White Earth Tribal & Community College

Gaawaabaabiganikaag Gabegikendaasowigamig

COVID

COVID Response

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, WETCC closed campus on Monday, March 16, 2020, out of an abundance of caution to protect students, staff, faculty, and the entire community.  All staff remained employed and transitioned to telework. On June 26, 2020, the campus re-opened on a limited basis with health checks at the front door.

In the Spring 2020 semester, classes for the week of March 16 were canceled and the week of March 23 was Spring Break. During those two weeks, faculty transitioned all classes to online. Online classes resumed Monday, March 30.  A grant from NW MN Foundation assisted students with technology needs. Classes remained online throughout the Spring Semester. Fall 2020 semester began under a new hyflex model, which allows students to join in-person classes, jvia Zoom, or view a recording of the class at a more convenient time. Unfortunately, as the COVID situation worsened on the Reservation, the campus was closed again on November 2, 2020 when all classes transitioned again to online.

On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act was signed in to law. Similar to the CARES Act passed in March 2020 and the CRRSA Act passed in December 2020, this act included funding to institutions of higher education, referred to as the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). This fund provides students with grants to offset the unexpected expenses they may have incurred as campus operations continued to be disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was put into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act provided funding for WETCC to assist in responding to the pandemic.

  1. ++++++++++

An additional grant from the American Indian College Fund (AICF) allowed WETCC to assist students who were not Title IV eligible. Funds were provided to students to assist with food, shelter, utilities and any other need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Institutional Aid 18004(a)(2)
On April 17, 2020 WETCC receive two grants, one for student emergency assistance ($52,600) and one for operational assistance ($52,600).  On May 21, 2020 WETCC received an additional grant of $803,786 to defray expenses and recover lost revenue attributed to COVID-19. The report of expenditures for the period ending September 30, 2020 can be found here. 

In accordance to the grant contract, quarterly reporting is required. The December 31, 2020 report on expenditures can be found here.

The next quarterly report due for the period ending March 31, 2021 is available here.

​The quarterly reporting format has changed slightly for the reporting period ending June 30, 2021 which is available here. This report was corrected in October 2021 here.
-- CRRSAA
​OCTOBER 2021 REPORTING
The quarterly report for the period ending September 30, 2021 is available here.
WETCC received CRRSAA and ART (a)(1) (Student Assistance and Institutional Aid) and (a)(2) (HEERF) funding.
1) WETCC acknowledges the institution has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) program to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
2) The total amount of funds the institution received from the Department pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) program is $334,971.
3) The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) program as of the date of September 30, 2021 is $75,224
4) The estimated total number of students at WETCC that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA  and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs is "all students", 123 students Fall 2021 semester, additional students were included in previous semesters.
5) The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the CRRSAA  and ARP (a)(1) program is on file in the Student Services Office.
6) The methods used by WETCC to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) program is based upon need as requested by the student, this could vary from gas funds to groceries, to rent, utility bills, etc.
7) WETCC has provided students information via email through the student management system, Populi, concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants and the official WETCC email accounts.  Additional incentives were offered to students who documented COVID vaccinations during Q4 of FY21.
--ARP
January 2022 REPORTING
The quarterly report for the period ending December 31, 2021 is available here.
WETCC received CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) (Student Assistance and Institutional Aid) and (a)(2) (HEERF) funding.
1) WETCC acknowledges the institution has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) program to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
2) The total amount of funds the institution received from the Department pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) program is $334,971.
3) The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) program as of the date of September 30, 2021 is $7,481
4) The estimated total number of students at WETCC that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA  and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs is "all students", 123 students Fall 2021 semester, additional students were included in previous semesters.
5) The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the CRRSAA  and ARP (a)(1) program is on file in the Student Services Office.
6) The methods used by WETCC to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) program is based upon need as requested by the student, this could vary from gas funds to groceries, to rent, utility bills, etc.
7) WETCC has provided students information via email through the student management system, Populi, concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants and the official WETCC email accounts.  Additional incentives were offered to students who documented COVID vaccinations during Q4 of FY21.

Skip to content