U of M launches fund for students caught in COVID-19 cash crunch

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This article was published 01/04/2020 (2325 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The University of Manitoba has created a $500,000-and-counting emergency fund to support students in financial distress due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Students who require such backing to continue studies at the Winnipeg-based school because of unforeseen costs associated with the pandemic can apply for a one-time bursary.

Full-time undergraduate students can apply for as much as $800, while graduate students are eligible for up to $1,000. Part-time students in need could receive a total of half the sum their full-time counterparts are entitled to.

“The needs are real and high and, so far, we have had 1,200 applicants since this went live (Tuesday) night,” said John Kearsey, vice-president external relations, less than 24 hours after the fund was announced.

Kearsey said Wednesday the university recognizes many students rely on part-time income made in the hospitality sector to pay their bills, and such work has been hit due to forced business closures.

“We’d like to be able to support everyone who’s in need at this time, because our commitment through all of this is not only to keep everyone safe but to help our students successfully complete their year — particularly those who are in their graduating years,” he said.

The university has both collected all existing emergency bursary funds and new donations from community members — including a $100,000 donation from chancellor Anne Mahon and her husband, as well as other staff members — to create the emergency fund. The school continues to accept donations.

Kearsey said administration is sorting through the applications on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Successful applicants must have paid all owed tuition and outstanding aid, have achieved a minimum passing grade on all courses taken in the previous academic session, and be able to demonstrate their current financial situation is related to COVID-19 disruptions.

Students union president Jakob Sanderson called the fund “phenomenal” news.

The loss of part-time work and the travel costs associated with having to move out of residence or return home earlier than expected are both challenges students currently face as a result of COVID-19, Sanderson said Wednesday.

“There are a lot of students who are going to be affected by this quite negatively, and they want to know their university is taking care of them,” he said, adding student politicians have been advocating for some sort of financial support since the pandemic was declared.

After learning about the emergency fund, final-year economics student Ikenna Ndubisi immediately shared the announcement with fellow Nigerian students.

Ndubisi considers himself lucky, since he just landed a full-time job at an insurance company — which has been deemed an “essential service” by the province of Manitoba — so he doesn’t expect he’ll need to access the fund.

“Being an international student and being very active within my community, it’s something that will be very useful to many students,” he said.

The 26-year-old said the only thing that may hinder the help available is the fact students must have already paid off their tuition to be eligible. The price tag on international student tuition is expensive, he said, adding there have been times in the past where he’s been behind on paying fees.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie