Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds

The U.S. Department of Education has provided money to college and universities for institutional support as well as student support through three federal awards known as Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF):

• CARES: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (HEERF I)
• CRRSAA: Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (HEERF II)
• ARP: American Rescue Plan (HEERF III)  

The purpose of the money is to support both KU as well as our students for specific expenses that are a direct result of the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus.  

KU received the following HEERF awards:

• HEERF I: $15,189,644. Per federal guidance the funds are to be split $7,594,822 (50%) towards institutional support and $7,594,822 (50%) towards student support
• HEERF II: $23,072,146.  Per federal guidance the funds are to be split $15,477,323 towards institutional support and $7,594,823 towards student support
• HEERF III: $41,122,500.  Per federal guidance the funds are to be split $20,489,246 towards institutional support and $20,633,254 towards student support

Details of KU’s HEERF 18004(a)(1) Institutional Support spend through June 30, 2022:

• HEERF September  30, 2020 Quarterly Report
• HEERF December  31, 2020 Quarterly Report
• HEERF March  31, 2021 Quarterly Report
• HEERF March 31, 2021 Quarterly Report (revised)
• HEERF June 30, 2021 Quarterly Report
• HEERF September 30, 2021 Quarterly Report
• HEERF December 31, 2021 Quarterly Report
• HEERF March 31, 2022 Quarterly Report
• HEERF June 30, 2022 Quarterly Report

Further details of KU's Institutional and Student Support spend by calendar year:

• HEERF 2020 Calendar Year (Year One) Report
• HEERF 2021 Calendar Year (Year Two) Report

For the HEERF funds dedicated to student support, KU is distributing the entirety as emergency financial grants to students in a way that prioritizes students with the greatest demonstrated need while ensuring the funds are distributed as widely as possible. 

The total amount was split among KU’s campuses, with $31,941,425 earmarked for Lawrence and Edwards campus students, and $3,881,474 for KU Medical Center students. 21,191 students across all campuses were eligible to apply for HEERF I and II funding. 

As of March 31, 2021, KU has disbursed $8,235,018 in HEERF I funding to 6,350 students at the Lawrence, Edwards and Medical Center campuses. As noted in institutional support quarterly reports,  KU has also allocated a portion of its institutional support share of HEERF I funding to further assist students. The split between funding sources is $7,594,822 (student support) and $640,196 (institutional support).

HEERF II funding was disbursed to 8,615 students at the Lawrence, Edwards and Medical Center Campuses.  As of June 30, 2021, KU disbursed $7,597,723 in HEERF II funds directly to students using block grants based on financial need.

HEERF III: As of December 31, 2021, KU has disbursed funding to 11,793 students totaling $ 18,363,596.00.The total number of students eligible for HEERF III funding is 27,685 for the fall 2021 semester. Funds were allocated based on an emergency application and block grants were awarded based on need.

As of March 31, 2022, KU has disbursed funding to 1,452 students totaling $2,271,125.00.

Students were advised by email of their awards and that the money was distributed to them via direct deposit if direct deposit was enabled in their student account, or via paper check if direct deposit was not enabled.

What expenses can be considered for HEERF funding?

The following is a list of expenses that can be considered for HEERF grant assistance if they were incurred in "direct relation to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus."

• Food
• Housing
• Course materials
• Health care
• Childcare
• Technology-related expenses (such as having to buy a computer when courses were moved online)
• Transportation (such as having to fly home because classes were canceled or having to return from study abroad when the program was canceled)

HEERF stipulates that the emergency funds cannot be used to replace a loss of income or to pay for student expenses that are not directly related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Who is eligible for HEERF Act Emergency funding? 

The US Department of Education states only undergraduate and graduate students who are Title IV eligible can be awarded HEERF Act Emergency funds. This means students must have a FAFSA on file with KU, or be eligible to file one. Additional recent federal guidance further clarified who may receive HEERF Act Emergency funds. Unfortunately, the US Department of Education does not allow HEERF Act Emergency funds to be used for international, DACA, or undocumented students or for any student who was exclusively taking online courses prior to March 13, 2020. KU has set aside a limited amount of institutional funds for undergraduate and graduate students who are not eligible for HEERF Act funding. For HEERF III Funding, all students attending KU became eligible for funding, as the citizenship and Title IV restrictions were lifted.

What can I do if I am not eligible for HEERF Act Emergency funding, but have need?

KU recognizes that the need for student support extends beyond what is allowed through the federal HEERF Act and has set aside a limited amount of institutional funds to support international, undocumented, and DACA undergraduate and graduate students as well as any student who was exclusively taking spring semester online courses prior to March 13, 2020. These institutional funds are currently available through KU’s Emergency Aid Network application process.

How much will I receive?

Schools received a limited amount of HEERF Act Emergency funds and KU has also sent aside a limited amount of institutional funds for those who do not qualify for HEERF Act Emergency funding. 

For students applying for any emergency aid, grant amounts will be determined based on the number of applications received and the specific needs presented in the application. KU cannot guarantee that all applications submitted will be funded.

When will we know the results?

KU has signed and returned to the US Department of Education the Certification and Agreement form and is awaiting receipt of the funds. Our goal is to award the emergency funds as soon as possible.

How do students receive the money?

All emergency grants will be processed through student accounts. Emergency grants will be directly deposited into bank accounts for students who are enrolled in direct deposit. Students without direct deposit will receive a refund check in the mail.

What if I owe KU for tuition or other expenses?

The full amount of the emergency grants will be given directly to the student, and KU will not hold the funds to pay any outstanding balance owed.

Will HEERF funds impact current or future financial aid?

No. This funding is not financial aid, it is an emergency relief funding from Congress.

Are HEERF funds taxable?

The Internal Revenue Service has released a FAQ which indicates the funds are not taxable since they are "qualified disaster relief payments."   Please visit the FAQ for additional tax guidance.