Karen Epps
Department of Education HEERF Call Center
202.377.3711
HEERF@ed.gov

Julius C Cotton
202.245.6288
julius.cotton@ed.gov

Through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), the U.S. Department of Education is distributing formula grants to minority serving institutions of higher education to address needs directly related to the coronavirus.

Funding may be used to:

• Defray expenses associated with coronavirus including:
  • Lost revenue
  • Reimbursement for expenses already incurred
  • Technology costs associated with a transition to distance education
  • Faculty and staff trainings
  • Payroll
• Carry out student support activities that address needs related to coronavirus
• Provide financial aid grants to in-person and distance education students which may be used for any component of the student's cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as:
  • Tuition
  • Food
  • Housing
  • Healthcare, including mental healthcare
  • Child care

Eligible applicants are public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education that are generally eligible to apply for funding as minority serving institutions, including:

• Historically Black College and Universities
• Tribally Controlled College and Universities
• Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander- Serving Institutions (AANAPISI)
• Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNH)
• Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI)
• Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI)
• Hispanic-Serving Institutions

Award amount: Determined by formula described in section 314(a)(2)(A) of the CRRSAA Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)
Project period: 12 months
Estimated total program funding: $439,994,312

Links to the full announcement and online application process are available through grants.gov. The application instructions will be found on the related documents tab.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until July 12, 2021.