Emergency Fund for UM Students
As students contemplate continuing their education in the midst of a pandemic, financial worries are beginning to mount. Luckily, the University Faculty Association (UFA) has come together to create the UFA FAST Fund for students who are struggling financially. On top of a grant from Believe in Students, funds have been raised from faculty donations, the Montana Federation of Public Employees (MFPE), and the President’s Office at UM. Small awards will be portioned out to students encountering financial difficulty. Anyone wishing to apply can do so here.
The fund is part of a larger FAST Fund movement comprised of college faculty unions around the country. The goal is to grant financial assistance to students with no strings attached. Students are not required to submit their GPA for consideration. In addition to servicing the immediate needs of students, organizers hope to provide more long-term forms of assistance in the future. Anyone wishing to garner further information on the status of these funds should contact UFA board member Daisy Rooks at daisy.rooks@umontana.edu. More forms of assistance for students encountering hardship are also available through the Financial Aid Department at UM. Students can also reach out to the ASUM Renter Center if they are in need of other forms of assistance particularly related to housing and food insecurity.
