Goal 6 Ensure the financial strength and growth is sufficient to meet the needs of the university. Pandemic-Impacted Students Aided by Student Emergency Fund While FNU’s low tuition rates compare favorably to other institutions, any advanced education is costly. As graduate students seeking advanced degrees, FNU students are frequently working full-time jobs and raising families while they continue their education. Even in the best of times, the mental, physical, and financial toll can be significant. Add in a global pandemic, and it can be simply overwhelming. In the past, the FNU Student Emergency Fund has assisted students dealing with hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, personal health emergencies, or other misfortunes that would otherwise threaten their ability to continue their education. Understandably, the pandemic impacted the lives of many of our students during 2020. FNU faculty members remain closely connected with their students and encourage those under stress to apply for assistance. Angela Bailey
“I am fighting back tears as I write this,” one Emergency Fund recipient wrote. “Tears of shock, relief, but most of all gratitude. I had thought about asking for help thousands of times, but never would because I felt like I wasn’t ‘struggling enough’ to qualify. It wasn’t until my RCF (Regional Clinical Faculty) encouraged me to take the chance by assuring me that this fund was in place to help any student that the pandemic has caused significant financial strain, no matter how big or small. Now because of her and all of you, my burden will be a little easier to bear. The words thank you feel so measly, but they’re all I have. Thank you for standing by this baby practitioner as she takes it one day at a time. I pledge to pay it forward. Blessings and love to you always.” Recognizing the demand for assistance would be great and that so many FNU students were supplying vital health care in their communities during the pandemic, the FNU advancement team sent letters in April 2020 to alumni and 24
| 2020 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
other supporters requesting assistance for the Student Emergency Fund. By July, 57 donors had combined to give $73,962 to the Student Emergency Fund. As the support flew in, so did the requests for assistance as the full impact of the pandemic began to take hold on so many of us. “I am 31 weeks pregnant with twins and was recently told I cannot work in my clinic due to COVID-19,” wrote one applicant. Another wrote: “2020 has been very difficult for everyone including myself and many unexpected things happen in life in addition to the pandemic. I truly appreciate any financial assistance during these hardships that help me reach my goal of graduation.” The impact of the pandemic was felt quickly. In the week of April 6 alone, there were 27 applications for assistance, 19 of which were approved. As the virus spread and the cases rose, so did the need for help. From the spring through fall terms, there were a total of 141 Student Emergency Fund requests, 103 of which were approved. The total amount dispersed from the Fund during those three terms was $120,693, with the average aid per student totaling approximately $1,172. “The support for the Student Emergency Fund is always meaningful, but it was even more so in 2020,” said FNU Chief Advancement Officer Angela Bailey, MA, CFRE. “With so many hospitals and clinics being overwhelmed by the pandemic, it was vital that we were able to support our students and allow them not only to continue their course work but also continue to provide essential care to their communities.” The Student Emergency Fund is not a scholarship to cover tuition or the routine costs of attending FNU such as participating in classes or taking exams. These grants are given only to meet significant loss due to true emergencies
