Portland State Magazine Spring 2019

21 student, Patron-Diaz, who is not eligible for federal loans or grants, ran out of options to pay for tuition last year. He’d heard about the business school’s financial hardship fund through Erica Wagner, associate dean of under- graduate programs. He applied for and received $1,600. He was able to access the fund a second time and receive an additional $1,100 to pay his remaining tuition bill—putting him on track to graduate in June. “It literally changed my life,” says Patron-Diaz. Without the fund, Patron-Diaz says he would likely need to drop to part-time and finish his degree one class at a time. Dropping out wasn’t an option. Patron-Diaz wants to attend law school. Becca Hubinsky, an accounting student, says she tried to make things work with student loans and pinching pennies after losing her part-time job. A $1,500 hardship award in the form of tuition remission allowed her to breathe—and refocus on school and campus engagement. “It’s already stressful enough being a student wor- rying that you don’t have time, and then to not have money either?” says Hubinsky. She’s grateful for the business school’s hardship fund and what it meant for her experience as a student.“This is a sign that I need to stay on helping the school,” she adds. Many of the students seeking assistance are either homeless or on the brink. One of the CUPA students, for example, was able to obtain University housing but Percy says he’s still lacking resources for books, supplies and tuition. A social work Ph.D. student says access to emergen- cy funds prevented a hospital stay because it allowed her to access healthy food and control her blood sugar. “The gift cards are a lifesaver and I’m forever grateful to those that donated them,” she says. Sanchez,Wagner and education professor Karen Haley studied the impact of emergency funding on student retention. “The creation of the hardship funding program did more than provide financial relief to students, it had the effect of creating a sense of community and care for these students,” they found. “Students reported a desire to give back to the school, to perform better in their classes, and a feeling that the school cared about them as individuals.” Hardship grants not only relieved financial concerns and stress, but deepened their connection to the University. “I feel really lucky I found this,” says Shnayder the young, hardworking accounting major who is on track to graduate in 2020.  Katy Swordfisk is a staff member in the PSU Office of University Communications. To support the PSU Student Emergency Fund, visit letknowledgeserve.org AS THE CHILD OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, LUIS PATRON-DIAZ IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL LOANS OR GRANTS; HARDSHIP FUNDING MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.