THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT GOVERNMENT, TEMPE SENATE
EIGHTEENTH LEGISLATURE
SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2020
SENATE RESOLUTION 1
INTRODUCED BY
SENATOR DANIEL LOPEZ
THE COLLEGE

AUTHORIZED BY:
SENATOR

Bridget Konya Saidu
SENATOR

Alexia Isais
SENATOR

Yamilet Ibanez
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A RESOLUTION ON ASU’S FAILURE TO ACQUIRE AND DISTRIBUTE CARES ACT
FUNDING
__________________________________________________________________________________

WHEREAS, the Undergraduate Student Government of Tempe was created to provide a unified
forum for inter-university dialogue , to organize student involvement, and to advocate for and
administer services, resources, and programs that benefit the students of Arizona State
University;

WHEREAS, on ​MARCH 27th​the CARES act was signed into law, including the Higher
Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) which allocated ​$63.5 million​to ASU for COVID

 relief. ​HALF ​of this fund, ​$31.8 million​at ​least​, ​MUST​be used for direct cash grants to
students by law whereas the other half of the funding ​may​ be used for administrative or other
costs.

NOTING THAT, the prerequisite condition for the distribution of this $63.5 million is for
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY​to submit a plan for spending this funding to the
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION​.

NOTING THAT, ​ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY ​has failed to submit a plan for this
funding to the ​DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION​, thus they have not received the funding.

NOTING THAT, in the time that ​ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY​has failed to submit a
spending plan, approximately 3 months, countless students from the Spring 2020 semester and
the Summer 2020 semester have faced financial hardship and may no longer be ASU students in
the Fall 2020 semester.

WHEREAS, the intention of the HEERF was to “[get] funding out the door quickly to college
students who need it most.”​1​as stated by the Secretary of Education​ BETSY DEVOS​.

NOTING THAT, ​ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY ​President ​MICHAEL CROW ​has stated
that the school will use the funds “to help students stay in college, since schools have up to one
year to spend the funds”​2​instead of the intended purpose of immediate financial relief.

 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, due to the administration’s failure to immediately
submit a spending plan and distribute funds, that we, the ​UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
GOVERNMENT OF TEMPE ​request ​ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY ​to ​immediately
submit a plan for spending the HEERF funds to the department of education and upon receiving
said funds begin immediate disbursement of the HEERF funds.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the disbursement of HEERF funds and the ​ARIZONA
STATE UNIVERSITY ​financial assistance due to COVID-19 be adherent to the following
requests listed in no particular order of importance:
● All​$63.5 million should be spent on direct cash grants to students
● All HEERF funding should be adjusted for need rather than a universal equal distribution
● Students who were enrolled in the Spring 2020 semester and/or the Summer 2020
semester but are no longer enrolled either from graduation or no longer continuing their
education should be eligible to receive COVID-19 assistance cash grants.
● If any student is not eligible to receive HEERF funding as per the guidelines published by
the department of education, ​ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY​should make them
eligible to receive direct cash grants from the university itself
○ For example, DACA students, undocumented students, international students, or
previously enrolled students no longer continuing or finished with their education.

 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in order to see that the above actions are successfully
undertaken by the University, a meeting between representatives of the ​Undergraduate Student
Government of Tempe​, as well as any appropriate representatives of student organizations as
determined by USG, and ASU administrators to ​begin implementing these programs ​should
take place no later than ​2 weeks​following the passing of this resolution.

BE IT EVEN FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this legislation be sent to Dr. Vogel by
President Jacqueline Palmer by the following week of the passage of this legislation.

BE IT EVEN FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this legislation be presented at the next
ASASU Council of Presidents Meeting by USGT President Jacqueline Palmer.