The Department of Education (ED) published the availability of funds and the application deadline for new grants to institutions of higher education under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, Supplemental Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education (SAIHE). According to the Federal Register Notice, the SAIHE program supports institutions of higher education (IHEs) with unmet needs related to recovery from disruptions in the finances, day-to-day operations, instruction, and student supports due to coronavirus.
The terms, conditions, and requirements governing your institution’s use of these grant funds awarded pursuant to section 314(a)(3) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA). Institutions receiving funds for the SAIHE program as a part of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund must, in expending those funds, meet the following requirements:
- Absolute Priority 1: Institutions receiving CRRSAA section 314(a)(3) funds under this priority must use such funds to defray expenses associated with the coronavirus; carry out student support services authorized by the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) that address needs related to the coronavirus; and provide financial aid grants to students consistent with CRRSAA section 314(c).
- Absolute Priority 2: Institutions receiving CRRSAA section 314(a)(3) funds under this priority:
- That received a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)Act section 18004(a)(1) award must allocate at least the amount they received under Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.425E under CARES for financial aid grants to students.
- That did not receive an award under CARES Act section 18004(a)(1) must use at least 50 percent of the funds received for financial aid grants to students.
- Absolute Priority 3: Institutions receiving CRRSAA section 314(a)(3) funds under this priority that did not receive CARES Act section 18004(a)(1) funding under either the student or institutional portions must expend their SAIHE funds in the same manner as required under CARES Act section 18004(a)(1). Therefore, if the institution is applying for funds under this priority because it did not receive funding under both the student and institution portion in 18004(a)(1) then the institution must use at least 50 percent of funds for financial aid grants to students.
- Absolute Priority 4: Institutions receiving CRRSAA section 314(a)(3) funds under this priority must use such funds to defray expenses associated with the coronavirus; carry out student support services authorized by the HEA that address needs related to the coronavirus; and provide financial aid grants to students consistent with CRRSAA section 314(c).
- Absolute Priority 5: Institutions receiving funds under this priority must use at least 50 percent of funds for financial aid grants to students.
- Absolute Priorities 6 and 7: Institutions receiving funds under Absolute Priority 6 or 7 may only use funds for financial aid grants to students.
Today, ED announced several corrections to the application process for the $113.5 million in SAIHE grants. Specifically, the notice corrects the year of the Pell Grant recipient percent that institutions must meet to be eligible for Absolute Priority 6 to Fall 2019 and removes the reference to the “December 27, 2020” date with regard to institutional eligibility for Absolute Priorities 2 and 5. All other requirements and conditions of the initial notice inviting applications remain unchanged.
Applications are due to ED April 28, 2021.
Sources:
Supplemental Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education (SAIHE) Program Certification and Agreement
NASFAA: Department of Education Releases SAIHE Eligibility Criteria, Application
Federal Register: Vol. 86, No. 58; Monday, March 29, 2021
Federal Register: Vol. 86, No. 65; Wednesday, April 7, 2021