CARES Act and HEERF Support

The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the funding certification and agreement for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on April 22, 2020. The U of A used no less than 50% of awarded CARES Act funding to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.

The U of A received and distributed $7.7 million in HEERF I emergency grants to eligible students for costs incurred as a result of COVID-19.

HEERF I grants were made to students based on Expected Family Contribution (EFC) reported in a student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2019-2020 or 2020-2021.

Additional information on CARES Act guidelines and distribution and the June 1, 2020 report, July 15, 2020 report and Sept. 30, 2020 report and the Final Dec. 30, 2020 report on distribution are available.

Subsequent to HEERF I, the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) was authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) and signed into law on December 27, 2020. HEERF II provided the university an additional $7.7 million in funding for supplemental emergency grants to students.

As of June 30, 2021 the U of A had distributed the entire $7.7 million in supplemental CARES Act emergency grants to eligible students. Similar to HEERF I grants to students, HEERF II grants were made to students based on Expected Family Contribution (EFC) reported in a student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2020-2021.

The March 31, 2021 report and the final June 30, 2021 report on distribution are available.

Subsequent to HEERF I and II, the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) and signed into law on March 11, 2021. HEERF III provided the university an additional $21,278,711 million in funding for supplemental emergency grants to students.

As of June 30, 2022, the U of A has distributed all of HEERF III funding, which totals $21,278,711.

The September 30, 2021, December 31, 2021, December 31, 2021 REVISED, and the final March 31, 2022 reports on distribution are available.

The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the funding certification and agreement for the Institutional Portion of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Formula Grants under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on May 28, 2020. The U of A planned to use up to 50% of awarded CARES Act funding to cover costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus in accordance with the CARES Act.

The CARES Act Section 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion Distribution reports for the calendar quarters ending Sept. 30, 2020, Dec. 31, 2020, and March 31, 2021 are available. See HEERF III below for combined subsequent quarterly reporting across all three HEERF funding streams.

Subsequent to HEERF I, the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) was authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) and signed into law on December 27, 2020. HEERF II provided the university an additional $16.2 million in funding to cover costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus in accordance with the CARES Act.

As of March 31, 2021, the U of A had expended $66 in supplemental HEERF II Institutional Relief funds related to the significant changes in the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus. The $66 represents only a portion of the university’s institutional expenses with additional expenses to be reported in subsequent quarters.

The CARES Act Section 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion Distribution report for March 31, 2021 report is available. See HEERF III below for combined subsequent quarterly reporting across all three HEERF funding streams.

Subsequent to HEERF I and II, the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) and signed into law on March 11, 2021. HEERF III represents the third in a stream of funding appropriated to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19. HEERF III provided the university with an additional $21.1 million in funding to cover costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus in accordance with the CARES Act, including, in part, lost revenue, payroll, technology expenses, outreach to financial aid applicants, and costs to implement evidence-based practices to monitor and suppress COVID-19. Beginning with the quarter ending June 30, 2021, and in accordance with authoritative guidance, quarterly reporting for Institutional Relief funding across all three HEERF streams (I, II and III) is combined into one quarterly report. As of March 31, 2023, the U of A has expended all three HEERF streams funding for institutional purpose which totaled $44,978,255.

The CARES Act Section 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion Distribution report for June 30, 2021, September 30, 2021, December 31, 2021, December 31, 2021 REVISED, March 31, 2022, March 31. 2022 REVISED, June 30, 2022, September 30, 2022, December 31, 2022 REVISED, and March 31, 2023, is available.