Through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of March 2020, Congress created the first-ever federal emergency aid program for higher education, the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). In the 2020-21 academic year, MDRC partnered with the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) and NASPA--Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education to conduct research on the HEERF rollout. The research team surveyed more than 450 college administrators involved in their institutions' emergency aid programs, held two forums with smaller groups of administrators, and conducted four focus groups with college students attending several public and private four-year schools. The research team's findings point to several areas where there is room for improvement to help get funds into the hands of students in need quickly and equitably. These include greater clarity and flexibility in the federal legislation, more effective communication with students by institutions, and a greater focus on equity. The issues and recommendations in this report are excerpted from the full study "An Evaluation of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Funding for Postsecondary Institutions" (ED614105) and may be helpful in the future for policymakers drafting federal legislation or policies for postsecondary emergency aid.