The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), which was signed into law on March 27, 2020, established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”) to provide relief funding to institutions of higher education.
HEERF funds are allocated to the institution with the requirement that at least 50% of the HEERF funds (“Student Aid Portion”) must be used to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students to help with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus. Institutions may use up to 50% of the HEERF funds for institutional costs (“Institutional Portion”) associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus.
The University of Phoenix will use 100% of the HEERF funds received, including both the Student Aid Portion and Institutional Portion, to provide assistance directly to eligible students.
Through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (“CRRSAA”), Congress provided supplemental funding (known as “HEERF II”) for institutions to provide additional Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students impacted by the coronavirus national emergency.
HEERF II funds are allocated to the institution with the requirement that 100% of the funds must be used to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. Grant funds may be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus.
Reports regarding the University’s expenditure of its CARES Act / HEERF and CRRSAA / HEERF II allocations, as required by the Department of Education, are posted below.