When the U.S. government passed one of the largest stimulus bills in history, it was an unprecedented move to pump billions of dollars into a battered economy. A significant chunk will go towards America’s higher education system. One question on many people’s minds is what these funds are eligible for and how schools can use them most effectively? In this post we’ll explore whether you could spend some of your school funding improving its communications systems – or even developing new ones!
The American Rescue Plan Act earmarks almost $40 billion to public and private non-profit universities and colleges in the US, with most of that money going directly into schools. It’s distributed through a program called Higher Education Relief Fund (HEERF), which was established under the CARES Act back in March 2020.
These funds will be distributed as follows:
75% of the funds will be awarded to schools based on each institution’s relative share of enrollment. Schools with more Pell Grant recipients in attendance are eligible for a larger sum, but those from less-represented demographics also have an opportunity to receive funding. The amount is split by total and FTE so that all students can access this money depending on their needs as well as full time status.
23% of the funds will go towards each school’s percentage share of non-Federal Pell Grants who are not enrolled exclusively in distance learning courses before 2020. The amount goes equally between all those with Federal grants or just a certain number from one type (total vs full time).
2% of the funds will go to schools based on how many Pell Grant recipients were enrolled exclusively in distance learning courses before the spring 2020, with this sum being divided equally among all these classes at that time.
How can schools use this government funding?
The American Rescue Plan funding is flexible, which means schools have a considerable amount of creative breathing room when it comes to how they can spend this money. There are a few guideline they must follow, including:
- Public and private non-profit institutions must spend at least as much on financial aid grants for students as they spent in 2020 with funding from the CARES Act.
- Institutions that provide financial aid have to reach out and talk directly with students who are in need about the opportunity for their family or themselves to receive an adjustment if they lose a job.
- Institutions need to spend some of these funds on implementing evidence-based practices to monitor and suppress the public health threat within guidelines issued by health authorities.
One of the best places educational centers can put the American Rescue Plan funds use is in upgrading their communications systems, including phones and internet connectivity.
Unified Communications Just Makes Sense for Schools
- They enable students to learn in a secure environment
- Students and instructors can communicate via any device
- They’re flexible; instructors can teach synchronously and record lessons for later viewing
- They offer multiple communication channels
One of the many benefits in using Hopdial’s Unified Communications platform is that students and instructors can use it on any device. This creates an environment where today’s tech-savvy youth feel very comfortable interacting with mobile devices, like smartphones or tablets rather than laptops.
Cloud communication platforms also let students and instructors connect to one another in a variety of ways- by phone, instant messaging or video chat. It is an important resource for collaboration between classmates who can never be physically together outside the classroom setting. Instructors are also able to hold virtual office hours with their student body so that they may continue teaching when not on campus as well! This way, there’s always a sense of familiarity no matter where you go – at least online!