This article, originally published on April 14, 2020, contains links that are no longer available and have been removed.
Chancellor Louise Pagotto and Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services Brian Furuto, in partnership with the Shared Services Center, successfully applied for over $2 million in federal funding to provide emergency financial assistance to students from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. These funds will be provided by the U.S. Department of Education as part of a $31 billion aid package to K-12 and higher education institutions for expenses from responding to the coronavirus.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund in a letter to College and University Presidents on April 9, 2020. The federal aid will be provided in two waves. The first wave will provide emergency assistance to students as part of a statutory requirement established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The second wave of funding will cover operational expenses resulting from responding to the coronavirus.
A comprehensive list of higher education institutions receiving federal aid under the Higher Education Emergency Relief fund was released by the USDOE. Kapi‘olani Community College will receive $2,022,941, of which $1,011,471 is a minimum allocation to be awarded for emergency financial aid grants to students. Update (6/11/2020): the USDOE released its Rule to Protect American Taxpayers from Waste, Fraud, and Abuse, Ensure COVID-19 Relief Funds Get to Eligible Students.
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund federal allocation for Kapi‘olani Community College will be distributed as follows:
- First wave ($1,011,471): emergency assistance to students for financial aid.
- Second wave ($1,011,470): operational costs from expenses from responding to the coronavirus
The University of Hawai‘i ten campuses with receive federal assistance from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund based on a student enrollment formula. The total federal appropriation for institutions of higher education in the State of Hawai‘i is approximately $31 million.
- University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa ($11,009,867)
- University of Hawai‘i at Hilo ($2,994,725)
- University of Hawai‘i West O‘ahu ($1,395,000)
- University of Hawai‘i Maui College ($1,187,907)
- Kapi‘olani Community College ($2,022,941)
- Leeward Community College ($2,067,889)
- Honolulu Community College ($1,107,387)
- Hawai‘i Community College ($1,147,226)
- Kaua’i Community College ($535,684)
- Windward Community College ($551,098)
Private institutions of higher education in the State of Hawai‘i are also eligible to receive federal assistance through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.
- Hawai‘i Pacific University ($1,879,700)
- Chaminade University ($1,482,800)
- Bringham Young University at Hawai‘i ($2,306,881)
- Pacific Rim Christian University ($156,569)
Private vocational and trade schools
- Remington College – Honolulu Campus ($624,000)
- University of Phoenix at Hawai‘i ($311,000)
- Paul Mitchell in Honolulu ($237,042)
- Hawai‘i Institute of Hair Design ($163,841)
- IBS School of Cosmetology and Massage ($67,672)
- Institute of Clinical Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine ($14,549)
- Mauna Loa Helicopters Flight School ($6,110)
The College commends its students and community for remaining resilient through a challenging time. More information on financial assistance from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund will be available at the Kapi‘olani Community College website soon.