Illinois higher education emergency
fund raises $550K
Funding available for low income, at risk
college students
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[April 22, 2020]
LINCOLN
- Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois Community College
Board, and Illinois Student Assistance Commission are rallying
private funders to support grants to meet emergency needs of
low-income students at the state’s public colleges and universities.
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Illinois public universities serve more than 50,000
low-income students, and the state’s community colleges serve more
than 81,000 low-income students. To date the fund has raised
$550,000.
Deputy Governor for Education Jesse Ruiz said, “Students are our
priority and Illinois is doing everything it can to keep them safe
and keep them on a path to their educational goals. That means
taking extraordinary measures to make sure they can still
participate in their classes when faced with emergencies, like not
being able to pay the utility bill or needing to put food on the
table. I appreciate the three boards for initiating the Public
University and Community College Student COVID-19 Emergency Fund.”
“We are reaching out to the civic and philanthropic community that
cares about equity in higher education,” said IBHE Chair John
Atkinson. “We know COVID-19 is already severely impacting minority
communities disproportionately from a health perspective, but it
also puts at risk thousands of students’ ability to continue their
post-secondary education.”
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2020/Apr/20/images/ads/current/graue_sda_2016.png)
The money raised will be allocated to public universities and
community colleges based on their percentage and number of
low-income students.
“While colleges and universities are doing all they can to help
students during this pandemic, vulnerable students still face the
unstable housing, food insecurity, or lack computer equipment and
internet access,” explained IBHE Executive Director Ginger Ostro.
“This fund will help meet those needs.”
ICCB Executive Director Brian Durham said, “This fund, in
conjunction with institutions’ emergency funds, will make the
difference between a student who can stay in college and a student
who has to drop out. The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially hard
on low-income students, and I’m impressed by the donors who are
making it possible for these students to weather the transition.”
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![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2020/Apr/20/images/ads/current/atlantabank_lda_SFARM_2019.png)
Examples of students who are at risk of dropping out due to the
impact of COVID-19 include:
• A student in quarantine at home awaiting a COVID-19 test, who is not eligible
for paid time off from his job. He cannot afford food or medication and worries
how this will affect his education.
• A single mother in college who has lost her job and is no longer able to
afford diapers or formula.
• A student studying from home whose only computer is too old to support the
software needed for classes. Plus, her father, a restaurant worker, is concerned
that he’ll lose his job.
“We know that low-income students have great financial need in the best of
times. These are not the best of times. Students who stop out of class are less
likely to complete their education,” said Eric Zarnikow, ISAC executive
director. “The challenges faced by these students right now, coupled with the
economic downturn as a result of the pandemic, means students who drop out now
may never come back to finish their studies. This fund can help students across
the state bridge that gap.”
This fund will be administered by the Southern Illinois University Foundation.
The institutions each have an established foundation capable of quickly
receiving and distributing funds.
All part-time and full-time students in good standing are eligible. The money
will be distributed as grants, which do not have to be paid back. Students
should contact their school directly to find out how to access the emergency
funds.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information] |