COVID-19 Information

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law to provide economic relief from COVID-19. One section of the CARES Act established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) sent money to schools to use for emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the pandemic.

On this page:

Quarterly Report as of September 30, 2023

See the Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting for details. No new student aid was issued in the Third Quarter.

Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting as of September 30, 2023

Quarterly Report as of June 30, 2023

See the Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting for details. No new student aid was issued in the Second Quarter.

Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting as of June 30, 2023

Quarterly Report as of March 31, 2023

See the Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting for details. No new student aid was issued in the First Quarter.

Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting as of March 31, 2023

Quarterly Report as of December 31, 2022

In the Third Quarter, UH Hilo issued a total of $2,148,784 in direct aid to 2,432 students using funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public L. 117-2, and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) Public L. 116-260.

  • Total CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) funds awarded in Q3: $2,148,784
    • ARP: $2,148,784; 2,432 students
    • CRRSAA: 0

Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting as of December 31, 2022

Quarterly Report as of September 30, 2022

See the Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting for details. No new student aid was issued in the Third Quarter.

Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting as of September 30, 2022

Quarterly Report as of June 30, 2022

See the Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting for details. No new student aid was issued in the Second Quarter.

Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting as of June 30, 2022

Quarterly Report as of March 31, 2022

In the First Quarter, UH Hilo issued a total of $1,764,540 in direct aid to 2,386 students using funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public L. 117-2, and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) Public L. 116-260.

  • Total CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) funds awarded in Q1: $1,764,540.
    • ARP: $1,307,158; 1,744 students
    • CRRSAA: $457,382 (see 3/31/22 Quarterly Report); 643 students (one student was partial recipient of ARP and CRRSSA funds)

Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting as of March 31, 2022

Quarterly Report as of December 31, 2021

In the Fourth Quarter, UH Hilo issued a total of $1,752,296 in direct aid to 2,600 students using funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public L. 117-2.

110 students received a total of $48,750 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants pursuant to the same parameters as detailed in the September 30, 2021 quarterly report.

On September 29, 2021, students were informed of an opportunity to apply for emergency aid that would be funded by the ARP. The 3,103 enrolled students (at the time) deemed eligible to apply for funds were sent an email notifying them of availability of funding and how to submit an application. Eligible students were able to access a grant of up to $700 to help with the cost of attendance and/or emergency costs due to COVID-19.

2,490 student received a total of $1,703,546 in Emergency Aid Grants funded by ARP.

Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting as of December 31, 2021

Quarterly Report as of September 30, 2021

In the Third Quarter, UH Hilo issued a total of $1,500,250 in direct aid to 1,877 students using funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public L. 117-2.

On April 13, 2020, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (UH Hilo) signed and returned to the Department of Education (US DOE) the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CARES Act. In doing so, UH Hilo assured that we intended to use no less than fifty percent (50%) of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. Subsequently, UH Hilo received funds under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) and ARP to suppplement our initial Section 18004(a)(1) award, to provide additional direct aid to students.

  • Total CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) funds received: $6,057,067.
    • CRRSAA: $1,497,363
    • ARP: $4,559,704
  • Total CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) funds awarded: $2,997,613.
    • CRRSAA: $1,497,363 (see 6/30/21 Quarterly Report)
    • ARP: $1,500,250
  • Total Number of Students Eligible to Receive CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) Emergency Financial Aid Grants in Q3: 1,881
  • Total Number of Students Who Received CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) Emergency Financial Aid Grants in Q3: 1,877

To determine amounts students received Emergency Financial Aid Grants in Q3, UH Hilo assessed whether students were full-time or part-time, classified or unclassified, and the expected family contribution (EFC). Students who were enrolled at UH Hilo in Spring 2021, continued to be enrolled at UH Hilo in Fall 2021, and did not receive any financial obligation discharge from any campus during Summer 2021 were eligible for this round of direct aid. No application was needed for this round of emergency funding.

Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting as of September 30, 2021

Quarterly Report as of June 30, 2021

In the second quarter, UH Hilo issued a total of $2,183,129 in direct aid to 2,260 students using funds from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), Pub. L. 116-260.

  • $1,497,363 in funds was issued to 1,498 students from CRRSAA Section 314(a)(1) Student Portion.
  • $685,766 in funds was issued to 762 students from CRRSAA Section 314(a)(1) Institutional Portion.

See the 30-Day Fund Report and the Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting as of June 30, 2021 for additional details on student awards issued.

Quarterly Report as of March 31, 2021

See the Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting for details. No new student aid was issued in the Third Quarter. See the 30-Day Fund Report and the Quarterly Report as of December 31, 2020 for additional details on student awards issued.

Quarterly Report as of December 31, 2020

In the fourth quarter, UH Hilo issued a total of $577,063 in direct student aid to 1,585 students using CARES funds.

  • $350,313 in funds was issued to 1,018 students from CARES Section 18004(a)(1) Student Portion. As of December 31, 2020, UH Hilo awarded 2,577 awards to 1,926 students. All funds under Section 18004(a)(1) Student Portion, totaling $1,497,363, have been awarded.
  • $226,750 in funds was issued to 567 students from CARES Section 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion.

See the 30-Day Fund Report and the Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting for additional details.

Quarterly Report as of September 30, 2020

See the 30-Day Fund Report and the Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting for details. No new awards have been made since disbursement of Spring 2020 CARES in May 2020.

45-Day Fund Report as of August 20, 2020

See the 30-Day Fund Report and the Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting for details. No new awards have been made since disbursement of Spring 2020 CARES in May 2020.

45-Day Fund Report as of July 6, 2020

See the 30-Day Fund Report and the Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting for details. No new awards have been made since disbursement of Spring 2020 CARES in May 2020.

30-Day Fund Report as of May 21, 2020

On April 13, 2020, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (UH Hilo) signed and returned to the Department of Education (US DOE) the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CARES Act. In doing so, UH Hilo assured that we intended to use no less than fifty percent (50%) of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

UH Hilo has received $1,497,363 from the US DOE pursuant to the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students that was signed and returned to the US DOE on April 13, 2020.

See the Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting for more details.

Emergency Financial Aid Grants

Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of May 21, 2020

Total amount of funds the institution has received for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students: $1,497,363

Total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students: $1,147,050

Total number of students at UH Hilo eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965: 2,303

Total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant: 1,559

Common Questions

Do I have to repay CARES Act money?

No. The funds provided by the CARES Act are grants, so they do not need to be repaid.

Will I owe taxes on CARES Act grant money?

No. According to the Internal Revenue Service CARES FAQ, the grants under the CARES Act are qualified disaster relief payments.

What can CARES Act money be used for?

Emergency financial aid grants to students can be used for cost of attendance expenses, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care.

Will CARES Act money affect my financial aid?

No. These emergency financial aid grants are not counted toward your financial aid eligibility.

Funding Methodology

UH Hilo used the following methodology to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. The same methodology was used for subsequent award cycles for HEERF Student Aid with variation in maximum amounts:

  • Spring 2020: Maximum award amount of $750
  • Fall 2020: Maximum award amount of $400
  • Spring 2021: Maximum award amount of $1,000
  • Fall 2021: Maximum award amount of $700
  • Spring 2022: Maximum award amount of $750
  • Fall 2022: Maximum award amount of $900
  1. Maximum amount of award $750 based on funding available and number of eligible students.
  2. Identify Eligible Students
    1. Title IV Eligible Students
      1. Enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree, certificate or other recognized educational credential (including a program of study abroad approved for credit by the eligible institution at which such student is enrolled)--that is, a regular student under 34 CFR 600.2);
      2. Not be enrolled in elementary or secondary school and have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent;
      3. Be maintaining satisfactory academic progress (SAP) if the student is a currently enrolled student;
      4. Not owe an overpayment (refund) on Title IV grants;
      5. Not be in default on a Title IV loan;
      6. File with ED “as part of the original financial aid application process” a certification (Statement of Educational Purpose) that includes:
        1. A statement of educational purpose, and
        2. The student’s Social Security Number (SSN);
      7. Be a U.S citizen or national, a permanent resident, or an eligible noncitizen;
      8. Have returned any fraudulently obtained Title IV funds, if the student is convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to charges;
      9. Not have fraudulently received Title IV loans in excess of annual or aggregate limits;
      10. Have repaid any Title IV loan overpayment amounts in excess of annual or aggregate limits, if obtained inadvertently
      11. Have his Selective Service registration verified (the Title IV aid ineligibility for failure to register is actually in the Selective Service Act §3811(f));
      12. Have a valid SSN, except for residents of the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau; and
      13. Not have a federal or state conviction for drug possession or sale, with certain time limitations.
    2. Not in a Distance Learning Program
      1. Program codes with /D
      2. See UH Hilo Distance Learning Programs
  3. Email Notification is sent to identified students.
  4. Google form requiring student submission is included in email (Form content included at the end of this document)
    1. Captures attestation of expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19
    2. Captures type(s) of expenses
  5. Google forms received by students create and Excel file
    1. Excel file is checked against original list of emailed students to assure that eligible students identified are the students that will be awarded HEERF grant
    2. Excel file is sorted by students who indicate “yes” to the question of expenses in excess of $750 and students who indicate “no.”
    3. Excel file is used to create a file to send to UH Bursars Office for processing of refund for the “yes” students
    4. “No” students will be emailed additional Google form by the Financial Aid Office to determine eligibility for a reduced amount of grant
  6. Excel files collected via Google form will be used to assist with reporting of expenditures to the US Department of Education

Email Notification

An email notice was sent to students identified as eligible for funding on May 5, 2020. A follow-up email was also sent to students who did not respond to the Google form on May 12, 2020.

From: UH Hilo Financial Aid Office uhhfao@hawaii.edu
Date: Mon, May 4, 2020 at 9:50 AM
Subject: ACTION REQ'D: CARES Act Funds
To: XXXXXXXX

University of Hawaii at Hilo

Student ID: XXXXXXXX
Aloha XXXXXXXX,
You have been identified as a student who may be eligible for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF). Please note that this email is unique to your eligibility, so do not forward to others.

Once we receive your responses and confirm your eligibility, funds will be posted to your student account. Refunds are then processed and sent to your bank account if you have signed up for eRefund. If you have not signed up for eRefund, a check will be mailed to you. Please double check the mailing address we have on file for you. Mailing address corrections and updates can be made online through MyUH Services or in-person at the Office of the Registrar between 9:00am and 2:00pm. At this time, refund checks are not able to be picked up.

If you have any questions, please contact the Financial Aid Office either by phone at 808-932-7449 or by email at uhhfao@hawaii.edu.

Sincerely,
UH Hilo Financial Aid Office
uhhfao@hawaii.edu

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund - Institutional Portion

UH Hilo has been awarded $1,497,362 from the U.S. Department of Education authorized by Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. Pursuant to Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act, these funds may be used to cover any costs associated with significant change to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus–Including expanding remote learning programs, building IT capacity to support such programs, and training faculty and staff to operate effectively in a remote learning environment. Additionally, these funds may be used to expand support for students with the most significant financial needs arising from the coronavirus pandemic, including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as course materials, technology, health care, childcare, food, and housing.

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund - Minority Serving Institutions

UH Hilo has been awarded $2,691,303 from the U.S. Department of Education authorized by Section 18004(a)(2) of the CARES Act. These funds may be used to defray institutional expenses, which under Section 18004(a)(2) may include lost revenue, reimbursement for expenses already incurred, technology costs associated with the transition to distance education, faculty and staff training, and payroll. Additionally, these funds may also be used for grants to students for any component of the student’s cost of attendance, as defined under Section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, including food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care.

Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Reporting

To access the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo’s quarterly budget and expenditure report under CARES Act Section 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion, 18004(a)(2), and 18004(a)(3) [not applicable], select the PDF below associated with each reporting period: