PHOENIX – Arizona colleges will receive millions of dollars in coronavirus aid from the U.S. Department of Education sooner than anticipated.
On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced more than $6 billion of the $14 billion would be immediately distributed to post-secondary institutions and students, according to a press release.
The money comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. It is intended to provide immediate assistance for course materials, technology, food, housing, health care and childcare.
Under the relief, schools are required to give students at least half of the money that they receive.
Grand Canyon University said on Thursday it will be giving all $23.3 million to students in the form of emergency cash grants.
“This was an easy decision to make,” GCU President Brian Mueller said in a press release. “It is incumbent on us to take care of our students and families who are trying to navigate the challenges caused by this coronavirus pandemic.
Mueller said GCU is working out the details of how the funds will be distributed. The funds will not be used to reimburse GCU for refunds or credits that have already been handed out to students for housing and food.
According to the list of allocations, Arizona State University will receive $63,533,137 with at least $31,766,569 going to students.
University of Arizona will receive $30,953,447 with at least $15,476,724 going to students.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act provides almost $14 billion to support postsecondary education institutions and students, according to a Thursday.
The money that each school received was calculated based on the number of full-time students who are eligible for the federal Pell Grant. It also analyzed the total populations of the schools and the number of students who were not enrolled full-time prior to the virus outbreak.
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