Dear Bereans,
This is the update for Monday, October 31, 2022. Happy Halloween everyone. I am wearing pirate garb for our costumes, so my joke, a repeat from before, reflects that.
Quarantine update
The on-campus mini-surge has continued to lessen. As of this morning we had five students in quarantine, one at home and four on campus, down from eight last week. Among on-campus employees, and we now have only one staff member quarantining with a positive test, down from five last week. That individual works in Facilities. I have not heard that any of the cases represent serious health concerns at this point.
COVID-19 Community Level
The County and the Commonwealth continue to do reasonably well. As of last Friday Madison County’s COVID community level remained for another week in the “Green” designation. Statewide, the situation has actually improved a bit. Actually, this is the first week ever, since the CDC starting reporting COVID Community Levels that we have no Kentucky counties in “Red.” I couldn’t resist marking this milestone by including the image below.
Kentucky update
Despite the good news overall, the number of new reported cases in the Commonwealth has notched slightly upward again with 5242 cases reported last week in comparison to 5044 cases the preceding week. The test positivity rate has increased to 9.2%. The number of deaths in the state last week was 61 or 9 per day. It’s been around 10 or 11 per day for the last several months. Statewide we are in a plateau at the moment.
Good news from Student Financial Aid for Berea students
Berea College was awarded an additional allocation of funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP or HEERF III). These funds will be released directly to you over the next two weeks in the form of emergency student grants. Per federal regulations, these grants are to be used towards educational expenses (housing, meals, books and supplies, childcare, transportation, etc.). With spring registration opening soon, please review your student account and determine the best use of this money. As a reminder, grants do not have to be repaid, and you do not need to provide receipts for expenditures.
The funds will be distributed to all active, degree-seeking students based on financial need as determined by your 2022-2023 expected family contribution (EFC):
| EFC | Disbursement |
| $0 | $250 |
| $1 – $2999 | $225 |
| $3000 – $6206 | $200 |
| $6207 – $9999 | $175 |
| $10000 + | $150 |
This is expected to be the last disbursement of HEERF money. You should not anticipate any additional assistance from this program.
If you have any questions, please contact Student Financial Aid Services at finaid@berea.edu.
Don’t delay in getting the updated booster,
Lyle Roelofs, President
Berea College