Several weeks ago, the United States Congress passed the largest federal relief legislation in history – the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act – offering more than $2 trillion to assist people, companies and organizations overcome the unexpected and short-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kentucky State University has been working with urgency to understand and make recommendations regarding opportunities for our campus and the students we serve. The funds are divided into tranches – each with separate rules, eligibility guidelines, and usage requirements. Below is the clearest understanding, as of this publication.

On April 11, 2020, Kentucky State University submitted the official application for part one of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF). On April 20, 2020 we received an award notice in the amount of $686,039. On April 22, 2020, the institution received the deposit in a restricted agency account. Tranch 1 requires the funds to be expended on direct student assistance. None of the funds can be used for institutional purposes or applied to student accounts. The campus has until April 19, 2021 to expend the funds with required monthly reporting.

To fulfill the obligation of the grant award, the campus established the KSU CARES Initiative for student support in response to COVID-19. The committee has planned to dispense the funds over the current, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021 terms. The campus has also transferred $18,860 to the KSU Foundation to make immediate emergency awards. Additionally, the campus has allocated $18,860 to create a Student Government Association Student Relief Fund to be managed by the students for themselves. With the remaining funds designated to stipends to support food, housing, healthcare, child-care, and parent care for Pell-eligible full-time students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Association Student Relief Fund to be managed by the students for themselves. With the remaining funds designated to stipends to support food, housing, healthcare, child-care, and parent care for Pell-eligible full-time students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The second HEERF distribution remains more elusive. At present, the United States Department of Education has released no details regarding requesting or receiving the funds allocated to institutional relief. Similarly, no guidance had been issued as to the allowable use of funds and/or restrictions. Campus staff continues to monitor federal notices for updates on the legislated appropriations.

On April 14, 2020, the United States Department of Education announced the Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEERF). The federal government released the legislated funds to each state within three days of application. As promised, the Commonwealth of Kentucky received $43.8 million under a formula based on the state's population. Each state governor has complete autonomy and discretion as to the manner, timing, and purpose of GEERF awards. Governor Beshear has expressed an interest in allocating a portion of his funds to public and private higher education institutions. To date, no allocations have been made or awards given.

On April 30, the U.S. Department of Education announced the availability of $1.04 billion in funding for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). Minority-Serving Institu-