Dear Bereans,
This is the campus update for Monday, March 28, 2022. At this point I am no longer sending updates on a weekly basis unless there is important information to share. There is some important information this week regarding financial aid. Hence this streamlined update.
GREAT NEWS for students from the Student Financial Aid Office
There will be funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP or HEERF III) released early next week for spring term expenses. While the funds will be released to you as in the past, they should be used for your spring term expenses (student account). If that is paid in full, then the funds can be used for summer start-up expenses. As stated in the ARP legislation, students are to use these funds for Cost of Attendance items, such as housing, meals, books and supplies, child care, etc. These are grant funds and do not have to be repaid, nor do students have to provide receipts of expenditures.
All students are eligible for these funds, including international and DACA students.
The chart below outlines the amounts each student will receive based on need as determined by 2021-22 Expected Family Contribution (EFC):
| EFC | Disbursement Amount |
| $0 | $575 |
| $1 – 2999 | $500 |
| $3000 – 5830 | $400 |
| $5831 – 9999 | $300 |
| $10,000 and above | $300 |
If you have questions about these funds, please contact us at finaid@berea.edu.
Quarantine, testing and vaccination update
As of today, we have one student in isolation (off campus). As to on-campus employees, there are no currently known positive cases or close contacts.
As noted in the announcement sent on Friday, masks are no longer required for students engaged in indoor labor. Masks are still required in indoor classes and mass gatherings (attendance greater than 50 persons). Masks are no longer required in other indoor settings, including Dining.
COVID-19 Community Level
As of last Friday, Madison County remains in the “Green” in terms of COVID-19 Community Level. The news in surrounding counties around is less favorable, though. Rockcastle and Estill remain green, but Garrard and Jackson have “gone yellow,” meaning cases and numbers of hospitalizations have risen a bit in those areas.
Kentucky update
The Commonwealth has reported a positivity rate for the week of 2.29% down from last week’s 3.08%. The number of deaths in the state for the week has also decreased; to 236 from last week’s 279.
Stay safe, get vaccinated and boosted, stay in touch,
Lyle Roelofs, President
Berea College