GEER Fund for Higher Education

Funds from this program can be spent to cover expenses between March 13, 2020 and June 30, 2021 on a reimbursement basis. 

GEER Fund for Higher Education

As announced by Governor Kim Reynolds on August 7, 2020, $6.9 million from the Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund has been reserved for institutions of higher education (IHE) to improve connectivity for students or provide professional development for faculty in online instruction. The Iowa Department of Education will develop and coordinate an application process through which IHE may apply for funding.

The $6.9 million reserved for IHE will be divided between the following three components and used for the designated purpose. An IHE may apply for all applicable components or specific components of interest, provided the IHE meets the criteria for the component. An IHE must meet the definition of eligible institution to apply for funds.

Eligible institution: Regionally accredited, undergraduate public and private not-for-profit colleges and universities eligible for title IV funding and domiciled in Iowa.

Component 1

Access and connectivity - $4.4 million: Competitive grants to eligible institutions that apply for funds, to be used to eliminate barriers to online and remote learning opportunities including for students participating in concurrent enrollment coursework; ensure equitable access to technology.

Criteria to determine the maximum funding for which a recipient may claim against will be based on the number of Pell recipients served by the eligible institution, except that no eligible institution’s allocation will be less than $5,000. Funds will be distributed on a reimbursement basis. Recipients will have until June 30, 2021 to claim reimbursement for eligible expenses. 

• Allowable uses include devices such as computers, tablets, remote learning software and applications, etc. to facilitate online learning; hardware such as modems and/or routers, hotspots, etc. that can be deployed to provide students with access to the internet; and internet subscriptions, data plans, etc.
• Refer to the allocation table on page 3.

Application for Funds under Component 1

GEER Intitutions of Higher Educaton Allocation detail Sept 2020

Iowa GEER Fund FAQs

Contacts for Component 1:  Kelly Friesleben 515-868-2847 and Eric St. Clair 515-326-0274