University of Hawai'i - West O'ahu

Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds

In response to the Coronavirus pandemic and related economic fallout, the US Congress passed three pieces of legislation: the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March 2020, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) in December 2020, and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in March 2021, collectively known as Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF)

Department of Education (ED) guidance on the use of HEERF is changing on an almost daily basis. Check back often as we will continue to update this reference page as any new guidance becomes available.

CARES Act Grant Funds (HEERF I)

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is an economic stimulus package that was signed into law by the United States Congress on March 27, 2020 to address the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. While the CARES Act is a widely impacting package of $2 trillion, a portion of the funds (roughly $14 billion) were allocated toward higher education in the form of emergency student grants to students and financial support for schools during this pandemic.

CARES Act Grant Funds

Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (HEERF II)

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) is authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. In total, the CRRSAA authorizes $81.88 billion in support for education, in addition to the $30.75 billion expeditiously provided last spring through the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136.

CRRSAA ACT FUNDS

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA)

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was signed into law and authorized a total of $39.6 billion under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III).

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA)

UHWO Federal Funding Advisory Council

The Federal Funding Advisory Council’s purpose is to learn more about the US Federal Funding Acts and resources to higher education, and provide the Chancellor with recommendations and guidance regarding the use of these resources.

Federal Funding Advisory Council

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