A Lifeline for Vikings
The Student Navigation Center Knows the Power of Philanthropy With an average of 70,000 student touchpoints each year, the Salem State Student Navigation Center exclusively focuses on serving students’ needs. The center’s multilingual team guides students on all aspects of the college experience—from course enrollment and communication skills to financial support. In recent months, the COVID-19 pandemic has made the center’s financial aid efforts even more vital. Many students have lost their jobs because of the shutdown, or their households have been sidelined by the virus.
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YOUR IMPACT IN ACTION
“Our number of student interactions is trending even higher now because of the pandemic,” says Evelyn Almeida, assistant director of the Student Navigation Center, who also administers the Student Emergency Fund. “For so many families, both the student and parents have lost their jobs. Some were already on a razor-thin financial margin before the crisis hit.” In addition to emergency funds, the Student Navigation Center sees how other forms of philanthropic support for scholarships and programs can transform a student’s trajectory.