CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Disclosure

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), requires institutions receiving funds under Section 18004 of the Act to submit a report to the Secretary of Education describing the use of funds distributed from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”) and it also requires Howard University to disclose information related to the distribution of the CARES ACT: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund on its website.

1. 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. 

Howard University submitted the signed Certification and Agreement to receive the Higher Education Emergency Relief and has used 100 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

1. 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. 

Howard University has received $8,724,000 in HEERF.

1. 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). 

As of 1/8/2021 Howard University has disbursed $7,033,000 to students from the HEERF.

1. 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. 

8,138 eligible federal aid applicants completed the 2019/2020 FAFSA. Howard University anticipates a similar number of eligible students will complete the 2020/2021 FAFSA.

1. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. 

As of 1/8/2021 6,653 of students have received funding from the HEERF.

1. 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. 

Two criteria were used: 1) We used the Pell EFC ceiling of $5,576 to determine our neediest students who received a grant of $500; 2) Students with an EFC of less than or equal to the average cost of attendance for their program of study received a grant of $250.

Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants. 

Information about the distribution of HEERF grants was sent to all students registered for the Spring 2020 semester by the Office of University Communication.