But with this infusion of federal funding, we now have a challenge ahead of us. Institutions face the daunting task of disbursing those billions of dollars in ways that can actually help the millions of students still reeling from a year racked by financial, academic and personal challenges.
Here are three ways emergency aid can be leveraged to make the greatest impact.
Address basic needs. Research shows that between 11 and 45 percent of college students are unable to afford enough food to stay healthy. As the pandemic has raged on, food insecurity has only grown, with an estimated one in six Americans going hungry. Likewise, students are struggling to pay rent.