Reporting Requirements
Section 18004(e) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES
Act” or the “Act”)), Pub. L. No. 116-136, 134 Stat. 281 (March 27, 2020), directs
institutions receiving funds under Section 18004 of the Act to submit (in a time and
manner required by the Secretary) a report to the Secretary describing the use of
funds distributed from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”). Section
18004(c) of the CARES Act requires institutions to use no less than 50 percent of
the funds received from Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency
Financial Aid Grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus
operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost
of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and
child care). On April 9, 2020, the Department published documents related to the Emergency
Financial Aid Grants, including a letter from Secretary Betsy DeVos, a form Certification and Agreement for signing and returning by institutions to access the funds, and a list of institutional allocations under 18004(a)(1).
The Certification and Agreement directs each institution applying for HEERF funds
to comply with Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act and submit an initial report (the
“30-day Fund Report”) to the Secretary thirty (30) days from the date of the institution’s
Certification and Agreement to the Department. The Department will provide instructions
for providing the required information to the Secretary in the near future. In the
meantime, each HEERF participating institution must post the information listed below
on the institution’s primary website. The Department would like to receive the most
current information from the date when the institution received its allocation for
emergency financial aid grants to students, and the institution should have received
its allocation within a few days after submitting the Certification and Agreement.
(Electronic Announcement 050620)
Reporting parameters
- An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the
Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends
to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of
the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
- The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the
Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency
Financial Aid Grants to Students.
- The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section
18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day
Report and every 45 days thereafter).
- The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate
in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and
thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section
18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to
students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency
Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of
the CARES Act.
- Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students
concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.
