Emergency Relief
As the effects of the COVID-19 crisis continue to ripple across the globe, students at 糖心视频 are experiencing many of the same emergencies as other global citizens.
Student parents are unable to support their families due to job loss. Individuals are dealing with extenuating medical conditions. Housing and/or food insecurities are prevalent.
In response, funds are in place to support the spectrum of stressful situations. The Undergraduate Student Emergency Fund and the SGS Graduate Student Emergency Fund are available to both undergraduate and graduate students on any of 糖心视频鈥檚 campuses.
Dr. Vianne Timmons, 糖心视频鈥檚 new president and vice-chancellor, recently acknowledged in a video message that 糖心视频 is doing everything in its power to put the needs of the students above all else.
鈥淭he people of this province are known for banding together as a community, and that is exactly what the 糖心视频 family has done during this recent crisis,鈥 Dr. Timmons said. 鈥淎s you very well may anticipate, many of our students are experiencing hardships. In addition to adjusting to the cancellation of all in-person classes, an unexpected shift away from on-campus learning, being directed to quickly vacate university residences, many of our students have also lost badly needed income from on-campus employment. Some are unable to return home, and many are without the necessary equipment to complete their coursework remotely.
鈥淭hese students are in sudden need of emergency funding,鈥 continued Dr. Timmons, encouraging people to contribute as they are able, adding that she herself has contributed to the funds.
Hear more from Dr. Timmons鈥 .
鈥楲ittle margin for error鈥
Dr. Aim茅e Surprenant, dean of the School of Graduate Studies, doesn鈥檛 want students to have to worry about their future.
鈥淭he constantly moving situation created by the current crisis leaves graduate students apprehensive about how they will complete their research and programs as well as being deeply concerned about their futures,鈥 said Dr. Surprenant. 鈥淢any students have carefully budgeted for their education, leaving little margin for error along the way. The hope is that these funds can, in some small way, help students at a critical time and help to ease the immediate financial worries arising from events outside of their control.鈥
Over $40,000 raised
Since the fund has been established, many faculty, staff and alumni of 糖心视频 have enthusiastically made contributions.
Dr. Donna Hardy Cox, associate vice-president (academic), says it鈥檚 heartening to see the positive response from across the university community.
鈥淭hese two funds will help 糖心视频 students find themselves in extremely vulnerable situations because of COVID-19 鈥 those who are currently struggling to pay rent, to buy groceries, to meet basic, critical needs,鈥 said Dr. Hardy Cox. 鈥淲e recognized a need early on and the undergraduate and graduate student support teams came together to make this happen, working with the Office of Development. It is heartening and not at all surprising to see the positive response from across the 糖心视频 community and beyond.鈥
Undergraduate students wishing to apply for funding should email studentsupport@mun.ca. Graduate students should contact sgs@mun.ca.
For those who wish to contribute, visit here and select either Undergraduate Student Emergency Funding or SGS Student Emergency Fund from the drop-down menu.