Portland State Magazine Spring 2019

20 SINCE fall 2015, more than $730,000 has been awarded to 290 students at The School of Business (SB)—the first school to create a hardship fun. Some students receive more than one award, which ranges from $126 to $6,200, with the aver- age award being $1,600. The business school’s funding comes from different sourc- es, including its tuition differential. SB students pay a higher tui- tion rate than students in some other majors, and the school uses a portion of those fees to give back to students. Funding also comes from the Center for Executive and Professional Education and private donors. Becky Sanchez, the school’s executive director of under- graduate programs who oversees the fund, says the most common use is tuition. But textbooks, child care and personal expenses also top the list. As is the case with many innovative ideas, Sanchez was inspired by the story of one student. Sanchez was looking at students who had not yet grad- uated but had more than 225 credits. One name on the list of about 1,000 caught her eye. Sanchez had worked with the student when she was an advisor. The student told her that despite having only one class left, she wouldn’t graduate.The previous term’s bill was outstanding and had been sent to collections, so she got a job to pay the bill and then needed to continue working to pay living expenses. “That particular case made me think, ‘Okay, we're not helping our students if they are dropping out when they have one class left, because they can’t pay their bills,’” Sanchez remembers. “So let’s create a process where we can help those students.” Sanchez was able to pay the student’s $3,000 bill and the concept for a financial hardship fund was born. Unfortunately, the fund shrinks as the academic year progresses. “At this point I have $10,000,” says Sanchez. “I have three student applications in my email right now, and if I approve them all, I will have no more money.” Fortunately, the dean of the school can help by talking to donors. It’s easier for donors to get behind giving funds when they know it’s going directly to a student to pay for rent or buy food, adds Sanchez. THE SCHOOL of Social Work fund operates a little differ- ently than the one in The School of Business. Marina Barcelo, social work’s student inclusion coordinator who manages the fund, says their donations largely come from faculty and staff and are on a much smaller scale.Their fund operates entirely off of gift cards to stores like Fred Meyer where students can use $50 or so to buy whatever they need: food, gas, clothing, personal supplies, etc. “Students who have accessed the School of Social Work Student Emergency Fund over the past three years have experienced many challenges, including homelessness, unem- ployment, car and home theft, mental health struggles, hospi- talizations, and loss of child care and scholarship support,” says Barcelo. “Many of these students work multiple jobs, living paycheck to paycheck with the constant stress of not knowing how they will afford tuition and complete their program.” During this academic year, the fund has supported 78 students and all told, 138 students since it was started.The vast majority of which, Barcelo adds, are first-gener- ation students. “We recognize that our emer- gency fund is a Band-Aid, and does not solve the financial burdens our students face,” she says. “However, we also recognize that even simple gift cards can make the difference in a student's day or week.” In the College of Urban and Public Affairs (CUPA), the emer- gency fund is known as the Dean’s Hardship Fund. Dean Stephen Per- cy started the fund last year as part of the PSU Day of Giving.Three students have benefited so far with grants of up to $500. Percy says that CUPA wants to grow the fund substantially in the next three years. “Many of our undergraduate majors and graduate students walk a delicate line in supporting themselves, their families, and their education,” he explains.“Too many are one financial crisis away from having to leave the University. Research and experi- ence at PSU tells us that if students can be helped to overcome unexpected emergencies, they can overcome their challenge and continue with their studies.” HARDSHIP FUNDS have come in handy for many stu- dents, including Luis Patron-Diaz, a senior majoring in finance. Because of his status as a Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals A HARDSHIP AWARD HELPED PAY FOR TUITION WHEN BECCA HUBINSKY LOST HER PART-TIME JOB AND STUDENT LOANS WERE NOT ENOUGH.