U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., announced Friday that colleges and universities with campuses in Michigan’s 12th district will receive more than $66 million in emergency grants to cover “significant” financial losses due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Half of the funding to institutions must be distributed to students in the form of emergency cash grants to help students pay for food, housing and other basic necessities.
The University of Michigan Ann Arbor will receive a total of $25,244,052. Of that amount, $12,622,026 is the minimum allocation for emergency financial aid grants to students. The University of Michigan-Dearborn will receive $6,989,129 with a minimum of $3,494,565 allocated for emergency financial aid grants to students. Other institutions receiving funding in the congressional district include Eastern Michigan University, Henry Ford College, Wayne County Community College and Washtenaw Community College.
All of this funding comes directly from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. In a statement, Dingell said the coronavirus pandemic has put colleges and universities in dire situations.
“Coronavirus disrupted educational programs,” Dingell said. “Students and institutions must know they are being helped out during this unprecedented time.”
Dingell also said Congress has been working around the clock to help college students, faculty and other staff members.
“Congress has been working day and night to ensure our nation’s students, professors, and support staff are assisted and have the means to continue to provide quality, affordable education now online and in the future,” Dingell said.
The University of Michigan’s Office of Public Affairs did not respond to The Daily’s request for comment on the emergency grants in time for publication.
If students wish to have access to emergency financial aid grants, they should contact their colleges or universities. For any further questions about the plan, contact Dingell’s office at 313-278-2936.
Daily Staff Reporter Alyssa McMurtry can be reached at amcmurt@umich.edu.