Emergency Fund Supports SLU Students During COVID-19 Pandemic
An emergency fund has been established to support St. Lawrence students during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of April 6, 79,325 dollars have been raised.
All donations go directly to students using the fund.
The fund can be used for expenses related to student emergency travel, such as study abroad or travel assistance off campus, medical fees, new technology for online classes, temporary housing and supplies, and storage and moving. These are listed on the application page.
According to Vice President and Dean of Student Life Hagi Bradley, any St. Lawrence student qualifies to apply to the fund. “Student Life and Advancement worked together to get it set up,” he said. “We go through them all and then allocate funding for students as long as they give a valid explanation for their needs.”
Right now students who apply can receive up to 500 dollars to help as many people as possible. “We will then be able to go back through and consider those who applied for more than 500,” Bradley said. Once applications slow or stop, Student Life and Advancement “will do a second consideration for those over 500,” said Bradley.
Students who receive funding must fill out a deposit form to get the money in their account. Students can get checks as well but it will take longer, according to Bradley.
There are other resources for students during the pandemic. If students are still in the state of New York, they may still reach out to our Counseling Center and set up a meeting by teleconferencing,” Bradley said. Students can call 315-229-5392 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to schedule an appointment. “We are currently working to implement an extension of our counseling services by offering 24 hour/365 day phone counseling to any St. Lawrence student,” Bradley said.
The fund is supported through donations. “Laurentians around the world were asking how they could support current students from afar during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Joe Keniston, director of Laurentian Engagement, said.
The initial goal of the fund was 50,000 dollars, which was raised in a few days. The new goal is 100,000 dollars. “Members of Laurentian Community, including alumni, parents, friends, faculty and staff, are eager to extend a helping hand to students when they’re able,” Keniston said. “I think the Emergency Student Assistance Fund is an important effort because reinforces to students that an entire Scarlet & Brown network is there for them, especially when we are facing challenging times.”
Apply for the Emergency Student Assistance Fund here: https://www.stlawu.edu/covid-19/form/covid-19-emergency-student-assistance-fund