August 4, 2021
MCLA will receive $1.9 million to distribute directly to enrolled students from Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) that are part of the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP).
One of the largest investments ever made in American higher education, the ARP allocates $40 billion to colleges in order to mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A third round of pandemic relief for higher education institutions, the ARP funds are more than double the first two COVID recovery packages combined. HEERF funding, which exists under the umbrella of ARP, is meant specifically for students.
MCLA students with the highest need, demonstrated via FAFSA information, will receive the majority of this funding, but all enrolled students will receive a check or the option to use the funds to pay off student debt or pay for future semesters of college.
The first disbursement of funds will be to MCLA undergraduates and graduate students who are enrolled for summer classes as well as for the fall 2021 semester. The next disbursement will be to students enrolled for fall 2021. The remainder of this funding will be disbursed to enrolled students in spring 2022.
Bonnie Howland, MCLA’s director of student financial services, said that she has heard from many MCLA students who are helping support their families, who have lost jobs, or who lack internet access at home. This funding can help pay for expenses so that students can stay enrolled in college while they deal with other emergencies brought on by COVID-19.
“It’s designed to help students stay in school throughout the pandemic,” said Bonnie Howland, MCLA director of student financial services. “I think we’re going to feel the effects of the pandemic for at least the next couple of years.”
About MCLA:
At MCLA, we’re here for all — and focused on each — of our students. Classes are taught
by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive
on every level of their lives. In nearly every way possible, the experience at MCLA
is designed to elevate our students as individuals, as leaders, communicators, fully
empowered to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 125-year commitment
to public education we have fortified our commitment to equitable academic excellence.
For eight of the last 10 years, MCLA has been named a Top Ten College by U.S. News
and World Report. MCLA also appears on the organization’s list of top National Public
Liberal Arts Colleges, as well as on the top 50 schools in U.S. News’ Social Mobility
Ranking, which measures how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell
Grants.
For more information, go to www.mcla.edu
