Article

Department of Education releases new round of COVID-19 funds for colleges and universities

Jan. 21, 2021 · Authored by Michael W. Wascura, Amanda Shanaberger

HEERF reporting update

The required annual reporting period for the first Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF I) began on Jan. 5, 2021 and ends on Feb. 1, 2021. The grantee reporting portal can be accessed here and additional resources are available here. All HEERF grantees are required to submit an annual report during this reporting period via the Annual Report Data Collection System. Each institution is required to submit the names and email addresses of those individuals who will be authorized to edit and submit the institution’s HEERF I annual performance report to heerfannual@ed.gov. Click here to access the example form provided by the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

Institutions must spend HEERF funds that were issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act within one year from the date of the award in the Grant Award Notice. However, any institutions with unspent HEERF I funds may use the new expenditure requirements described below to spend the funds.

CRRSAA requirements

As part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) enacted on Dec. 27, 2020, the ED provided an additional $21.2 billion to institutions of higher education (IHEs) to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. See the ED funding allocation here. The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) released an outline of the second Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II) as well as helpful grant program