UAFS board told of financial needs some students face
School makes emergency aid available to help cover unexpected expenses
FORT SMITH — Officials at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith provided insight Wednesday into needs facing certain students, as well as some of what the university has done to help them.
Student emergency aid was the primary topic of discussion for the board of visitors during its meeting Wednesday.
Chancellor Terisa Riley said student emergency aid was any form of assistance provided to help a student facing an unforeseen financial hardship preventing the student from graduating if not resolved.
Among the types of emergencies students have to contend are lack of safe, reliable, or affordable transportation; medical emergencies; changes in financial circumstances; and natural disasters. This is in addition to “housing insecurity,” which means not having a stable place to live, and “food insecurity,” with students not having nutritious food, or a sufficient quantity of food, to eat.
The Round Rock, Texas-based Trellis Company studied 58 universities in 12 states across the country with 17,500 responses from students. Based on responses, the study concluded 50% of students show signs of housing insecurity, 30% show signs of very low food security, and 55% have run out of money three or more times in the past year.
Riley said the report also states 68% of students are “less than confident” they’ll be able to pay off the debt acquired while in school.
“65% of our students across the nation worry about having enough money to pay for school,” Riley said. “I was certainly one of them. I understand that worry, constant stress and fear of not being able to pay your bills, to pay for your tuition and fees, your room and board, your books.”
Riley said 55% of UAFS undergraduate students at the university qualify for federal Pell Grants. The Pell Grant program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain graduate students to help them get a postsecondary education.
In addition, while financial aid doesn’t take into account unforeseen circumstances, federal financial aid regulations afford students an option to file a “special circumstances” application that may award additional loan money in the event of a life change, such as the loss of a job. The UAFS Financial Aid Office also provides book vouchers through the university’s on-campus bookstore.
Margaret Tanner, UAFS associate provost for academic affairs and director of graduate studies, went into detail on one of the emergency resources previously available to university students: the Dash Emergency Grant. Tanner said the money for the grant was made available through Great Lakes Community Investments. She applied for the grant in spring 2017.
Tanner said throughout the period of the grant, which was from Aug. 15, 2017, to Aug. 31, 2019, UAFS granted 184 students assistance through the program. The average amount was $757 and the total awarded was $139,312.
Jennifer Holland, executive director of retention at UAFS, and Blake Rickman, vice chancellor for advancement, filled the board in on certain financial resources supported by the UAFS Foundation.
Other programs UAFS offers discussed during Wednesday’s meeting were its Lion Pride Food Pantry, sack lunch program, holiday food boxes, and professional clothing closet.
Riley said the report also states 68% of students are “less than confident” they’ll be able to pay off the debt acquired while in school.