A Safety Net for Student Stability
The Tartan Emergency Support Fund evolves beyond COVID-19 to help students in need soar, engage and seize opportunities
By Lauren Sisco
"When we meet a student in what can be their greatest time of need, it's an honor for our team to convey how much the Tartan family cares about them through the support the Tartan Emergency Support Fund makes possible.”
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Gina Casalegno speaks to a sentiment that so many of her colleagues would echo: Extending a helping hand to hard-working Tartans is humbling, rewarding and a true example of Tartan spirit.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 400 students have been provided with critical help through the Tartan Emergency Support Fund (TESF). Nearly $500,000 was distributed to students to cover food, health care, storage, travel and other essential expenses.
Through the fund, undergraduate and graduate students in untenable situations or with an unexpected financial burden due to pandemic-related instability could apply for a one-time grant to address their emergent need.
In some cases, the assistance provided was life-saving. A student’s medical device to address their sleep apnea was recalled. A replacement was estimated to be a year away. Without the machine, the student’s health, safety and well-being was at serious risk. So, the TESF grant funding that allowed them to obtain a new machine was critical and time-sensitive.
Funding also helped students experiencing dire housing crises. Like the student who found themselves in an unsafe and unstable living situation and received a TESF grant to secure immediate alternate living arrangements. And the student who experienced a fire in their apartment complex and received a TESF grant to help address emergency temporary housing fees.
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"When we meet a student in what can be their greatest time of need, it's an honor for our team to convey how much the Tartan family cares about them through the support the Tartan Emergency Support Fund makes possible.”
Gina Casalegno
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Donors stepped in to provide support and relief for those facing job loss, internship cancelations, family hardship and medical emergencies — providing a sense of security during an uncertain time, and support for those far from home and without alternative resources. As the world moves forward, those needs haven’t disappeared — they’ve only shifted.
As the world navigates what comes next, it’s important for Tartans to know that they are not only supported in obvious times of crisis, but that help is available in any moment of need. That’s why TESF remains a resource: Emergencies can happen to anyone at any time, and experiencing one should not derail your university experience.
For example, assistance from TESF was vital for a Ph.D. student requiring significant dental work that was impacting their overall health and affecting their focus on their studies. Even with university health and dental insurance, the costs were significantly beyond their annual benefits allowance, so a TESF grant helped off set their out-of-pocket expenses.
While its grants do not require repayment, TESF is now part of Student Emergency Support Funding, along with Emergency Student Loans and Student Maternity Loans. Support from the CMU community makes it possible for financial burden on students to be lightened while also lifting up Tartans who may be struggling.
The spirit of TESF — to help build a safety net during the pandemic for struggling Tartans — remains strong, even as the campus is fully reopened and classes are in-person once again. The CMU community continues to support students in need and shows their hearts are always in the work, as only Tartans can.
