Acknowledgment of Funding and Certification

Pacific Lutheran University acknowledges that the institution’s authorized representative signed and returned to the Department of Education the Recipient’s Funding Certification and Agreement to Students under the CARES Act. PLU gives its assurance that 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.

Aggregate Award Amount

PLU received $1,467,935 from the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants directly to students impacted by campus disruptions due to coronavirus.

Funds Distributed and Awards Made

As of May 20, 2020, 267 students received a total of $194,750.

As of July 3, 2020, 300 students received a total of $216,000.

As of August 17, 2020, 308 students received a total of $222,250.

As of October 2, 2020, 1,355 students received a total of $1,465,629.

As of November 16, 2020, 1,356 students received a total of $1,467,935.

Student Eligibility

Upon receipt of the CARES Act funding in Spring of 2020, PLU identified 2,455 of its students as potentially eligible for an Emergency Financial Aid Grant based on the number of domestic students enrolled in the Spring 2020 semester.

Application Process

Until September 12, 2020, students were able to apply for CARES Act funding via a Google Form.  All potentially eligible students were notified about the CARES Act funding application via email on April 24th, 2020.  As students applied, they were notified via email about whether or not they were eligible and how the funding would be issued to them (paper check or direct deposit). Students with a 0 EFC received $1,000 while other Pell-eligible students received $750.  Applicants who were not Pell eligible received $500.

On September 12, 2020, PLU discontinued the application process.

To expedite the awarding of our remaining CARES Act funds as quickly as possible to as many eligible students as possible, we asked students enrolled for the Fall 2020 semester to respond Yes or No to a statement of affirmation on their student portal. If students affirmed that they were encountering expenses related to the disruption of PLU campus operations due to coronavirus for the cost of attendance; such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses, then they were awarded CARES Act funding, provided they met the additional criteria listed below:

  • Enrolled for fall
  • Submitted a 2020-21 FAFSA
  • Eligible for federal student aid

Students with a 0 EFC received $1,326 while other Pell-eligible students received $1,076.  Students who were not Pell eligible received $826. Eligible students were notified via email on September 24, 2020 of the amount they would be receiving and when the funds would be issued.

Almost all remaining CARES Act funding intended as direct emergency aid for students was issued to students on October 2, 2020 by either direct deposit or paper check.

As of November 16, 2020, all CARES Act funding intended as direct emergency aid for students was issued to students by either direct deposit or paper check.

Additional Reporting 

Click here for PLU’s  Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report for HEERF I through III Institutional Funding.