COVID-19 Information and Response
The CARES Act
On March 27, the President into law H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The bill provides $2 trillion in emergency relief related to the coronavirus pandemic. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives earlier in the day.
Click on the link below to view the impacts to education, including $13.9 billion for higher education.
Read the bill: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr748/BILLS-116hr748enr.pdf
Previously Congress also passed HR 6201, Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and before that HR 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act.
NMSU has a page with all information on the coronavirus pandemic as it relates to NMSU at https://nmsu.edu/coronavirus/.
Department of Education Webpage for CARES Act HEERF
The Department of Education has a webpage dedicated to information on the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund in the CARES Act. The page includes FAQs, guidance, and submission procedures for both student and institutional funds.
The Department of Education Releases New FAQs and Guidelines for COVID Emergency Relief Grants for Higher Ed
The NMSU system will receive a total of $14,076,359 million under Section 180004(a)(1) and 18004(c) of the CARES Act. The law specifies that at least half of the funding should be distributed as emergency grants for students based on a certain set of criteria and part of the funding is to be used by institutions to cover COVID-19 related costs. On April 21, the Department of Education released FAQs about the distribution of the funding.
- Department of Education Emergency Relief Fund FAQ about the Institutional Portion
- Department of Education Emergency Relief Fund FAQ for Student Portion
NACUBO Releases Guidance for COVID-19
The National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) released guidance for COVID-19 funds and other accounting topics related to the coronavirus.
Department of Education Office of Federal Student Aid Announces Preliminary Reporting Requirements for HEERF
The Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid posted an announcement with preliminary reporting requirements for institutions that have received funds through the CARES Act’s Higher Emergency Relief Fund.
Reopening College Campuses
On July 16, 2020, NMSU Chancellor Dan Arvizu presented at a Legislative Finance Committee regarding the reopening of college campuses in New Mexico. Click on the links below for information.