Va. allocates $116M CARES funding for higher ed

Funding to be used for distance learning, PPE, testing

Published October 27, 2020 by Sydney Lake

As public universities and medical centers have depleted previously allocated federal dollars, Gov. Ralph Northam is directing more than $116 million in federal CARES Act funding to higher education institutions in Virginia, the governor announced Tuesday.

Funding will go to public universities and medical centers in support of telework, distance learning, personal protective equipment, sanitization and cleaning materials as well as COVID-19 testing for students, staff and faculty.

“Virginia has some of the best colleges and universities in the nation, and they are working overtime to keep students, staff and faculty safe,” Northam said in a statement. “This additional $116 million in federal funding will go a long way towards closing COVID-related budget gaps at these institutions, and will ensure they can continue to provide a world-class education in the midst of this public health crisis.”

Of the new funding, approximately $115.6 million will go directly to institutions to cover previous and upcoming COVID-19-related expenses through Dec. 30. The Virtual Library of Virginia, a consortium of Virginia’s public and nonprofit libraries, will also receive $600,000 in funding to purchase educational films, documentaries and television programming for distance learning.

“College life looks very different in the age of COVID-19,” Secretary of Education Atif Qarni said in a statement. “We are proud to support the commonwealth’s colleges and universities as they work to protect the safety of their students, faculty, and communities, and continue to provide the high-quality education Virginia is known for.”

The five institutions receiving the largest funding are: