Donors Rally Around Students Affected by Pandemic

Members of the UT Dallas community from around the globe are coming together to help students in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the crisis began in North Texas in March 2020, UT Dallas created the Student Emergency Fund (SEF) to assist students with necessary expenses related to food, housing, technology, child care, medical care and other unplanned needs. To date, more than 2,000 students have been awarded over $1 million in emergency funding. 

UT Dallas students have demonstrated a great need for emergency assistance over the past 10 months. Food insecurity threatened 68% of applicants, and 43% found themselves short on monthly rent. After the transition to virtual learning in the spring and with many students requiring distanced instruction through the 2020-21 academic year, purchasing a reliable computer and covering internet utility costs have been prevailing needs felt by 70% of applicants. 

 Senior Wilfred Labue is one student who found help through the Student Emergency Fund. Labue previously drove for Uber to pay his bills and cover living expenses, but when he stopped driving to reduce his potential exposure to the virus, he quickly ran out of money. 

“One day I saw an email about the Student Emergency Fund. The money I got took care of my phone and internet bills and allowed me to have food in my home,” Labue said. “It’s helped keep me afloat, and I really do appreciate the contributions of our donors.” 

In the early months of the pandemic, federal and state funding for coronavirus relief provided an immediate source of aid, granting over $10 million to 7,616 UT Dallas students. However, this injection of government funding was insufficient to cover all student need, and many UT Dallas students — including the University’s significant international student population — were ineligible for support from these programs. As a result, the generosity of UT Dallas alumni, friends and corporate partners has been an invaluable resource ensuring students’ well-being and success.

Alumnus Bob Quillin MS’77 saw the challenges facing students and made multiple contributions to the Student Emergency Fund in 2020. 

“This year Mother Nature decided to throw us some extra curves. For students who live on the edge, these extra challenges may be almost insurmountable,” Quillin said. “Having been there in my day, I know that with even just a little help from those of us that can, these students can go back to the path of learning and contributing. I urge you to donate to the emergency fund. Help a student. Together we’re stronger.” 

University partners in the corporate sector also took notice of the incredible need felt by students. State Farm gave $25,000 to the SEF, the largest single donation for student support.  

“We are pleased to provide a grant to The University of Texas at Dallas for the Student Emergency Fund,” said Jen Alvarez, manager of corporate responsibility at State Farm. “We believe all youth deserve an education that will help them reach their greatest potential. We do not want a student to have to choose between repairing their car or dropping out. These funds will help students in need stay in school and on track to graduate.” 

The far-reaching effects of this crisis continue to be felt at UT Dallas, and University leadership expects to receive student requests for aid long after on-campus operations are fully resumed. Many students who have requested support come from low-income families whose financial situations remain strained. Students themselves have lost much-needed jobs at restaurants, retailers and other businesses affected by ongoing economic instability. Those who come from middle- and upper-income households have not been immune to difficulty either, as families across the country experience sudden unexpected losses of income. 

“So many students and their families have been put into situations where they no longer have an income to support themselves,” said senior Hope Cory, former vice president of the UT Dallas Student Government. “The Student Emergency Fund can help students get back to some type of normalcy, but that weight can’t be lifted if there are not enough funds to go around. Donating to the fund is crucial and we simply cannot provide this aid without our donors.”