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Helping students through a crisis

The McGill community rallies together during the pandemic

 

James A. DeAngelis, Ryna Ferlatte and José Hernandez Romero

Left to right: Student Emergency Fund donors James A. DeAngelis and Ryna Ferlatte, and Fund recipient José Hernandez Romero.

The power of collective giving

The COVID-19 pandemic upended the lives of McGill students in a matter of days. Borders closed, classes moved online, and part-time work evaporated, leaving many students in serious financial distress. 

With the fiscal year coming to a close, the University’s Scholarships and Student Aid Office had nearly exhausted the funding for needs-based aid. More than 3,500 bursaries and loans had already been distributed, and there were major concerns about meeting the unprecedented surge in demand.   

The University immediately provided seed funding to launch a COVID-related aid program. The McGill community responded swiftly and decisively to this effort by flooding the McGill Student Emergency Support Fund with donations of all sizes. Thousands of donors – many of whom were inspired to make their first gift – came together to ensure that students in need could stay afloat.

  • 1,576 aid requests fulfilled

  • $2.6M disbursed

  • $1.3M raised by 2,473 donors

We all need to give a hand in helping each other in our journey. We all need a hand at some point in time.”

– James A. DeAngelis, MSc(A)’84, Student Emergency Fund donor

 

Impact on students

When the pandemic hit, many students suddenly struggled to pay their rent or even buy groceries. Others were stranded in Montreal or abroad and needed money to get home. And for some students, access to reliable technology became a major concern as McGill transitioned to remote learning.

The Student Emergency Support Fund provided bursaries, ranging from $500 to $4,000, to fill these critical areas of need so that students could complete their Winter semester in safety and have enough to get through the summer months. Many of the bursaries were awarded to students struggling with more than one financial issue.

  • Over 90% of funds went to living expenses

The SSAO does not have the resources to provide an updated breakdown of the different areas of support and I think it's important that these numbers don't fall short of the updated "1,576 aid requests fulfilled" above.

The students of today are the innovators and builders of tomorrow, and they have the potential to change the world for the better. A McGill student we help today could come up with the next life-saving vaccine or a significant technology to help in the fight against climate change!”

Ryna Ferlatte, BCom'93, Student Emergency Support Fund donor


Supporting a diverse student body

Needs-based bursaries like the ones awarded through the Student Emergency Fund are vital in fulfilling the University’s commitment to access and diversity, helping qualified students pursue a world-class education without financial barriers.

When it came to helping students struggling in the wake of the pandemic, McGill was proud to offer assistance to learners from all over the world.

  • 50% of recipients were international students

  • 24% were from Quebec

  • 20% from the rest of Canada

  • 6% from the US

The impact of donor generosity was also felt at all levels of study and in all faculties.

  • 64% were undergraduate students

  • 36% were graduate students

I find it amazing how McGill is taking care of so many students regardless of nationality, race or background. All that matters is that you’re helping someone in the McGill family.”

José Hernandez Romero, second-year DMus student, Student Emergency Support Fund recipient

 

Comprehensive financial guidance

The Scholarships & Student Aid Office was a key player in the University’s pandemic response, quickly disbursing the relief funds and offering financial counselling services during a period of intense economic uncertainty.

In just two and a half months, Financial Aid Counsellors conducted over 750 virtual appointments to assess students’ individual needs and offer customized financial planning advice for the upcoming academic year. Often, these meetings involved helping students navigate the application process for federal income replacement programs and leverage other forms of government aid.

Appointments with Financial Aid Counsellors are a standard part of the financial aid application process at McGill. While counsellors are dedicated to finding suitable funding options for students in need, they are also committed to fostering self-reliance, giving students budgeting tools and other resources to help themselves.

 

Thank you

Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the McGill community, students with financial barriers can continue to get the support they need to focus on completing their degrees.