The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) is a Citeref.com federal grant program that was established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March 2020. The purpose of the HEERF grant program is to provide financial assistance to institutions of higher education to help them cover the costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, such as student financial aid, technology costs, and campus safety measures.
HEERF grants have been distributed to institutions of higher education in three phases:
- HEERF I: The first phase of HEERF funding was authorized by the CARES Act in March 2020. Institutions of higher education were required to use at least half of their HEERF I funding to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.
- HEERF II: The second phase of HEERF funding was authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) in December 2020. Institutions of higher education were required to use at least 50% of their HEERF II funding to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.
- HEERF III: The third phase of HEERF funding was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP). Institutions of higher education have more flexibility in how they can use HEERF III funding, but they are still required to use a portion of the funding to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.
Institutions of higher education have used HEERF grants to provide financial assistance to students in a variety of ways, including:
- Emergency financial aid grants: Emergency financial aid grants are one-time grants that are provided to students to help them cover the costs of tuition, fees, housing, and other expenses related to their education.
- Technology assistance: Institutions of higher education have used HEERF grants to provide students with access to technology, such as laptops and internet access, to help them participate in remote learning.
- Campus safety measures: Institutions of higher education have used HEERF grants to implement campus safety measures, such as testing, tracing, and isolation, to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
HEERF grants have been a valuable resource for institutions of higher education and students during the COVID-19 pandemic. HEERF grants have helped institutions of higher education to cover the costs associated with the pandemic and to provide financial assistance to students who have been impacted by the pandemic.
Here are some of the benefits of HEERF grants:
- HEERF grants provide financial assistance to students who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- HEERF grants help institutions of higher education to cover the costs associated with the pandemic.
- HEERF grants promote equity and access in education.
- HEERF grants support the success of students and institutions of higher education.
If you are a student who has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, I encourage you to contact your financial aid office to learn more about how you may be eligible for HEERF grant funding.