Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) approved in March 2020, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA) approved in December 2020, and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 are stimulus bills passed by Congress in response to the economic fallout as the nation faced a global pandemic.

All three acts included the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). HEERF provides emergency funding for students as well as institutional grants to be used for costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus.

In spring 2020, the George Washington University received funds from the U.S. Department of Education after Congress passed the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). On May 26, 2020, GW provided an update to the campus community about the university accepting this federal funding and announced the distribution process to students.

In spring 2021, the university received a second distribution of funds, called HEERF II, through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSSA). University leaders provided another update on March 1, 2021 about this additional coronavirus relief funding and announced how it would be distributing the funds.

In summer 2021, GW received a third distribution of funds, called HEERF III, through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. During summer 2021, university leadership determined the best way to distribute funding and in fall 2021, began the process to distribute the funding to eligible students with exceptional needs.

As an education institution whose core mission is to educate tomorrow's leaders, it is our responsibility--to the best of our ability--to provide students with the resources necessary to help our students pursue their education.

professors gate

In spring 2020, The George Washington University accepted funding from the U.S. Department of Education after Congress passed the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).

professors gate close up

In spring 2021, The George Washington University received a second distribution of funds from the U.S. Department of Education through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021.

kogod plaza overview

In summer 2021, The George Washington University received a third distribution of funds from the U.S. Department of Education through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

University Yard

As part of the U.S.Government’s continuing efforts to provide financial assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which included a provision for the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund.

As part of the U.S.Government’s continuing efforts to provide financial assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which included a provision for the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief II (GEER II) Fund.

Institutional Reporting

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If you have a question about GW's distribution of the federal government's CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief fund not addressed on this page, please email: [email protected].

Updated on March 11, 2022.