Coronavirus (COVID-19) Web Center
This web center was created to keep NASFAA members and the financial aid community updated on pertinent news related to the coronavirus. Check back often as this page is updated daily.
NASFAA Articles & Statements
- *NEW* ED Announces Distribution Details for $21 Billion in Additional HEERF Aid
- *NEW* Biden Unveils Top Legislative Priority: Pandemic Relief, With Expanded Higher Ed Funding
- NASFAA Continues Virtual Advocacy Pipeline to Emphasize Need for Additional Pandemic Relief
- Low-Income Students Most Impacted by Schools' Reopening Decisions, Report Finds
- NYSFAA's Focus on Webinars Pays Off During the Pandemic
See All NASFAA COVID-19 News Coverage
*UPDATED* Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
Several major student aid policy provisions were attached to the fiscal year 2021 Omnibus spending bill, through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, including FAFSA simplification, expanding Pell Grant eligibility to incarcerated students and increasing the maximum award, and the repealing the limitation on lifetime subsidized loan eligibility, known as Subsidized Usage Limit Applies (SULA).
See All NASFAA Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Coverage
NASFAA "Off The Cuff" Podcast Episodes
- *NEW* Episode 178: DeVos’ Departure Makes Way for Debate Over Further COVID Aid, Debt Forgiveness, and the Biden Administration
- Episode 177: Recapping the "Coronabus" Implementation, What Democrat Control of the Senate Means for Higher Ed, and DeVos's Farewell
- Episode 176: What the Spending and Coronavirus Relief Package Means for Federal Student Aid Policy
See All "Off The Cuff" Episodes
NASFAA Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Reference Page
Department of Education guidance on the use of Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) funds is changing on an almost daily basis. This reference page, which provides fast facts and frequently asked questions and answers on the student portion of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, was developed to assist financial aid administrators and other offices on college campuses in making decisions about the distribution of these funds. Check back often as NASFAA will continue to update this reference page as any new guidance becomes available.
See HEERF-Student Funds Reference Page
NASFAA AskRegs Questions & Answers 
Please note: not all AskRegs Knowledgebase Q&As reflect the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. We will continue updating affected Q&As and providing new guidance after the first of the year. Please reference the NASFAA Q&A on Changes to Federal Student Aid Policy in the interim.
While AskRegs is available exclusively to NASFAA members, in an effort to keep the entire higher education community informed in the midst of this pandemic, NASFAA — with the support of grant funding — has made all AskRegs questions and answers related to COVID-19 available to the public. Check back often; new questions get submitted and answered every day.
- *NEW* Is There a Comparison of the Conditions for Administering HEERF I and HEERF II Funds?
- What Are the R2T4 Reporting Requirements Under the CARES Act?
- Must the School Still Meet the July 1, 2020 State Authorization Requirements if It Moved Classes Online Due to COVID-19?
Access AskRegs Knowledgebase| AskRegs COVID-19 Questions
Not a NASFAA member? Join now to access the AskRegs Knowledgebase.
NASFAA Webinars
The following webinars are free of charge to NASFAA members and non-members and available on demand.
- January 15, 2021 - Year-End Student Aid Legislation: COVID Relief, Funding, and FAFSA Simplification (on demand version will be available shortly)
- September 30, 2020 - COVID-19 and Federal Student Aid: Where Are We Now?
- June 12, 2020 - COVID-19 and Federal Student Aid: As it Stands
- May 20, 2020 - COVID-19 and Federal Student Aid: Current Status
Department of Education & Congressional References
- *NEW* Comment Request; Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Improper Payments Information Form
- Comment Request; Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting Under CARES Act Sections 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion, 18004(a)(2), and 18004(a)(3)
- Clarification on Reopening the Application Period for Certain Applicants Under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), Sections 18004(a)(1), 18004(a)(2), and 18004(a)(3); Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
- Notice Reopening the Application Period for Certain Applicants Under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), Sections 18004(a)(1), 18004(a)(2), and 18004(a)(3); Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
- Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting Under CARES Act Sections 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion, 18004(a)(2), and 18004(a)(3)
- 11-19: Online Training Video – CARES Act R2T4 School Training Video
- 11-6: COD System Implementation Information for Additional COD System Changes to Support the CARES Act – Supplemental Phase
- Notice of Waiver Granted Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
- Comment Request; Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Data Collection Form
- CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
- Comment Request; CARES Act 18004(a)(3) Budget and Expenditure Reporting
- ED Updates 2016 Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting
- 10-6: COVID-19 Title IV Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Website Update
- 10-2: ED Publishes Third Round of HEERF Frequently Asked Questions
- 9-23: COD System Implementation Information for Additional COD System Changes to Support the CARES Act – Phase Two
- Notice of Waivers Granted Under Section 3511 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
- Senate Bill Aims to Provide College Students a Financial Safety Net for Unanticipated Events
- Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; CARES Act 18004(a)(3) Discretionary Grant Application
- Senate Democrats Urge for Data Collection of COVID-19 Cases Linked to Higher Ed
- 8-21: Updated Deadlines for Flexibilities Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Senate GOP's 'Skinny' Coronavirus Relief Bill Mirrors HEALS Act
- ED Releases Updated Guidance on HEERF Deadline to Spend Funds
- 7-30: Additional COD System Implementation Information for COD System Changes to Support the CARES Act
- 7-24: Email Reminder About COVID-19 Relief Measures to In-School Borrowers July 27–31, 2020
- August 1 Application Deadline for HEERF Funds Approaching
- Alexander Proposes Extending CARES Act Student Loan Deferment for Borrowers With No Income
- Congressional Democrats Call for Oversight of ED's Execution of Coronavirus Aid
- 7-10: Additional Regulatory Flexibilities Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- 7-10: Update on Required CARES Act Quarterly Reporting
- New Bill Would Give Low-Income Students Stimulus Checks
- Former ED Secretary Urges Congress to Bridge Racial Inequalities in Higher Ed Exacerbated by Coronavirus
- Sens. Murray, Wyden Push for Public Outreach on Economic Impact Payments
- ED Removes Handbook Reference to Professional Judgment Guidance
- ED Officially Publishes Interim Final Rule on CARES Act Emergency Grants
- Senate Democrats Pen Letter Urging $47 Billion in Aid for Higher Ed
- Bipartisan Group of Senators Urge ED to Make FAFSA Changes
- Updated Guidance for Interruptions of Study Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Cost Concerns Lead House Democrats to Scale Back on Aid Package
- ED Says Over 50,000 Borrowers Still Having Wages Garnished
- ED Releases Additional CARES Act Funding for HBCUs, MSIs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities
- ED Announces FY 2017 Cohort Default Rate Deadline Modification and Update on Federal Work-Study Community Service Waivers Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Recipient's Funding Certification and Agreement for the Institutional Portion of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Institutional Portion of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund of the CARES Act
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students
- CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Certification Agreement Form
- CARES Act Institutional Allocations from Department of Education
- ED UPDATED Guidance for Interruptions of Study Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- ED Guidance for Interruptions of Study Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Letter to College and University Presidents on CARES Act Funding
- March 11 Electronic Announcement: Issuance of Dear CPA Letter CPA-20-01, Site Visit Exemption During COVID-19 Outbreak
- ED Coronavirus Q&A: Forbearance Info for Students, Borrowers, and Parents
- Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
NASFAA in the News
For an up-to-date list of news articles in which NASFAA spokespeople have been quoted, please visit our NASFAA In the News webpage.
NASFAA Advocacy and Work
- NASFAA Releases HEERF Reporting Timeline
- Call to Action: Your Voice Needed to Increase Higher Education Funding
- June 2020 Infographic Shows NASFAA's Comprehensive Efforts in the Time of COVID-19
NASFAA On the Record
- NASFAA Urges Congress to Provide Relief for All Federal Student Loan Borrowers
- NASFAA Comments on Proposed Annual Data Collection Form for CARES Act HEERF Recipients
- NASFAA Submits Comments on HEERF Quarterly Data Collection Form
- Higher Ed Groups Urge ED to Extend Repayment Relief Through Sept. 2021
- NASFAA Submits Comments on HEERF Data Collection Form
- Higher Education Community Asks Congress for $120 billion in Pandemic Relief Funding
See all NASFAA COVID-19 On the Record letters
NASFAA Members Additional Resources
- 2019-20 COVID-19 National Emergency Self-Evaluation Checklist Available
- Business Continuity Plans and Teleworking Agreement Samples
- CARES Act Distribution: Results From June 2020 Membership Poll & May 2020 Survey
- CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Timeline
- COVID-19 Emergency Grant Application Samples
- NASFAA Membership CARES Act Survey - May 2020
- NASFAA Survey Results Highlight COVID-19 Impact on Professional Judgment Requests
- P&P Builder Template: Early Implementation of New Regulations
Additional Resources
- Self-Supporting College Students Can Qualify for Stimulus Checks, IRS Says
- Your Thoughts: We Have to Be More Transparent About the PJ Process
- Survey on Professional Judgment and COVID-19
- Blue Icon Kicks Off Fall 'Let's Talk' Series With Financial Literacy During COVID-19
- New Poll Finds Overwhelming Support for Short-Term Student Debt Relief
- Trump Seeks to Extend Student Loan Relief Via Executive Order
- Higher Education Advocates Call on Congress to Provide Equitable Aid for Community Colleges
- Census Bureau Publishes Updates for Temporarily Closed Schools Due to Coronavirus
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- COVID-19 Resources from NASFAA's Business Partners
- CUPA-HR Provides Resources for Campus Re-Openings
- IRS: Emergency Aid Allocated to College Students Not Considered Taxable Income
- ICE Guidance on New International Students From Online-Only Studies in U.S.
- Lawmakers Urge Student Loan Companies to Provide Relief for Private Student Loan Borrowers
- NASFAA, SchoolHouse Connections Resource Highlights COVID-19 Impact on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Seeking
- Washington Sues Department of Education Over CARES Act Guidance
- World Health Organization
This NASFAA COVID-19 Web Center is made possible thanks to the dues paid annually by NASFAA members at nearly 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. Not a NASFAA member yet? Join today to gain access to member-only benefits and help fund more content for the financial aid community at nasfaa.org/Join_NASFAA.
Publication Date: 1/15/2021
