Report 2021-611 Recommendation 2 Responses

Report 2021-611: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund: Some University Campuses Did Not Maximize Available Federal Pandemic Funds, and They Prioritized Students Differently When Awarding Relief Funds (Release Date: November 2021)

Recommendation #2 To: University of California

To encourage campuses to obtain additional federal funds that allow them to maximize student services and aid, UCOP should direct each of its respective campuses to submit a report summarizing all expenses incurred in response to the pandemic between January 2020 and December 31, 2021 and identifying any expenses that are eligible for FEMA reimbursement.

On January 11, 2022, UCOP asked each campus to provide a summary report of total COVID cost impacts incurred since the start of the pandemic, and to provide details of how it used HEER funds and any claims submitted, pending, or proposed to FEMA for reimbursement. As part of this report, campuses were further asked to identify any additional FEMA-eligible expenses that they used HEERF or other funds to cover.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Status: Fully Implemented

The UCOP requested that its campuses submit summary reports describing their total general campus (excluding medical centers) COVID-related lost revenue and cost impacts for the period of January 2020 to December 31, 2021.

All Recommendations in 2021-611

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.