Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) was made available to provide financial support to students and higher education institutions. A portion of the funding made available must be awarded to students in the form of emergency financial aid grants for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. The remaining portion may be used to defray institutional expenses associated with COVID-19.
Guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Education directs institutions to develop policies and processes for determing how to utilize HEERF funds, subject to certain limitations on student and expense eligibility. Additionally, and as required, Columbia reports on student and institutional expenses both quarterly and annually.
More information on Columbia's student and institutional reporting can be found below:
IRS Letter 6550 provides additional information, please click here for more details.