This story was written by Haley Smith, originally published in The Sylva Herald.
Originaly published on 01/08/2018
Western Carolina University faculty members hope to help ease the strain of short-term financial emergencies for struggling students. Beginning this month, the student support fund can help students who run out of food, need medication, lack winter clothing or don’t know how they will afford this month’s rent.
“This is a safety net to catch the things that, as an institution, we haven’t been able to help with,” Faculty Senate Chairman Brian Railsback said.
From WCU’s Career Fair and the financial aid homepage
During the 2016-17 academic year, Western Carolina University students received almost $11 million in scholarships, but they – or their parents – borrowed almost $68 million in educational loans. Additionally, student loan borrowers in the class of 2016 graduated with an average $37,172 in student loan debt. Nationally, seven out of 10 college students feel stressed about their personal finances, according to a 2015 survey.
The National Student Financial Wellness Study, conducted by Ohio State University, surveyed 18,795 undergraduate students at 52 colleges and universities across the country. Half of those students said they’re concerned about paying their monthly expenses and 32 percent said they neglected their studies sometimes because of money they owed.
Railsback said the student support fund was inspired by the NC Promise tuition plan. NC Promise will reduce tuition costs for in-state undergraduate students at WCU to $500 per semester beginning fall 2018.
“A lot of us recognized that the state is committed to try to make the UNC system more affordable for students,” he said. “Becoming aware of that effort made several of us begin to think about affordability, because it’s an important issue. Faculty and staff across campus are aware of students who are in serious financial trouble.”
Railsback is the former dean of WCU’s Honors College. He said he occasionally found a student who needed something such as a winter coat, and there wasn’t a fund to cover that.
“I don’t think I’ve encountered a faculty member who doesn’t know a student who has hit a brick wall,” he said.
Lowell Davis, WCU’s assistant vice chancellor for student success, will oversee the fund.
“If a student needs money for food, medication or is literally homeless, Lowell will be able to help that student,” Railsback said. “We wanted the fund to be as flexible as possible to allow him the broadest discretion on how to use the money.”
Railsback said the senate also hopes to partner with HOMEBASE, a college ministry focused on aiding students who have aged out of the foster care system, are orphans or emancipated. Part of the student support fund may be used to further their mission.
“We know HOMEBASE is a magnet for students who are in need,” he said.
The amount of aid given to each student likely won’t exceed $200, in order to prevent interference with financial aid packages.
“We want to be sure that we don’t give a student so much support that it offsets some other aid,” Railsback said. “On the other hand, I’m sure if there’s a student who is in dire straits and if we don’t do something they will have to drop out, the $200 cap may not be enough.”
Last month, WCU Board of Trustees member John Lupoli and his wife, Anita, donated $5,000 to kick-start the student support fund. Going forward, Railsback said WCU employees may choose to deduct money from their payroll each month to support the fund. The Faculty Senate plans to solicit payroll deduction donations this spring.
