Local colleges and universities were some of the first to adhere to Governor Mike DeWine’s recommendations concerning the coronavirus, and now they are the recipients of bailouts from the federal government.

Announced last Thursday by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, the Department of Education will be dispersing its first round of funding provided for by the CARES Act passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump late last month.

Section 18004(a)(1) of the nearly 300-page stimulus package creates funding mechanisms which can bail institutions out for lost revenue and additional cost inured by moving education offsite, while also providing funding for students who abruptly had to leave their campuses or incur unexpected costs which might derail their pursuit of a degree or license.

The first round of funding, which colleges are reportedly expected to see as early as this week, must be given as grants to students, requiring colleges to act as a pass-through for federal aid directed at lessening the burden on students, many of which won’t receive a $1,200 stimulus check.

According to a letter issued by DeVos, institutions will have the ultimate responsibility to decide which students receive the grants and to what allotment, but DeVos stressed that leaderships at each ‘prioritize students with the greatest need.’

Additionally, she pled with institutions having students of greater financial means to consider giving their allocation to those colleges with students who have a significant economic need in their state or region.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education told Y-City News that the first phase is designed to only target students and that more information would be provided in the upcoming weeks as to where additional funding could be allocated by each individual college. The CARES Act only requires that 50% of money transferred to colleges be provided directly to students for economic hardship related to their education.

Muskingum University posted on their coronavirus webpage that “the University is finalizing calculations for crediting students for room and board while not on campus,” indicating that students will either receive money directly back in their accounts or credit toward their next semester. Bailout money from the federal government could be used to offset those unexpected expenses the university inured by offering reimbursements.

Colleges could also utilize the federal funds to invest in infrastructure and resources needed to adapt their programs for offsite curriculum, as the Department of Education stated more information as to phase two and how universities should utilize funds will be forthcoming.

Below is a list of institutions of higher learning in Muskingum County slotted to receive funding and their corresponding total amounts.

• Muskingum University: $1,493,000
• Ohio University Zanesville Campus: $1,384,000
• Zane State College: $1,011,000
• Mid-East Career and Technology Center Adult Education: $426,000