During the COVID-19 pandemic, universities across the country received additional COVID-19 relief funds to award to students in case of emergencies, according to university officials.
The relief provided UTRGV’s Student Emergency Fund with about $85 million, said Griselda Castilla, associate vice president for Strategic Enrollment.
After awarding monies to students during COVID-19, most of the fund has been exhausted, Castilla said.
The Student Emergency Fund is a program that provides limited, last-resort financial assistance to UTRGV students who are experiencing sudden emergencies or accidents that necessitate emergency monetary assistance to continue their academic career, according to its webpage.
Castilla said the fund does not cover university tuition or fees.
“[SEF] is for true emergencies that will prevent the student from continuing their education,” Castilla said.
The amount awarded to students ranges from $50 to a maximum of $500, depending on the situation and how much is needed, she said.
Without the additional COVID-19 relief monies, UTRGV’s Student Emergency Fund has been nearly depleted, causing applications for the fund to close during Summer I 2022.
“We have a little over $9,000, so compared to the $85 million we were awarded, it’s very minimal,” Castilla said.
The money for the Student Emergency Fund is raised through a donation process.
“Our Advancement Office is the one that does the fundraising,” Castilla said. “They have campaigns throughout the year to encourage individuals to donate to various purposes that are of financial assistance. … The SEF is one of those high-need areas that they have identified.”
With minimal money available, the emergency fund has few options to assist students in need.
Started in April 2020, the program has received over $100,000, but it has not received many donations recently, said Jeanette Benavides, director of UTRGV’s Endowment Compliance and Gift Accounting.
“We do annual appeals to reach out to our alumni, the graduates,” Benavides said. “During COVID, the Student Emergency Fund received more funds, but most recently there hasn’t been a lot of activity.”
Because the amount of money available to give to students is limited, the number of awards and the amount that can be given will also be limited.
The application for the SEF is open again, but Castilla asks that students apply only after exhausting all other resources.
“I would hate for students to be disappointed as they were used to getting easily approved and awarded … when we had the COVID-19-related funds,” she said.
Donations to the Student Emergency Fund can be made through its website, give.utrgv.edu/studentemergencyfund, or mailed to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Division of Institutional Advancement, 701 E. Expy. 83, Box 13, McAllen, Texas, 78501.
