An Unprecedented Investment: Community Colleges' Use of Federal Emergency Aid
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| Title: | An Unprecedented Investment: Community Colleges' Use of Federal Emergency Aid |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Tia Jane Monahan (ORCID |
| Source: | Grantee Submission. 2026. |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 37 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | Institute of Education Sciences (ED) |
| Contract Number: | R305B200017 R305X220022 |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education Two Year Colleges |
| Descriptors: | Community Colleges, Resource Allocation, Emergency Programs, Federal Aid, Grants, Higher Education, COVID-19, Pandemics, Expenditures, Community College Students, Student Needs, Educational Finance |
| Geographic Terms: | California, Texas, New York, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee |
| Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: | Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund |
| DOI: | 10.1080/10668926.2026.2652923 |
| Abstract: | The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges for community colleges and their students, exacerbating existing resource disparities and creating new obstacles to student success. The U.S. federal government's Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) Fund provided nearly $25 billion to community colleges over three years, representing a historic investment in these institutions. This study examines how community colleges distributed and utilized HEER funding through analysis of nationwide expenditure data from 976 colleges and survey responses from 170 colleges across six states. Findings show that approximately 90% of community colleges spent all or nearly all of their HEER funds, with colleges distributing almost all of the emergency aid to most of their student population while using institutional funds to maintain operations, enhance technology infrastructure, and expand non-academic student supports. Colleges prioritized students with exceptional need and reported high levels of success in helping students cover expenses and mitigate hardships. With HEER funding now expired, colleges express significant concerns about sustaining expanded student supports, particularly emergency aid and mental health services. These findings reveal critical lessons for future funding policies and highlight the ongoing need to address systemic resource inequities in community college finance. [This paper was published in "Community College Journal of Research and Practice."] |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| IES Funded: | Yes |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | ED679852 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges for community colleges and their students, exacerbating existing resource disparities and creating new obstacles to student success. The U.S. federal government's Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) Fund provided nearly $25 billion to community colleges over three years, representing a historic investment in these institutions. This study examines how community colleges distributed and utilized HEER funding through analysis of nationwide expenditure data from 976 colleges and survey responses from 170 colleges across six states. Findings show that approximately 90% of community colleges spent all or nearly all of their HEER funds, with colleges distributing almost all of the emergency aid to most of their student population while using institutional funds to maintain operations, enhance technology infrastructure, and expand non-academic student supports. Colleges prioritized students with exceptional need and reported high levels of success in helping students cover expenses and mitigate hardships. With HEER funding now expired, colleges express significant concerns about sustaining expanded student supports, particularly emergency aid and mental health services. These findings reveal critical lessons for future funding policies and highlight the ongoing need to address systemic resource inequities in community college finance. [This paper was published in "Community College Journal of Research and Practice."] |
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| DOI: | 10.1080/10668926.2026.2652923 |
