Historically Black community colleges (HBCCs) and predominantly Black community colleges (PBCCs), including those in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, such as Prince George’s Community College, have received significant support through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).
The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies report, “Equity and Emergency: COVID-19 Relief Funding at Historically and Predominantly Black Community Colleges in the South,” reveals that approximately $2.7 billion was distributed among 39 colleges across 10 Southern states as part of an $80 billion effort by Congress to bolster higher education amid the pandemic.
“The role of HEERF funding in supporting community colleges and their students has been crucial, especially as Black families navigated greater economic and mental health challenges during the pandemic,” said Dr. Kayla Elliott, director of the Joint Center’s Workforce Policy.
The innovative HEERF funding formula, which prioritized Pell Grant recipients, was pivotal in enhancing support for low-income students and tackling systemic educational barriers for Black students.
Bianca Dacres, former Joint Center Workforce Policy analyst, discussed the strategic impact of this funding model.
“This was the first time a major federal funding formula considered the number of low-income students an institution served by incorporating Pell Grant recipients,” she explained.
Other colleges that benefited from HEERF include Southern University at Shreveport, St. Philip’s College, Albany Technical College, Atlanta Technical College, Denmark Technical College and Edgecombe Community College.
The funds facilitated a variety of initiatives, from enhancing online learning platforms to implementing necessary COVID-19 safety measures, which were critical for maintaining educational services during the pandemic.
“This analysis examines HEERF I, II, and III allocations separately and comparatively, illustrating what institutional funding can achieve when policymakers consider the specific needs of each institution’s students,” Joint Center authors wrote.