"In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress approved three batches of emergency relief funding for higher ed totaling more than $76 billion. The U.S. Department of Education distributed the money to colleges through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, or HEERF," Higher Ed Dive reports.

"NASFAA surveyed its members in the first half of this year to gauge their experiences with HEERF funding. A majority of the 321 responding institutions, 60%, said they widely shared information on HEERF aid available to students, rather than targeting specific student demographics. Communication was largely digital, with 85% of institutions using email and 61% posting to their websites.

One-fifth of respondents said they used lessons learned from administering HEERF grants to improve an existing emergency aid program. Common enhancements covered application processes, student communications, and the timeframe in approving and disbursing funds."

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

Publication Date: 10/5/2022