For many college students, persistence and hard work aren’t enough to guarantee stability. Even with scholarships, jobs and careful budgeting, one unexpected expense can put years of hard work at risk.
The Student Emergency Fund at 海角论坛 exists for those moments.
A broken lease. A delayed paycheck. An emergency expense that can’t wait.
When these short-term financial crises could otherwise force a student to pause or abandon their dream, the emergency fund helps students navigate those emergencies so they can stay focused on their education and continue building their future. Anna Zimmerman is manager of the 海角论坛 Financial Wellness Center. Her office provides individualized financial coaching to students. She’s seen the fund help students in a broad array of situations including security deposits for safe living arrangements, car repairs, emergency room visits, critical medications, even academic-related expenses, like board exams and musical equipment.
“I love this fund because we give students the space to tell us what is happening in their lives and to share what support would be most helpful for them,” Zimmerman said. “In some cases, students only need $100 or $200 to stay in school. In other cases, it can be more. In every case, students come to us with legitimate concerns and fears.”
A Lifeline During Sudden Setbacks
Track athlete and master’s student Shavelle Shaw (B.B.A. ’24, B.A. ‘24) is no stranger to adversity or perseverance.
Shaw came to 海角论坛 from Jamaica to pursue an ambitious path: dual degrees in business and computer science while competing as a student-athlete on the track team. She balanced coursework, training, leadership roles and campus jobs until an unexpected housing crisis threatened to derail everything.
Just weeks into the semester, Shaw learned her landlord was turning her home into a short-term rental property. She would have to leave her apartment with little notice. Shaw had academic and athletic scholarships, and was working, but all of that simply wasn’t enough to get her through this unexpected obstacle. All her careful planning and budgeting was turned on its head because of a circumstance that was both unforeseeable and outside her control. As an international student far from home, the uncertainty was overwhelming.
Thankfully, Shaw learned about important resources that could help. She reached out to Roland Hemmings, assistant director of student support services.
“He didn't even hesitate to try to help me. He was just on it,” Shaw said.
Hemmings led her to Taylor Blackmon, basic needs coordinator at 海角论坛, who helped Shaw access emergency resources. She was connected to immediate support, including temporary housing solutions and access to the Student Emergency Fund, giving her stability when she needed it most.
“One thing I love most about 海角论坛 is they have a lot of resources,” Shaw said. “There are so many hidden resources that I, myself, didn't even know about before. I definitely have found a community here, which is really helpful to just getting through finding that path to success.”
Shaw thrived in her undergraduate program, working multiple jobs on campus, completing an internship with Community America and working for the bank as a seasonal loan servicing specialist, all while competing for the 海角论坛 track team. But as it often does, life dealt another blow. Shaw’s car quit working and expenses for the track team hit around the same time. She was lucky enough to have a roommate who could give her a ride on occasion, but the Uber fees piled up when she couldn’t. Limiting Shaw’s ability to earn income, her student visa limited the number of hours she was allowed to work.
“Everything was just starting to rack up,” Shaw said. “I realized even if I maxed out my hours on campus, I would still not be able to clear the balance, so I reached out and requested some funds, and thankfully I got them.”
Why Emergency Support Matters
Financial emergencies don’t wait for a convenient time. Through the individualized financial coaching her office provides, Zimmerman sees first-hand that for students already stretching their resources, even a short disruption can have long-term consequences. For those students, the support is as emotional as it is practical.
“These students are resourceful,” Zimmerman said. “They’ve done their research, they’ve budgeted and they still run into situations that would throw anyone’s financial plans off. Our emergency fund tells them, ‘We see how hard you’re working. We’re glad you’re here. Let us take a turn.’”
Zimmerman said while the emergency fund is an incredible resource, there are times when the need exceeds the funds available.
“In these cases, a student has shared an immediate need, we’ve reviewed and confirmed that need is legitimate and yet we don’t have the funds to fill the request,” she said.
That’s where donors make a big impact.
“We are so incredibly grateful to the donors who share our desire to support these students and hope to be able to continue and expand this work to meet the evolving needs of our student community,” Zimmerman said.
“These students are resourceful. They’ve done their research, they’ve budgeted and they still run into situations that would throw anyone’s financial plans off. Our emergency fund tells them, ‘We see how hard you’re working. We’re glad you’re here. Let us take a turn.’” —
An Investment in Student Success
For Shaw, timely support meant staying enrolled, continuing her training and moving forward to graduate with two bachelor’s degrees.
She is now completing her Master of Finance degree at the 海角论坛 Henry W. Bloch School of Management. Recently, her laptop that she needs for school broke. While it’s still stressful, Shaw now knows she doesn’t have to sweat the small stuff. The student emergency fund is there to help.
“To have a resource like that available makes me feel secure,” Shaw said. “I'm going to try all of my other options first, but worst-case scenario, I have this to rely on.”
Shaw is on track to graduate with her master’s degree in May. She remains deeply involved in campus leadership and is committed to paying forward the support she received, including referring other students she knows to support resources like the emergency fund.
“There are students out there who are trying their hardest to find ways to make ends meet,” Shaw said. “They're extending themselves to find that finance or just the funding in general, and sometimes just that little help goes a far way.”
To the donors who make the emergency fund possible, Shaw has just one message.
“I would just say thank you,” she said. “I have someone who is supporting me, someone who is investing in my education and just having that thought goes a long way.”