Colleges and universities in eastern Connecticut will be sharing more than $92 million in federal relief funding from the American Rescue Plan, U.S. Rep Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, announced Tuesday.

This includes: $56.9 million to the University of Connecticut, $12.4 million to Eastern Connecticut State University, $9.5 million to Three Rivers Community College, $4.8 million to Asnuntuck Community College, $3.5 million to Quinebaug Valley Community College, $3.1 million to Connecticut College and $1.8 million to Mitchell College.

The funding is provided by the bill's Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund program, and each institution of higher education must use about half of the funding to provide direct relief to students.

"Keeping our schools open is in the first row of priorities when it comes to getting life back to normal, and getting peoples' careers and our economy back on track," Courtney said in a news release. He said the funding is "making sure that whatever speedbumps and challenges lie ahead, they've got the support to stay ahead of the curve, to stay open, and to ensure that a year of disrupted learning isn't compounded even further."

His office said eligible uses include mitigating the spread of COVID-19, student retention and direct support to students with exceptional needs.

e.moser@theday.com