Algoma University is looking for community donations to ease the financial pain some of its students are feeling as a result of COVID-19.
The postsecondary institution, in March, set up the Algoma University Student Emergency Fund.
The fund is based on donations, which, university staff say, are increasingly welcome.
The fund seeks to rustle up food and other essentials for students, such as toiletries and medication, to bridge the gap of income loss due to COVID-19 related work layoffs.
The university’s Student Emergency Fund’s efforts were highlighted during Thursday evening’s Algoma University board of governors meeting.
“Maybe it’s because I’m a mother… (but) we have a lot of students who are really struggling as parents,” said Karen Hudson, Algoma’s student success and wellbeing manager, speaking to the board.
“In addition to the challenges they were facing completing their degrees in the winter term, they were doing that at home while parenting their children while their spouse lost their job, managing everything without income... another student had identified they were sleeping on a friend’s couch because they had lost their job and weren’t able to access any additional funding. Securing food is a big aspect,” Hudson said.
Hudson said Algoma, so far, has awarded $69,400 to 145 students in financial relief through the Student Emergency Fund.
Hudson said the fund is, officially, a one time only application, though she added “our hope is this fund continues to grow. It would be great to continue to offer this in alternative aspects.”
"Over $100,000 has been secured to date to assist students,” said Bev Teller, Algoma University advancement officer, addressing the board.
“The financial need of our students is great... to date, 360 students have applied for funding,” Teller said.
“I want to thank the community, our businesses, organizations and labour groups (for contributing money to the emergency fund),” said Asima Vezina, Algoma University president and vice chancellor.
Meanwhile, Vezina gave the board a quick overview of where the university has stood in terms of student instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We had to move 390 employees and 2,016 students to work or learn from home,” Vezina said, reflecting on the upheaval COVID-19 has had on the institution’s three campuses (Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins and Brampton).
“We successfully completed that winter term,” Vezina said, stating Algoma will be offering over 100 courses to students in its spring/summer session, instruction to be delivered online, as reported earlier by SooToday.
Algoma delayed the start of its spring/summer session to June 1 in order to secure the needed online technology to instruct students during these extraordinary times.
“We’re looking at a very intensive, digitally focused campaign (intended to promote Algoma’s spring/summer session through the media), targeting Brampton, Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins, or really, quite frankly, anywhere in the world...we’re really putting a focus on ‘study local,’ ‘fast tracking your degree,’ ‘start your degree early,’” Vezina said.
Brent Krmpotich, Algoma’s enrolment management director, told the board “we’re working towards 212 (full time students for spring/summer session) and we’re at 207 today.”
With the future uncertain due to COVID-19, Vezina said “we’re actually starting the conversation about fall readiness (the start of the 2020-2021 academic year).”
“Even though we don’t know exactly how it’s going to look, our plan is to welcome both new and returning students this fall, and we’re in the process of planning a number of (instruction) scenarios, whether it’s in person learning, remote or a mix.”
