On Thursday, April 23rd, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos announced that higher education institutions across the region will receive over $30 million in federal funding in response to the coronavirus. These federal grants were awarded through the U.S. Department of Education’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund and are in direct response to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which Congresswoman Bustos helped pass into law. Bustos said. “The CARES Act was a bold legislative package that worked to deliver relief to our communities, and it was crucial we included funding to help our students and educators get through these tough times.” The CARES Act provided $14 billion for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, which gives direct financial relief to institutions to help make up for lost revenue amid the coronavirus pandemic. Institutions are required to spend at least half of the funding on emergency financial aid to students.
Below is a breakdown of the funding by recipient:
- Augustana College: $2,091,818
- Black Hawk College: $2,172,992
- Bradley University: $4,276,013
- Carl Sandburg Community College: $1,175,052
- Highland Community College: $911,089
- Illinois Central College: $3,704,633
- Knox College: $1,328,070
- Monmouth College: $1,069,404
- Morrison Institute of Technology: $180,060
- Rock Valley Community College: $3,290,405
- Sauk Valley Community College: $926,411
- Spoon River Community College: $617,648
- Francis Medical Center School of Nursing: $318,356
- Western Illinois University: $7,997,093
