As the effects of the COVID-19 crisis continue to ripple
across the globe, students at Memorial 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 Memorial’s campuses.
Dr. Vianne Timmons, Memorial’s new president and
vice-chancellor, recently acknowledged in a video message that Memorial is
doing everything in its power to put the needs of the students above all else.
“The people of this province are known for banding together
as a community, and that is exactly what the Memorial family has done during
this recent crisis,” Dr. Timmons said. “As 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.
“These students are in sudden need of emergency funding,”
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 here.
‘Little margin for error’
Dr. Aimée Surprenant, dean of the School of Graduate
Studies, doesn’t want students to have to worry about their future.
“The 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,”
said Dr. Surprenant. “Many 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.”
Over $40,000 raised
Since the fund has been established, many faculty, staff and
alumni of Memorial have enthusiastically made contributions.
Dr. Donna Hardy Cox, associate vice-president (academic),
says it’s heartening to see the positive response from across the university
community.
“These two funds will help Memorial students find themselves
in extremely vulnerable situations because of COVID-19 – those who are
currently struggling to pay rent, to buy groceries, to meet basic, critical
needs,” said Dr. Hardy Cox. “We 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 Memorial community and
beyond.”
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 .
