Covid funding is still available

BRYCE DAILEY Staff Writer

Emergency grants are still available to all Madison College students for school COVID-19 related financial crises and school expenses through an online application.

The COVID Impact Fund awards students depending upon the credits they are enrolled in. Students enrolled in at least 12 credits receive a hefty $500 grant. Students between 6 and 11 credits are awarded $250, with $125 being awarded to students below 6 credits.

Poetry reading

The Yahara Journal held a poetry reading featuring Chessy Normile on March 28, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. in the Truax Studio Theater, Room A2031. Normile is the author of “Great Exodus, Great Wall, Great Party.” The book was selected

Li-Young Lee for the 2020 American Poetry Review/Honickman First Book Prize.

Onecard

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Like the previous OneCards, students will be able to load money onto the Virtual OneCard and purchase with it.

“We have had problems with students losing their OneCards while having money loaded on them,” said Alfano.

If students were to lose their phone, they would still be able to re-access their virtual OneCard. For Apple users, Madison College plans to make the virtual OneCard available through Apple Wallet.

“If we could get the bus pass on the OneCard that would be amazing,” said Alfano.

Group

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Madison College has been in talks with Metro to try and find a way to merge a bus pass with the virtual OneCard.

“In the future, if we could coordinate student bus passes with our OneCard so there are not two separates, that would be the goal,” said Alfano.

Madison College’s ultimate goal with the virtual OneCard is to make everything as simple and convenient as possible.

All students are currently able to obtain a virtual OneCard. They can do so by searching “OneCard” on the student website and clicking on “Deposit money on your card today!” or by visiting Madison College OneCard Portal. Here students can create and view their virtual of treatment; it has made better strides than individual therapy and Marte and the counseling office hope for reaching a broader audience and expanding the support to allow more people to want to join.

Marte goes on to say that the group allows people “To talk about things that are hard, and if you’re vulnerable, it then allows other people to be vulnerable.”

Reaching a broader audience could expand support and encourage people to want to join and to understand how important mental health is.

If the group has enough students signed up, the counseling service hopes to offer different group therapies for specific students like older students, first year students, LGBTQ+ students and students of color therapy groups.

“Having support is important. The group creates support in people’s differences and opens people’s eyes,” Marte said.

Spaces

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 staff/faculty member, the purpose of their pod usage and their feedback on their experience.

“We had wonderful positive feedback. The takeaway was that they were very well received and that students would seem to use them the most for a multitude of needs, online class, have a phone conversation in privacy instead of the hallway, study alone in quiet space, study as a group, relax/respite and even taking a quick cat nap if needed in the larger one,” Adams said.

Adams said Madison College constantly strives to develop solutions that support both students and staff/ faculty.

“The college is committed to providing spaces and amenities for students to find an area between classes etc. that they can be comfortable in and accomplish whatever it is they need. These types of spaces further support and embrace the sense of community at Madison College,” Adams said.

OneCard as well as deposit money onto the card.

Student Life is yet to strongly communicate the virtual OneCards to students but plans to start the week after spring break.

Alfano says, “We will start with an email. We have fliers with all the directions to help students access their virtual OneCard.”

Students are to keep an eye out for this information to help them with their virtual OneCards.

For more information on obtaining your virtual OneCard, contact Student Life or email OneCard@madisoncollege. edu.

According to Robert Lazzell, a Madison College financial wellness support coordinator, this is the last semester the fund will be offered.

The funding is first come first serve, and nearly 8,000 students have already applied in the spring semester.

“There is still enough funding for most students to apply, but time is running out. Students shouldn’t wait,” Lazzell said.

Grants do not need to be repaid and can be used for a variety of purposes, whether it be tuition, housing or miscellaneous living expenses, though the grant was created to aid COVID-caused emergencies.

The COVID Impact Fund application can be found online within the Madison College student website. The final date to apply is May 12.

EDITOR:

MARY SEGALL CLARIONOPINION@ MADISONCOLLEGE.EDU