The allotment of $118 million for the 275,000 students at the City University of New York, a public system that includes 25 campuses was not nearly enough, said Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, chancellor of the City University of New York, or CUNY.

“Thirty-eight percent of our students come from families that make less than $20,000 a year, in New York City,” he said. “I believe our median household income for the system is about $40,000 a year.”

CUNY established the Chancellor’s Emergency Relief Fund in April, and its individual colleges also started aggressively raising money for their students. Their efforts have paid off. Altogether, CUNY has raised about $16.9 million and is working to raise more. Through the chancellor’s emergency fund, 6,000 students have received grants for $500. Through other grants, some students have received between $200 and $1,000. About 10,000 students have been helped by their individual colleges so far, CUNY reported. 

Students don’t need to apply for grants, Rodríguez said. Those with great financial need, such as student parents, or those ineligible for money from the CARES Act, such as international or undocumented students, were invited by the university to make arrangements to receive the money if they wish. 

The fundraising at CUNY illustrates how many college students face dire financial need because of the pandemic, and what most institutions will need to do to help them.

“The employment sectors in New York that have been hardest hit are some of the sectors where our students have full-time and part-time jobs,” said Rodríguez. The hospitality and restaurant industries are two, he said.

Also, some of the other government benefits that students could take advantage of in the spring and summer are no longer available. “With some of the ends to employment benefits, not being supported with additional stimulus money, we know there continues to be need,” Rodríguez said.

Fundraising for emergency financial aid and student need is a growing trend, said Robert Kelchen, an associate professor of higher education at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. The financial situation for many students has also changed throughout 2020.

“There’s so much more student financial need now than there was back in February,” Kelchen said. “Because students have taken on additional expenses for online education.”

Expenses can include laptops, webcams or computer software, he said. Plus, some students need extra money if they’ve lost a job or are struggling with childcare. 

With no end in sight to the pandemic, Rodríguez says CUNY will continue to raise grant money for students.

“Even with the substantial fundraising that we have done, we’re aware that the need in New York City for our students exceeds what we have fundraised,” he said.

How else can colleges and universities help low-income students through the pandemic? Should the federal government do more to assist these students? Email or tweet me your thoughts.

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