LIT CARES grant assists students in completing curriculum

The Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) is passing on federal aid to students working to complete their credentials. Effective immediately as of Jan. 11, a $300,000 grant allocated to LIT will help the school's displaced students who are Texas residents, so they can upskill and quickly return to the workforce.

The grant, supported by a portion of an $18.1 million allocation to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) from Gov. Greg Abbott’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund, also helps Texas students who previously left higher education institutions without completing postsecondary credentials. Through a competitive process, 40 applicants representing 49 institutions were selected for the awards, THECB said.

The funding, to be disbursed to students in amounts between $500 and $2500 per semester, is earmarked for tuition and fees for those pursuing their degree or certificate at LIT. Students must be Texas residents enrolled full or part-time in an eligible undergraduate or short-term workforce credential program. They must complete a FASFA form, demonstrate financial need, and should have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

LIT President Dr. Lonnie L. Howard said, “The pandemic has imposed its own set of unique hardships upon the residents Southeast Texas. We are pleased to offer this funding to LIT students so they can take the next step towards achieving ‘growth and excellence’ by ‘getting a degree that works.’”

Texas Commissioner of Higher Education Harrison Keller said, "These strategic investments… will play an important role in supporting Texas students and driving the recovery of the Texas economy. Our Texas institutions are making significant commitments to create programs that keep more students on track to enter the workforce with the high-value credentials and education that tomorrow’s economy will demand.”