DECEMBER 5, 2022 — UTSA dispersed $4.2 million to support 7,120 Roadrunners enrolled for the fall 2022 semester. The funding comes from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), a federal program designed to provide emergency financial aid grants to students who have faced significant unexpected expenses and are experiencing financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This latest round marks the end of HEERF funding.
The HEERF program was established through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed by Congress on March 27, 2020, to provide fast and direct economic aid to the American people negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. HEERF was specifically set up to provide emergency financial aid grants to college students experiencing financial strains.
“The additional financial assistance to help students stay enrolled and support educational expenses related to the pandemic has made a real impact.”
In total, UTSA allocated $94.5 million in funding to help 37,733 students with the cost of tuition, food, housing, technology, health care, child care and course-related expenses.
“The HEERF funds provided to our students have been an invaluable source of assistance during a very difficult time,” said Lynn Barnes Jr., UTSA senior vice provost for strategic enrollment. “The additional financial assistance to help students stay enrolled and support educational expenses related to the pandemic has made a real impact.”
The support offered through these funds have helped UTSA maintain its upward trajectory even through the pandemic. Enrollment at the university is up 5% from pre-pandemic figures, and in the last five years, the number of degrees awarded by UTSA has grown 16%.
UTSA also used CARES Act funding to provide training and support to the university’s instructors on strategies to effectively teach in online, in-person, or hybrid learning environments. Additionally, the university invested in improvements to campus resources that help students be successful in and out of the classroom.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to support our diligent students who persisted in their educational goals despite the challenges caused by the pandemic,” said Kimberly Andrews Espy, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “As a result, UTSA students have continued forging new paths towards their future careers and brighter futures for us all.”
