‘We want to help’ — Emergency aid aims to ease students’ stress

McMaster is helping students in financial emergencies and halting fees on student accounts so they can focus more fully on their safety and well-being as the community deals with the impact of COVID-19.

“For many students this is an anxious, stressful time,” says Sean Van Koughnett, associate vice-president of students and learning, and dean of students.

“We want to help as much as possible to provide financial relief so that they can focus on staying safe and healthy, and to enable them to succeed academically.”

Emergency assistance

Students experiencing financial emergencies as a result of the COVID-19 situation can seek financial assistance or resources to help with food, rent, travel or other expenses.

“Our team had been helping 70 students a day, and in the past few days it’s gone up to more than 200,” says Leanne Ruiz, associate registrar for student services.

“If you don’t have what you need to survive, your anxiety is going to be so high. That is the last thing our students need right now.”

Emergency assistance is figured out on an individual basis for each case and the students do not need to repay it as they would a loan, Ruiz says. The goal is to help the students facing unexpected circumstances — like losing their job — with essential needs through to the end of the current winter term.

“For lot of students, food takes a back seat to rent and educational expenses, and they end up not eating,” Ruiz says. “Or maybe they’re having a hard time with rent, or have to take medication and don’t have money for next refill.”

If you need emergency assistance, the best way to seek it is to use the online chat feature on the Registrar’s website, available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday.

“If our students need help to tackle the financial stress of the next little while, we want to help them,” Ruiz says.

Interest and late fees halted

As part of the financial relief measures, the university will not charge late fees or interest on student accounts in March, April and May 2020.

McMaster is also removing financial blocks on unpaid accounts for the time being. This means that students with an outstanding balance will be able to enrol for the spring or summer terms before paying their account in full.

“This is a time for all of us to help those in need,” says Roger Couldrey, vice-president of Administration.

“The pandemic has disrupted every aspect of our students’ lives, but if we can relieve even part of their financial burden, we’re hoping it will help them get through this.”

The university is also exploring the potential for further relief measures, such as a longer period of waiving interest and late fees.