Updated 6/4/2020, 4:43 p.m. CDT
The Midwestern Higher Education Compact is monitoring the evolution of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and will continue to monitor the situation closely in the coming weeks. Health and safety are our top priority. We all find ourselves in an unpredictable and ever-changing situation. The information on this page and our archived page are intended to be informative but not all inclusive. We know that many organizations are providing resources and information, our hope is not to clutter and confuse things. Please let us know if there is something you would like us to add or that you would like to know by sending an email to: jennyp@mhec.org.
Latest News
- Considerations for Institutes of Higher Education, CDC, May 21, 2020
- State News Flash, NASBO
- COVID College Support, Edquity
- Public Viewpoint: COVID-19 Work and Education Survey, Strada
- Digital Learning Pulse Survey: Immediate Priorities, Cengage
- MHEC Coronavirus Update, Challenges and Opportunities in the Midwest, April 23, 2020 (featuring Dr. Tom Harnisch, SHEEO, and Dr. Dan Hurley, MASU)
Government/National Health Organizations
Links to government and national resources in response to COVID-19.
U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Resources for Institutions of Higher Education
- Higher Risk and Special Populations
World Health Organization (WHO)
John Hopkins University & Medicine
Federal Government Updates
Overviews of and links to federal and state actions in response to COVID-19’s impact on higher education, students and families, as well as advocacy and guidance from higher education organizations.
United States Department of Education (USDE)
- CARES Act Education Stabilization Fund: Background and Analysis, Congressional Research Service, June 3, 2020
- Continued Confusion Over CARES Act Money, Inside Higher Ed, May 27, 2020
- Questions and Answers for Postsecondary Institutions Regarding the COVID-19 National Emergency, USDE Office of Civil Rights, May 2020
- Ed Dept backs off CARES grant eligibility guidance — sort of, Education Dive, May 22, 2020
- UPDATED Guidance for interruptions of study related to Coronavirus, USDE, May 15, 2020
- Questions and Answers for Postsecondary Institutions Regarding the COVID-19 National Emergency, Office for Civil Rights, May 2020
- New Bill Would Provide Much-Needed Investments in Employment and Training Activities in Response to COVID-19, New America, May 1, 2020
- Secretary DeVos Delivers Nearly $1.4 Billion in Additional CARES Act Relief Funds to HBCUs, Minority Serving Institutions, and Colleges and Universities Serving Low-Income Students, April 30, 2020
National Higher Education Responses, Guidance, and Advocacy
- AASCU, Resources for State Colleges and Universities on the Coronavirus
- AGB, Coronavirus Resources for Higher Education Boards
- CooleyED, Managing Covid-19 Disruption
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), CISA Information & Updates on COVID-19
- EAB, Support your college through the coronavirus crisis
- Education Commission of the States, COVID-10 Update
- Higher Learning Commission, Coronavirus Updates
- NASCIO, COVID-19 Planning and Response Guidance for State CIOs
- National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), Cornonavirus Guidance and Resources
- National Association of Education Procurement (NAEP), COVID-19: Guidance for Higher Education
- National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), Coronavirus Resources for Colleges, NACUBO, April 11, 2020
- National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Resources
- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), Coronavirus (Covid-19) Web Center
- National Council of State Authorization of Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), A Note to the NC-SARA Community Regarding COVID-19, March 5, 2020
- State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO), SHEEO COVID-19 Resources
- WCET, COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Updates and Resources
State and Higher Education Departments and Postsecondary System Offices in MHEC Member States
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
- Iowa Department of Health and Environment
- Board of Regents, State of Iowa
- Iowa Association of Community College Trustees
Kansas
Michigan
- State of Michigan
- Michigan Association of State Universities
- Michigan Community Colleges Association
- Michigan Independent Colleges and Universities
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
- State of Nebraska
- University of Nebraska
- Nebraska State College System
- Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin
Other Regional Compact Resources
Looking Ahead
- COVID-19 Could Be End of Line for Some Regional Colleges, PEW, June 4, 2020
- FAFSA Renewals Down, Especially for Lower-Income Students, Inside Higher Ed, May 27, 2020
- Half of presidents aim to restart classes in-person this fall, survey finds, Education Dive, May 26, 2020
- Does Anthony Fauci Think Colleges Should Reopen? We Asked Him., Chronicle of Higher Education, May 22, 2020
- College and University Presidents Respond to COVID-19: May 2020 Survey, American Council on Education May 21, 2020
- Governors to Unemployed: Beware Degree Mills, Useless Certificates, U.S. News, May 21, 2020
- NCAA weighs moratorium amid push to offer fall sports, AP, May 20, 2020
- DII Presidents Council lowers maximum, minimum number of contests, NCAA, May 20, 2020
- College leaders consider exigency as summer nears, but drawbacks may outweigh benefits in many cases, Inside Higher Ed, May 19, 2020
- Will lawsuits for tuition refunds succeed? It depends, experts say, Education Dive, May 19, 2020
- How the Pandemic Could Alter Government Higher Education Spending, PEW Charitable trusts, May 18, 2020
- Report: 5 Enrollment Scenarios for Fall 2020, Campus Technology, May 18, 2020
- Recovery 2020 Key Questions and Principles for Campus Leaders, ACE
Emerging Policies and Practices
- Should Colleges Have Liability Protection?, Inside Higher Ed, June 3, 2020
- Pausing Grad Admissions, Inside Higher Ed, June 1, 2020
- Colleges Woo Students With Bargain Tuition Rates, Inside Higher Ed, June 1, 2020
- Could better credential data help states bounce back from the pandemic?, Education Dive, May 28, 2020
- Chicago will extend school into summer for students at risk of failing. But can those students log on?, Chalkbeat, May 27, 2020
- Why Covid-19 Could Force Colleges to Fix Their Transfer Problems, Chronicle of Higher Education, May 22, 2020
- Considerations for Institutes of Higher Education, CDC, May 21, 2020
- Delivering High-Quality Instruction Online in Response to COVID–19, May 18, 2020
- Not in the Future—Now, Educause, May 18, 2020
- Not the Same University, Inside Higher Ed, May 14, 2020
- Privacy vs. public health: Where contact tracing fits, CIO Dive, May 7, 2020
- What's Next: Changes in disability services could add more flexibility, Education Dive, May 6, 2020
Students
- While focus is on fall, students’ choices about college will have a far longer impact, The Hechinger Report
- Picking A College For The Fall? Here's How To Decide For An Unknown Future, NPR, May 26, 2020
- Students and Professors Look for Closure As Unprecedented Semester Ends, EdSurge, May 14, 2020
- Facing uncertain futures, high school seniors weigh tough college options and alternate paths, American Public Media, May 14, 2020
Institutional Financial Considerations
- Colleges Face Student Lawsuits Seeking Refunds After Coronavirus Closures, NPR, May 29, 2020
- ACE Letter Re: COVID-19 Limited Liability Protections, ACE, May 28, 2020
- State lawmakers wrestle with scope and timing of higher ed budget cuts, Education Dive, May 28, 2020
- State Cuts Grow Deep, Inside Higher Ed, May 15, 2020
- A Better Formula for Higher Education’s Federal Coronavirus Funding, Center for American Progress, May 11, 2020
- Colleges Want No Repeat of the Last Recession's Cuts, Inside Higher Ed, March 11, 2020
Additional Concerns
- Many lacked equipment, reliable internet when shifting to remote work, CIO Dive, May 5, 2020
- President Speaks: How one HBCU president managed the coronavirus shutdown,
Education Dive, May 4, 2020
Higher Education Publications
The Chronicle of Higher Education, free access to breaking-news updates
Complete coverage
Best advice on teaching online during the pandemic
Private Facebook discussion group
Running tracker of the latest developments
Coping with Coronavirus, How faculty members can support students in traumatic times
Inside Higher Ed, Latest Coronavirus News
MHEC Specific Programs
MHEC's program teams have provided resources and information related to COVID-19. Program areas include insurance, military credit, student health, technology, and procurement.
lnsurance (Master Property Program and MHECare Student Insurance Solutions)
Resources to support questions regarding potential insurance solutions and strategies.
- Marsh’s Pandemic Risk Resource Center
- Mercer Stay Informed on Coronavirus
- University Risk Management & Insurance Association (URMIA), COVID Conversations (Members Only)
Military-Connected Students and GI Bill (MHEC's Multi-State Collaborative on Military Credit)
The GI Bill has several educational benefits, including housing allowances for students at residential institutions. Since many campuses are switching to online instruction, it was unclear what will happen to these benefits as of 3/19/2020. These benefits were officially continued regardless of emergency measures taken by schools on 3/22/2020.
- Needed: A GI Bill for the Millions of Workers Displaced by the Pandemic, Medium, May 21, 2020
- Lawmakers pass second emergency package to protect student veterans from coronavirus losses, Military Times, April 21, 2020
- Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, H.R. 6322
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and the GI Bill FAQs, Student Veterans of America, April 3, 2020
- VA expands virtual services to support Veterans amid regional office closures due to COVID-19 pandemic, VA Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, March 31, 2020
- VA Releases COVID-19 Response Plan, March 27, 2020
- Veterans’ GI Bill benefits to continue during COVID-19 pandemic, VA Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs News Release, March 22, 2020
- VFW’s Unmet Needs Program provides grant funds, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, February 10, 2020
- Debt Management Center, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
- The Post-9/11 GI Bill, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Facebook
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- VA Benefits Twitter
Student Health/Wellness/Coping/Mental Health Information (MHECare Student Insurance Solutions)
Considerations and resources to support student health and wellness needs.
Technology (MHEC Technology Contracts)
Technology resources to support COVID-19 planning and preparation.
- DELL Technologies: Navigating Through COVID-19
- Dell has shared a resource they recommend to institutions for identifying grant opportunities for technology: https://www.grantsoffice.com/.
- Dell also has some timely webcasts addressing COVID-19 technology funding opportunities. https://www.grantsoffice.info/webcasts.
- HP Inc.: HP Response to COVID-19 Customer and Partner Guide
- Lenovo: Responses to COVID-19
- INFO-TECH: COVID-19 Resource Center
- VMWare: Business Continuity Solutions
- Xerox: How Xerox is Responding to COVID-19