Updated 7/2/2020, 2:30 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
- Tracking how the coronavirus is impacting colleges, Education Dive, June 15, 2020
- 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)
- Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, Supplemental FAQ, June 16, 2020
- CARES Act Education Stabilization Fund: Background and Analysis, Congressional Research Service, June 3, 2020
- Frequently Asked Questions on the Maintenance-of-Effort Requirements Applicable to the CARES Act Programs, USDE, May 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 Roundup: CDC on Testing; Pause for Arizona Athletes, Inside Higher Ed, July 1, 2020
- Post-Pandemic College: 10 Guidelines for Getting There, Inside Higher Ed, June 30, 2020
- 'We could be feeling this for the next decade': Virus hits college towns, Star Tribune, June 29, 2020
- Here’s a List of Colleges’ Plans for Reopening in the Fall, Chronicle of Higher Education, Updated June 26, 2020
- Haves and Have-Nots on COVID-19 Protection, Inside Higher Ed, June 25, 2020
- Campus Plans for Fall Evolve, Inside Higher Ed, June 25, 2020
- Haves and Have-Nots on COVID-19 Protection, Inside Higher Ed, June 25, 2020
- Moody's Documents Likely Enrollment Effects by State if Students Stay Close to Home Come Fall, Inside Higher Ed, June 25, 2020
- Postscript on Visualizing Fall 2020 US Higher Education Plans, Phil on Ed Tech, June 24, 2020
- Tracking how the coronavirus is impacting colleges, Education Dive, June 24, 2020
- Pandemic Worsened Public Higher Ed's Biggest Challenges, Inside Higher Ed, June 24, 2020
- Few Colleges Publicly Posting Fall Plans, Campus Technology, June 23, 2020
- Credential Engine’s response to COVID-19, Credential Engine News, June 23, 2020
- The Need for Upskilling and Reskilling in a Time of Crisis, Education Commission of the States, June 22, 2020
- Lessons Learned from Rural Community Colleges’ Response to COVID-19, Higher Education Today, June 22, 2020
- Whom to Test and How to Pay for It, Inside Higher Ed, June 22, 2020
- COVID-19 Planning Guide and Self-Assessment for Higher Education, OpenSmartEDU
- Restoring regional public universities for recovery in the Great Lakes, Brookings, June 17, 2020
- ‘We’re All in This Together’, nside Higher Ed, June 17, 2020
- Can colleges pull off widespread coronavirus testing?, Education Dive, June 16, 2020
- Rich Kids Are Eating Up the Financial Aid Pot, The New York Times, June 16, 2020
- COVID-19 Planning Guide and Self-Assessment for Higher Education, Center for Health Security, June 15, 2020
- Public Research Universities' OK Year on Admissions, Inside Higher Ed, June 15, 2020
- Tracking how the coronavirus is impacting school districts, Education Dive, June 15, 2020
- Report: Students Facing Insecurity, Anxiety Due to Pandemic, Inside Higher Ed, June 15, 2020
- Memorandum, National Governors Association, June 15, 2020
- Memorandum, National Governors Association, June 15, 2020
- In Some States This Fall, Masks at Public Colleges Will Be ‘Encouraged’ but Not Required, The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 13, 2020 (Premium content for subscribers only.)
- Survey: Pandemic caused teens to experience 'collective trauma', Education Dive, June 12, 2020
- Pressure mounts for universities to anticipate in-demand jobs, The Hechinger Report, June 11, 2015
- Ed Dept's emergency rule on CARES aid restricts undocumented students, Education Dive, June 11, 2020
- Alexander: 'Schools should plan for COVID to last at least a year', Education Dive, June 11, 2020
- Fall Comes Into View, Inside Higher Ed, June 9, 2020
Emerging Policies and Practices
- Purdue Crowdsources Funds for COVID Tests, Classroom Shields, Inside Higher Ed, June 11, 2020
- Champlain College Launches Credit-Bearing Virtual Gap Program, Campus Technology, June 10, 2020
- 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
Teaching Online
- Reflections on the Invisible Labor of Online Teaching, Inside Higher Ed, June 24, 2020
- A Day in the Life of a Remote Instructor: Fall 2020, Inside Higher Ed, June 24, 2020
- Taking Colleges Online: An Inside Higher Ed Special Report, Inside Higher Ed, June 22, 2020
- Who Gets to Teach Remotely? The Decisions Are Getting Personal, The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 22, 2020
- Research evidence for summer learning, June 15, 2020, The Hechinger Report
- Updates: Summary of student surveys page and sample HyFlex class plan, Phil on Ed Tech, June 12, 2020
- A new playbook for summer school, The Hechinger Report. June 12, 2020
- Updated: Free and Discounted Ed Tech Tools for Online Learning During the Coronavirus Pandemic, Campus Technology, June 9, 2020
- OPINION: College in a pandemic is tough enough — without reliable broadband access, it’s nearly impossible Steps that policymakers can take to shrink the digital divide, The Hechinger Report, June 9, 2020
Students
- Fall Uncertainty Prompts Students to Consider Tuition Insurance, Inside Higher Ed, July 1, 2020
- What Students and Colleges Should Know, Inside Higher Ed, June 30, 2020
- Updated For COVID-19: Guide To Internet Plans For Low And Fixed-Income Households
- Clinical Education in a Pandemic Era, Inside Higher Ed, June 25, 2020
- A Day in the Life of a Remote Undergraduate Student: Fall 2020, Inside Higher Ed, June 24, 2020
- Report Highlights Struggles of Working Learners, Inside Higher Ed, June 24, 2020
- ‘Hazy Outlook’ on Return to Campus Stressful for Students, Inside Higher Ed, June 24, 2020
- Low-Income Students Are Disproportionately Hurt by the Pandemic. Here’s a Glimpse of the Toll., The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 23, 2020
- The Impact of COVID-19 on Student Experiences and Expectations: Evidence from a Survey, National Bureau of Economic Research, June 23, 2020
- Higher Education and Work Amid Crisis, Inside Higher Ed, June 17, 2020
- COVID-19 Intensifies Need to Tackle Digital Accessibility, Campus Technology, June 17, 2020
- Rich Kids Are Eating Up the Financial Aid Pot, The New York Times, June 16, 2020
- ‘Higher education essentially preserves intergenerational racial and class inequality’: How coronavirus could make it worse, MarketWatch, June 12, 2020
Institutional Financial Considerations
- Presidents' Growing Worry? Perceived Value of College, Inside Higher Ed, June 29, 2020
- COVID-19 Crisis Reveals Overdue Need for New Way to Fund Higher Education, Medium, June 25, 2020
- Alexander Considering Additional Funds to Help Colleges Reopen, Inside Higher Ed, June 24, 2020
- Sen. Lamar Alexander Estimates K-12, Higher Ed. Need $50 Billion to $75 Billion to Reopen Safely, Ed Week, June 24, 2020
- Ed Department Shelved Obama-Era Guidance on Adjusting Aid, Inside Higher Ed, June 22, 2020
- Some colleges say no to housing refunds this fall, Education Dive, June 22, 2020
- These lawsuits could change the stakes for higher ed, Education Dive, June 19, 2020
- University finances and COVID-19: Different schools, different risks, Brookings, June 18, 2020
- Endowment Values Dropped 13.4% on Average in Q1, Inside Higher Ed, June 15, 2020
- Months After Congress Sent Emergency Aid to College Students, Distribution Remains Spotty, The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 11, 2020 (Premium content for subscribers only.)
- When will colleges get clarity around which students can get CARES aid?, Education Dive, June 10, 2020
- What's Next: 'It's all a chess game' as small colleges weigh cuts to sports, Education Dive June 10, 2020
Additional Concerns
- Mounting Faculty Concerns About the Fall Semester, Inside Higher Ed, June 30, 2020
- Colleges turn to states for coronavirus liability protections, Education Dive, June 30, 2020
- 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
- Public Law No: 116-140 or the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020
- 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