Minority Serving Institutional Portion Funding

The funding was made possible through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Pursuant to H.R. 748 (CARES Act), section 18004(a) (2), a Historically Black College and University or a Minority Serving Institution may use prior awards provided under titles III, V, and VII of the Higher Education Act to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. Costs must be incurred on or after March 13, 2020 to be eligible. Examples of allowable uses permitted under the broad institutional authority granted by the CARES Act include lost revenue, reimbursement for expenses already incurred, technology costs associated with a transition to distance education, faculty and staff trainings, payroll costs, and emergency financial aid grants to students for their expenses.

June 1, 2020, California Lutheran University was awarded $259,807 in MSI funding pursuant to the required Certification and Agreement with the US Department of Education; $168,703 of the total funding was allocated for distribution to students.

February 2021 – March 2021, Cal Lutheran identified students in good academic standing who were unable to register to continue their education and were facing financial difficulties due to the pandemic. A total of $168,703 was distributed to 94 students; with grants ranging from $495 to $4,000 based on financial hardship.