$39,700 grant supports student emergency fund at Pine Technical & Community College

Pine Technical & Community College now has additional resources to help low-income students weather financial emergencies. Students can apply for small grants to help cover expenses just beyond their means, which allows them to quickly return focus to their academic pursuits.

 

“Many of our students face unexpected expenses that can often result in them having to put their education, and ultimately their opportunities for a better future, on hold,” said Dean of Student Affairs Paula Hoffman. “The emergency grant helps our students keep their education on track in dire circumstances. In the event they don’t qualify for the grant, we’re still able to connect the student to community resources they would not have known about if they hadn’t come in to discuss the grant.”

 

The student emergency grant program at PTCC is made possible by a $39,700 Dash emergency grant from Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation. PTCC is one of 31 community and technical colleges in Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin that received a combined $1.5 million in Great Lakes grants to build emergency grant programs that help low-income students overcome financial obstacles that might otherwise cause them to drop out.

 

“Great Lakes is pleased to provide more resources to colleges like Pine Technical & Community College that are dedicated to supporting students in times of greatest need,” said Richard D. George, President and Chief Executive Officer of Great Lakes. “Emergency grants are a bridge to college completion and the financial security a degree can provide.”

 

PTCC began making student emergency grants of up to $500 each in spring 2016. Qualified expenses are paid within 48 hours of an approved application. Students also are referred to additional campus, community and financial literacy resources to supplement the grants, address root causes or contributing factors to the financial emergencies and further support students’ persistence.

 

To serve greater numbers of students throughout the Great Lakes grant period and beyond, PTCC will contribute matching funds during the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 academic years. “Our shared commitment is key to making emergency grant programs sustainable long-term,” said Amy Kerwin, Vice President – Community Investments at Great Lakes.

 

The Pine Technical & Community College Foundation pledged a year one match of $4,000 and $8,000 for year two.  

 

To date, more than $6,100 has been awarded to 13 students since the program began in March.

 

One student faced an unexpected medical expense that put her at risk of having her electricity disconnected. “I had to choose between electric or a medical expense. With the help I was able to continue my journey at Pine Technical and Community College without the added stress that come with a pending doom of disconnection of my electric.”

 

Great Lakes will provide a maximum of $6,700 to PTCC during the pilot period of the grant. With funds from Great Lakes and matching funds from the PTCC Foundation, $20,000 will be available in each of years one and two of the grant.