LDS-owned colleges & universities decline CARES emergency funding

Just like every other institution of higher learning, four universities and colleges owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are facing major financial losses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the schools — Brigham Young University, BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii and LDS Business College — have declined emergency relief funding allocated to the schools through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES).

Instead the institutions will use private funds to help students who suffered pandemic-related financial issues during the semester that ended last month instead of using the money allocated by CARES. Eligible students could begin to receive support from the schools’ private funds in June.

Neither the church nor the schools applied for or received the CARES Act funding, and the schools have notified the U.S. Department of Education of their decision so the money can be used at schools in greater need of aid.

“We believe we can assist our students without the CARES Act funds,” BYU spokesperson Carri Jenkins said in a statement. Students can receive help with their basic needs, such as food and housing.

The CARES Act allocated the following amounts for the schools: BYU, $32,272,986; BYU-Idaho, $18,172,623; BYU-Hawaii, $2,306,881; and LDS Business College, $1,422,523.

The four church-operated schools have been helping students from last semester since March, they said in separate statements. The CARES Act funding is available only to U.S. citizens, but the church’s schools are providing aid to all students in need, including international, DACA and undocumented students.