Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II): The university's plan

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) was authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Acts, 2021 (CRRSAA), signed as Public Law 116-260 on Dec. 27, 2020.

This law authorizes an additional $81.88 billion in support for education, an effort that was initially established by the $30.75 billion Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136.

According to Tony D. Carter, Director of Financial Aid, “as of [Mar. 10, 2021], the University of South Carolina system has not received the funds and no guidance has been issued from Columbia.”

The University of South Carolina system received $35,806,060 total during the first round of aid from the CARES Act. UofSC Aiken received $3,065,412, but only 50% of it was required to go to students in the form of Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

The university did just that, by keeping $1,532,706 presumably to purchase personal protective equipment and technology to transition classes online.

Regardless, with much more capital on its way to the university, students can expect some financial relief in the coming months. The Office of Financial Aid will relay information to students as soon as it is available to them.