CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund – Student Aid Information

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“Cares Act”) was signed into law by President Trump on March 27, 2020. The Act provides funds to colleges to give to eligible students to assist with costs related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“Cares Act”) was signed into law by President Trump on March 27, 2020. The Act provides funds to colleges to give to eligible students to assist with costs related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.

Students with active enrollment in a Title IV eligible program between March 1-31, 2020, who filed a FAFSA no later than March 13, 2020, and who were eligible to receive Title IV funds within the spring semester, excluding incarcerated individuals; cross-enrolled students whose “home institution” is a non-LCTCS college; and students enrolled only in online courses during March 1-31, 2020.

The United States Department of Education’s guidelines state that students must meet requirements as outlined in Section 484 of the Higher Education Act. So, to receive these grant funds students must:

• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree or certificate program

• Not be enrolled in elementary or secondary school

• For currently enrolled students, be making satisfactory academic progress

• Not owe an overpayment on Title IV grants or loans

• Not be in default on a Title IV loan

• File "as part of the original financial aid application process" a certification that includes

• A statement of educational purpose

• Student's SSN

• Be a U.S. citizen or national, permanent resident, or other eligible noncitizen

• Have returned fraudulently obtained Title IV funds if convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to charges

• Not have fraudulently received Title IV loans in excess of annual or aggregate limits

• Have repaid Title IV loan amounts in excess of annual or aggregate limits if obtained inadvertently

• Have Selective Service registration verified

• Have Social Security Number verified

• Not have a federal or state conviction for drug possession or sale while receiving Title IV aid, with certain time limitation

Each eligible NLTCC student will receive $783.91

Every college received a different amount of funds from the United States Department of Education. Because each college had a different amount of money and a different number of eligible students, grant amounts will vary by college.

Students will receive their grants through their Bank Mobile account.

At this time, we anticipate sending grants out by May 15, 2020.

No. These are emergency grant funds and do not have to be repaid.

There are no specific restrictions on how you should use your funds. However, students are encouraged to use the funds to help them to continue attending college. That might mean buying a computer or internet service so you can attend online classes, for example.

No, only students who were enrolled in courses between March 1-31, 2020 are eligible because that is the time period in which campus disruptions occurred.

No, only students who had demonstrated Title IV eligibility by submitting a FAFSA by the day a national emergency was declared (March 13, 2020) are eligible.

According to the United States Department of Education, the funds are for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, and students who were enrolled exclusively online would not have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations.

No. The number of classes or credit hours a student was enrolled in for the spring semester does not in any way affect whether they are eligible for the funds or not.

Please use the following e-mail addresses to correspond with your home campus should you need additional information. 

• Shreveport Campus: SuccessShreveport@nwltc.edu

• Minden Campus:  SuccessMinden@nwltc.edu

• Mansfield Campus  SuccessMansfield@nwltc.edu