ED Releases Balance of Higher Education Emergency Relief
The Department of Education released the balance of the funds allocated for colleges and universities under the CARES Act. Institutions must submit a certification and agreement form and have an account at on the grants.gov website. Read about it on the Department of Education website.
Updated Guidance for Higher Ed
The Department of Education published guidance on enforcement and modification of rules governing institutions that participate in federal student financial aid. Several temporary changes were made, including modifications to rules governing enrollment, federal work study, distance education, and privacy and accessibility obligations. Most of the modifications will expire June 30, 2020. Read about it on the Department of Education website.
Clarification on Financial Responsibility
The Department of Education has provided an FAQ regarding the financial responsibility requirements announced last fall. Although institutions may opt to implement some provisions early, the rules go into effect July 1, 2020. Read about it on the Federal Student Aid website.
Advance Payments of Tax Credits
Employers may file to receive an advance on tax credits they are eligible to receive through the Families First Coronavirus Response (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Acts. Examples include: the Employee Retention Credit, the Qualified Sick Leave Credit, and Family Leave Wages Credit. Read about it on the Internal Revenue website.
Emergency Funding Is Not Enough
Institutions say the money they are receiving from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)will not cover their COVID-19 losses. Fallout from the virus may impact private and public, minority-serving and predominately white institutions differently. HBCUs disproportionately serve needy students and those students may need more help than the HEERF provides. In light of that, some HBCs have established their own emergency fund initiatives. Read about it on the Times and Democrat website.
Bank Behavior Draws Legal Action
Small businesses have filed suits against banks for preferential treatment in processing Paycheck Protection Program applications. The program was touted as running on a first-come first-served basis but some banks prioritized applications from existing customers. As a result several law suits have been filed. One is seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to prevent the Bank of America from prioritizing applications from existing borrowers over other account holders and new customers. The court initially denied the motion. In so doing, the judge stated that the CARES Act did not afford plaintiffs private right of action that would allow them to initiate a class action suit. A class action suit filed against Wells Fargo, accuses it of shuffling PPP applications rather than processing them on a first-come first-serve basis. JPMorgan Chase faces a similar charges. Read about it on the PYMNTS website.
States Urge Pause in New Title IX Rules
Attorneys general of several states appealed to Secretary DeVos to pause the update of federal regulations governing Title IX. They contend that administrators are already burdened with managing their COVID-19 response. The new rules would add additional and possibly unsafe obligations. Read about it on the Education Dive website.
Virtual Assessments
The Department of Education is permitting accreditors to conduct virtual site visits during the COVID-19 crisis. The visits must be interactive. Read about it on the Department of Education website.
Eyes on Zoom
The video conferencing platform Zoom has come under scrutiny. As colleges and universities moved programs online, faculty embraced Zoom as a quick, easy, inexpensive tool. Many fell prey to hijackers, who heckled, scandalized, and disrupted their meetings in attacks called zoom-bombing. Zoom responded with an update that hardened its security and experts publicized protection strategies. However, it appears underlying privacy issues persist. The company has been sued in California where the disclosure of personal information is illegal. Read about it on the Bloomberg website.
DACCA Students Eligibility for Aid Uncertain
Students who illegally immigrated to the US as children may not be eligible to receive cash relief through the CARES Act. The Department of Education has not yet released guidance on the issue and the CARES Act itself does not define a student. Read about it on the Inside Higher Ed website.
HBCU Developing COVID-19 Antiviral
Meharry Medical College's infectious disease specialist, Dr. Donald Alcendor, is working on developing an antiviral drug that will not only prevent replication of COVID-19, but will be effective against viruses within that family. In 2016, Dr. Alcendor, Dr. Waldemar Popik and Dr. Atanu K. Khatua found a way to stop the Zika virus's genetic material from replicating in human cells. Read about it on the Diverse Issues in Higher Education website.
HBCU Forges Relationship with Medical College
Central State University and the American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine have signed a memorandum of understanding. It paves the way for qualified graduates of Central State to be automatically accepted into AUA's Medical School. Read about it on the Central State University website.
Small Business Development Center Provides Relief
Florida A&M University (FAMU) hosts northwest Florida's Small Business Development Center. The FAMU Small Business Development Center closed on two emergency loans meant to help small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Under the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, the Center can make short term interest-free loans of up to $50,000,000. Read about it on the Florida A&M University website.
Modified Grading Systems
Grading systems at North Carolina A&T and many other institutions have been shifted to a pass-fail system for the spring semester. Early advice from SACSCOC included using a pass/fail combined with a free re-enrollment option. Some state systems, however, will stick to letter or number grades. Read about it on the Atlanta Journal Constitution website.
Program Launch Planned
North Carolina A&T University announced it will offer a master of science in health psychology. The program will begin in the fall 2021 semester with an initial cohort limited to about 15 students. Read about it on the North Carolina A&T website.
National Institutes of Health Grants
The NIH released a list of funding opportunities and notices. Read about it on the National Institutes of Health website.
Moratorium on Sports Impacts Finances
Sports are not exempt from the havoc wreaked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Competitions are cancelled for the spring semester as athletic directors scramble to plan for the fall. Some are considering shortened seasons consisting only of conference games. But that can mean cancelling popular exhibition games that generate significant revenue. Read about it on the HBCU Sports website.
Sector's Credit Rating Downgraded
Moody's has given the higher education sector a negative credit rating. They anticipate higher education will see lower enrollment, fewer foreign students, a decrease in gifts, and a decline in income from sports and student services due to the pandemic. Read about it on the Inside Higher Ed website.
