Contact: LaToya Hill, Ph.D., Coordinator of Student Emergency Services, Office of the Dean of Students, (512) 471-5017

Student Emergency Fund Receives Grant from Texas Parents Association

(03/18/08, Austin, TX) The Student Emergency Fund at The University of Texas at Austin has received a new Student Enrichment Grant from the Texas Parents association. The Student Emergency Fund provides financial assistance to students experiencing temporary hardship as the result of an emergency situation. In the past, the fund has provided critical support to students experiencing everything from an apartment fire to relocation due to Hurricane Katrina. The Student Emergency Fund is administered by Student Emergency Services within the Office of the Dean of Students, a component of the Division of Student Affairs.

Texas Parents awards Student Enrichment Grants during each spring semester through an application process. Student organizations and university departments are invited to apply for grant monies to fund services or events that will enhance and enrich the university experience. Student Enrichment Grants are made possible through generous contributions to the Texas Parents' Giving Program.

“ I want to thank Texas Parents for selecting the Student Emergency Fund as a recipient of this grant,” says Dr. LaToya Hill, coordinator of Student Emergency Services. “Our new partnership with Texas Parents is a vital component of the ‘circle of support’ we have built with every segment of the campus community to assist our students in times of emergency.”

“This grant will not only provide great financial help to our young people in times of need, but also ‘peace of mind’ to our parents, our administrators and our students,” adds Dr. Soncia Reagins-Lilly, dean of students and senior associate vice president for Student Affairs.

Normally, donations to the Student Emergency Fund come primarily from students, faculty, and staff. Students make generous contributions to the fund each year by raising money at the annual Party on the Plaza event during the fall semester. University faculty and staff also support the Student Emergency Fund through annual donations to the Hearts of Texas campaign, or through payroll deduction contributions.

More information:

• Student Emergency Services: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/emergency/
• Student Emergency Fund request form: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/emergency/downloads/EmergencyFundRequest.pdf
• Texas Parents: http://www.texasparents.org/
• Office of the Dean of Students: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/
• Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs: http://www.utexas.edu/student/vpsa/
• Party on the Plaza: http://www.utrecsports.org/party/
• Hearts of Texas Campaign: http://www.utexas.edu/events/secc/