(This article does not include information on the federal stimulus funding approved in late December, which may also impact the deadlines of the first round of stimulus funding described below.)
The University of Hawaiʻi’s 10 campuses have provided $12 million in emergency financial aid grants to more than 20,000 students, completing the disbursement of the first of three allotments from the federal government through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
UH is on track to meet the April 2021 deadline to spend the three allotments, a total of $44.9 million in HEERF monies that have been awarded directly to the campuses. UH Mānoa has received the largest amount with $20.5 million. The allotments, referred to as tranches, each have a different purpose to address critical needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Tranche 1—emergency financial aid grants to students for college-related expenses caused by the pandemic
- Tranche 2—institutional portion for costs associated with the changes to the delivery of instruction
- Tranche 3—for minority serving institutions to defray lost revenue and reimburse for pandemic-related expenses
Unspent money from the last two tranches may also be used for student financial aid grants.
More information on the specific requirements for each tranche, each campus breakdown and latest expenditure reports for all can be found online.
The student grants provided through HEERF are being used for the cost of attendance, including tuition, food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care. The second and third tranches are being used for areas like technology costs associated with a transition to distance education, faculty and staff training, the purchasing of personal protective equipment for essential workers and cleaning supplies.
