Latter-day Saint schools like BYU spurn $333 million in COVID-19 relief

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Four Latter-day Saint colleges and universities turned down a total of $ 333 million in federal economic reviews during the pandemic.

A year ago, I wrote about how Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and its sister schools BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii, and Ensign College, formerly known as LDS Business College, rejected a total of $ 54.1 million in the CARES Act , signed by then President Donald Trump in March 2020.

That number has risen to more than $ 1⁄3 billion with two more rounds of COVID-19 relief packages.

The United States Congress and two presidents have provided the nations’ colleges and universities with expanded aid packages and individual stimulus checks for qualified Americans.

But BYU has declined stimulus checks worth $ 32 million, $ 50 million, and $ 88 million. While some Americans are now wondering if they will get a fourth stimulus check, schools owned by Latter-day Saints and run through their ecclesiastical education systems continue to steadfastly refuse the money.

Here’s a breakdown of what each was offered and declined:

First review of the CARES law

In March 2020, $ 54.17 million was made available to CES schools under the CARES Act:

  • BYU: $ 32,272,986
  • BYU Idaho: $ 18,172,623
  • BYU-Hawaii: $ 2,306,881
  • Ensign College (formerly LDS Business College): $ 1,422,523

Second exam

In December 2020, President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), which provided the four church schools with an additional $ 92.72 million:

  • BYU: $ 50,333,740
  • BYU Idaho: $ 36,367,051
  • BYU-Hawaii: $ 3,626,535
  • Ensign College: $ 2,392,206

America Rescue Plan Act Third Review

Finally, in March, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act, which offered schools an additional $ 168.3 million.

  • BYU: $ 88,556,823
  • BYU Idaho: $ 68,957,975
  • BYU-Hawaii: $ 6,542,246
  • Ensign College: $ 4,284,256

“BYU will not accept funds allocated by the ARP law,” said BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins.

The money comes from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, which has now provided colleges and universities and their students with a total of 76.2 billion US dollars. According to Sen. Patty Murray, Washington, D.C., student loan payments, interest and collections have been frozen through September 30th.

The total is more than a third of a billion dollars

The total allocated to the four Latter-day Saint Schools during the three stimulus rounds is $ 333,408,468:

  • BYU total: $ 171,163,549
  • BYU-Idaho total: $ 141,670,272
  • BYU-Hawaii total: $ 12,475,662
  • Ensign College total: $ 8,098,985

The four schools lost significant money during the pandemic when they temporarily closed in March 2020. Schools reopened with virtual classes and then gradually added back some personal learning.

Despite the losses, the church schools have repeatedly declared that they would forego federal funding due to the church’s principles of independence. The spokesmen for the schools referred on Wednesday to their long-term statements.

Royce Hinton, spokesman for Ensign College, confirmed the level of government funding over the three economic cycles.

“There has been no renewed discussion about accepting COVID funds coming from the government,” he said.

Other schools have also rejected federal funding. For example, Harvard rejected a total of $ 41 million after being criticized for initially accepting the first $ 9 million, according to Crimson. Part of the criticism has centered on Harvard’s ability to weather the pandemic alone with a $ 41.9 billion foundation.

BYU’s Jenkins said last year that Provo School believed it could help its students unaided from the CARES Act funds. The university has set up its own relief fund to help students who attended school from January to August 2020 with food and housing. Since then, BYU has essentially set extended study deadlines to help students with financial difficulties.

My last stories

President Nelson, Jazz Star Donovan Mitchell, Provides Adversity Advice to University of Utah Graduates May 6

“Our Prayers Are Answered”: President Nelson, fellow Latter-day Saint leaders, shared messages on the National Day of Prayer (May 6)

Embrace Surprise, Remove Controversy, Sister Wendy Nelson Says UVU Graduates (May 7)

What I read

Our new Deseret magazine published a stellar profile of the late Maj. Brent Taylor interweaving the way he lived his belief in Latter-day Saints in an article that stretched from Easter Island to Afghanistan and the Family extended until the war. I can only recommend this piece.

The New York Times featured the marijuana farm next to a Latter-day Saint Temple.

Find the latest information on the Salt Lake Temple renovation here.

Church service missionaries can now serve anywhere in the world.

Learn about the meeting between First Lady Jill Biden and Relief Society general president Jean B. Bingham.

What is it like to be a Latter-day Saint trying to live your faith while playing in the NFL? Here’s what some of them told us.

The great sports journalist Thomas Boswell withdrew and left this farewell.

I read some great stories about running this week:

  • First, this ex-BYU runner has achieved an incredible mileage in the ninth month of her pregnancy (as captured by her husband in this TikTok video) and now broken her personal best six months after the birth of her child.

Backstage

I took this screenshot of President Russell M. Nelson speaking in an interview that aired during the University of Utah Spring Exercises. During this time, the U. awarded him an honorary doctorate on May 6, 2021. University of Utah

Then Dr. Russell M. Nelson met colleagues and a patient while serving as a pioneering cardiac surgeon. The University of Utah video showed the photo as it awarded President Nelson an honorary doctorate during his spring exercises on May 6, 2021. University of Utah

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