COVID-19 and Higher Ed: Weekly Update
 May 18-22, 2020
The latest developments regarding the impact of COVID-19 on New England's colleges and universities, students, and families.
Updates from New England Institutions
Check out NEBHE's COVID-19 updated dashboard for complete data
HEIs offering fully online summer term: 93

HEIs' fall semester plans*
  • Fully Online Delivery: 5
  • Fully On-Campus Delivery: 25
  • Dual Delivery: 8
*Note: The above listed plans for the fall have been announced informally and are, therefore, merely tentative. The majority of HEIs plan to make formal announcements about AY20-21 later in the summer.

CARES Act disbursement method (to students):
  • Application: 31
  • Formula: 16
  • Other Method: 3
  • Not Accepting CARES Funds: 2
Resource Spotlight
Supporting Food and Housing Insecure College Students During COVID-19 and Beyond

Even before COVID-19, more than half of college students at two-year campuses and one-third at four-year universities reported having difficulty attaining adequate food and secure housing. The challenges caused by the current health crisis have only compounded this basic-needs insecurity. Economists have noted that the current health emergency has disproportionately affected low-income students, who are feeling the challenges far worse than other groups. Here, we offer resources for higher education professionals and policymakers to support food and/or housing insecure students during COVID-19 and beyond.

Resources from The Hope Center , a research center at Temple University dedicated to studying the complex challenges facing today’s students:

Special thanks to Sara Goldrick-Rab for ( @saragoldrickrab ) and Carrie Welton ( @CarrieRWelton ) of The Hope Center for sharing these resources with us.
For Students:

For Higher Education Institutions:






Policy Guidance:


A complete list of COVID-19 resources from The Hope Center is available here .
Promising Practices
COVAID, a mutual aid platform created by enterprising college students that connects community volunteers to local individuals in need. It finds your location based on zip code so that volunteers can help give those most affected and vulnerable the help they need.

Suffolk University and Hampshire College have temporarily transformed dorms into shelter for the homeless during the coronavirus emergency.

Gov. Ned Lamont (CT) issued an executive order to “provide or arrange non-congregant housing” for people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis. Gov. Lamont authorized communities to seek reimbursement for the costs associated with doing so. Providing individualized housing options is expected to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 by offering people experiencing homelessness access to sanitation services and enough space to exercise social distancing, unlike in shelters or other congregate facilities.

Bunker Hill Community College in Boston has kept its food pantry running via remote assistance.  Students can reach the the pantry by email, phone, and  o nline chat. Remote representatives assist students in locating the closest f ood bank  so they do not need to come to campus for food.  



Is your state or institution offering support to students facing food and/or housing insecurity during the current health crisis? Let us know by emailing  policy@nebhe.org .
For more, visit NEBHE's COVID-19 Resource Page
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Additional questions on what you see here?  Send an email to  policy@nebhe.org  and we will get back to you ASAP.