TUCSON, Ariz. — University of Arizona students who are in need or have lost their jobs are receiving help with student emergency funding.
The University of Arizona Foundation, the Dean of Students Office and university leadership partnered to create a crowdfunding campaign called 'Fuel the Response' in efforts to raise money for the student emergency fund during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has raised over $500,000 dollars, but the university says, more donations are still needed.
"The longer this goes on, the more we're going to have to raise. I know today, $500,000 isn't enough, and we are going to have to continue these efforts," President and CEO of The University of Arizona Foundation Jon Paul Roczniak said.
The average award of aid given is $500, which has helped 1,200 students who have applied for assistance. Some of the students who are applying for aid lost off-campus jobs or their hours cut when campus closed and social distancing orders took effect.
UArizona said it will continue to pay student employees through the end of the semester.
"So many of our students have part-time jobs while they are here at the university. It helps them pay their tuition, their bills, their fees, their rent. When a lot of those jobs went away, a lot of our students were left in tough shape, and they needed help," Roczniak said.
The university added, the Dean of Students Office will help connect students to other resources if they don't qualify for the student emergency fund.
All UArizona students are eligible to apply for assistance from the fund.
