In an effort to help students complete their college education in a challenging year, Lehigh Carbon Community College has erased the financial debt of 1,065 students using nearly $1.1 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.

The college received these funds through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and used them to help students with overdue bills or unpaid tuition balances.

This one-time initiative was designed to help students get back on their feet and continue to meet their educational goals. However, students interested in enrolling in the second summer session, which started July 6, or the fall semester, which starts Aug. 21, and who need help with tuition or have emergency needs are encouraged to apply for emergency grants that are still available. Information on these grants is on the college’s webpage, lccc.edu/about-lccc/news/lccc-provides-emergency-funds-for-students-imp-(1).

CRRSAA funds were automatically applied to pay off student debt over the past year; students were not required to apply for the funds. The funds were available to students who either had their accounts sent to collections or before that happened, allowing them to re-enroll for classes. Normally, students can’t re-enroll if they have an outstanding debt with the college.

Funds were disbursed to students owing balances in the spring 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020, winter 2020 and spring 2021 semesters. The average debt relief for student accounts that had already been sent to collections was $1,186 each, impacting 253 students. A total of 812 students had their balances cleared before collections, with an average of $940 forgiven.

Students who continue to have unmet need or need to set up a payment plan for their tuition and fees are encouraged to contact the LCCC business office at bursar1@mymail.lccc.edu or call 610-799-1157.

The college maintains a debt relief policy for students who continue to have challenges with their tuition bills, with additional information on the website, lccc.edu/tuition-financial-aid/academic-debt-relief-policy.