This Fund Report applies to the student portion received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) that is designated exclusively for emergency financial aid grants to students.

LIM College is making the below information available for transparency purposes and in compliance with the U.S. Department of Education’s (“Department”) Electronic Announcement of May 6, 2020. For questions or concerns regarding this Fund Report, please contact Christopher E. Barto, Vice President of Government Relations and Community Affairs, at christopher.barto@limcollege.edu.

The following updated HEERF expenditure information is as of July 26, 2020 and reflects the cumulative award activity that has occurred since the College’s initial 30 Day Fund Report on June 11, 2020, which also appears below.

  1. The total amount of emergency financial aid grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is $548,113.
  2. The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is 637.

June 11, 2020

LIM College (OPE ID: 00746600) received education stabilization funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), Public Law No: 116-136. This Fund Report applies to the student portion received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) that is designated exclusively for emergency financial aid grants to students.

LIM College appreciates that Congress and the President have made these critical funds available for eligible students who have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. The College takes receipt of these federal funds seriously and we are distributing them in accordance with the CARES Act guidance.

LIM College is making the below information available for transparency purposes and in compliance with the U.S. Department of Education’s (“Department”) Electronic Announcement of May 6, 2020. For questions or concerns regarding this Fund Report, please contact Christopher E. Barto, Vice President of Government Relations and Community Affairs, at christopher.barto@limcollege.edu.

  1. On May 4, 2020, LIM College signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. The institution has used, or 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 that LIM College will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $646,941.
  3. The total amount of emergency financial aid grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is $452,913.
  4. The estimated total number of students at LIM College eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and thus eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, as of the date of this Fund Report is 969.
  5. The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is 549.
  6. The methods used by LIM College to determine which students receive emergency financial aid grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act are provided at Attachment A.
  7. The instructions, directions, or guidance provided by LIM College to students concerning the emergency financial aid grants are provided at Attachment B.

Attachments

CARES Act – Sec. 18004: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Student Emergency Aid – LIM College Summary of Awarding Criteria and Methodology

As of June 11, 2020:

Project Leads:

  • Christopher E. Barto, Vice President of Government Relations & Community Affairs (Institutional Grant Representative)
  • Erik Paulson, Vice President of Finance & Controller

The below LIM College Awarding Criteria and Methodology is based on all U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) CARES Act – HEERF guidance received through May 20, 2020:

Eligible students:

  • Title IV eligible students (based on a valid 2019-20 FAFSA received by June 30, 2020) who were enrolled in a degree-granting program on-campus as of March 13, 2020.
  • Priority consideration will be given to students who have demonstrated financial need on the FAFSA and who certify that they have eligible covered expenses related to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Students studying in the fully online modality, DACA students, and all international students are ineligible for CARES Act – HEERF assistance.

Eligible semesters:

  • spring/Semester 2 2020 and students in this cohort who continue their studies in summer/Semester 3 2020.

Awarding plan & process:

  • Award approximately First Half of allocation in initial “HEERF 1” Student Emergency Grant funds in equal award amounts of $375 to all eligible students in order to distribute some funds as quickly as possible, defined as follows:
    • Students who meet above general eligibility criteria who have demonstrated financial need (An EFC < the 2019-20 Cost of Attendance (COA)) on a valid 2019-20 FAFSA received by May 1, 2020.
    • Awarded students will need to complete a LIM Cares Act - “HEERF 1” Certification Form within 30 days, which affirms they will use funds for COVID-19 related expenses, in order for the funds to be disbursed as a student refund. Unclaimed “HEERF 1” funds will be added to the “HEERF 2” available funds.
    • This award is intended to help students primarily with food, medical co-pay, and other basic living expenses.
    • Justification of initial (automatic) award consideration: The NY Metropolitan Area has been the Epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. – with more positive cases and deaths than any other area of the country. Due to local and state restrictions on business operations and requirements to stay at home to limit the spread of the pandemic in this area, all on-campus LIM College students enrolled as of March 13, 2020 have been impacted by COVID-19 in one or more ways : all course instruction was moved to remote, approximately 90% of off-campus student employment (via paid internships and other full or part-time jobs) ceased, many incurred unplanned expenses associated with moving temporarily and/or having to attend classes and complete coursework online, and significant numbers of our students are struggling to meet their food, health care, housing, and other basic living expenses.
  • Award Second Half of allocation in “HEERF 2” Student Emergency Grant that will be distributed through an online application and certification process (the LIM CARES Act – “HEERF 2” Application & Certification Form):
    • Eligible students will certify which covered and/or discretionary COVID-19 related expenses they have as well as write a brief impact statement.
      • Covered expenses identified by the USDOE include: food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care.
      • Students can write in discretionary expenses for consideration.
    • A HEERF Emergency Fund Working Group will review each request and make and communicate decisions on no less than a weekly basis.
    • Priority consideration will be given to:
      • Students with demonstrated financial need on their 2019-20 FAFSA
      • Requests for Covered Expenses identified by the USDOE 
    • Standard amounts will be awarded for eligible covered expenses and discretionary expense requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis (with supporting documentation) and may be held for consideration while priority requests are considered first.
    • Funds will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis factoring in the priority criteria listed above.
    • Maximum total “HEERF 1” + “HEERF 2” awards = $4,000.
    • All approved funds must be refunded to students and cannot be used directly towards tuition and fees or other institutional charges

HEERF Emergency Fund Working Group Members:

  • Vice President of Finance & Controller
  • Vice President of Government Relations & Community Affairs
  • Associate Director of Financial Aid
  • Associate Director of Student Accounts
  • Dean of Student Affairs