CUNY SPS Establishes COVID-19 Emergency Grant for Students

The CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) has established a COVID-19 Emergency Grant to provide financial assistance to students experiencing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. This grant, which will provide up to $1,500 per student based on demonstrated need, was launched by the CUNY SPS Foundation Board with additional funding from the Robin Hood Foundation and donations from the School community.

The CUNY SPS Foundation Board, a non-profit dedicated to promoting, supporting, and enhancing the CUNY SPS mission and its students, established the COVID-19 Emergency Grant using $50,000 of its unrestricted funds as well as those already generated by the school's Emergency funding initiatives. The School has also raised an additional $22,000 so far in gifts from faculty, staff, and alumni to apply toward the Grant.

Blake Foote, chair of the CUNY SPS Foundation Board, said, "Knowing how hard-working and committed our students are, the Board quickly responded and full-heartedly supports the use of these emergency funds. We are glad to mobilize existing funds for this important investment in our students' stability and well-being in these unusual circumstances. We are also motivated to raise new funds for this purpose — including personal contributions to add to those from CUNY SPS staff, faculty, and alumni."

In addition to the Foundation's allocation and School donations, the COVID-19 Emergency Grant was supplemented with a COVID-19 Relief (Cash Assistance) Grant of $100,000 from the Robin Hood Foundation, New York City's largest poverty-fighting organization. As part of its mission to improve the living standards for 1.8 million low-income New Yorkers, the Robin Hood Foundation established the COVID-19 Relief Fund to help city residents by supporting nonprofit organizations on the frontlines. One hundred percent of its donations will provide emergency support through food, housing, job security, and more.

Tracy Meade, senior associate dean for strategy and innovation at CUNY SPS, expressed gratitude to the Robin Hood Foundation and to Managing Director Deborah McCoy, for sharing the good news about the grant. Meade observed, "The Robin Hood Foundation has been a strong and steady supporter of the University and of CUNY SPS. The news of the grant boosted our community's spirit and positioned us to provide cash assistance to significantly more students in need."

The COVID-19 Emergency Grant seeks to help CUNY SPS students affected by the crisis who are struggling with life emergencies that could jeopardize their educational success. Some of the specific life circumstances for which students may receive a Grant include, but are not limited to, temporary job loss, homelessness due to loss of housing or threat of eviction, overdue bills, and unexpected expenses due to illness or death in the immediate family. To qualify for the Grant, students are required to be currently matriculated at CUNY SPS and can demonstrate their need. A complete list of eligibility and application requirements can be found on the CUNY SPS COVID-19 Emergency Grant webpage. Please note that all applications and requests for information will remain confidential.

Members of the CUNY SPS community who may be in a position to support the COVID-19 Emergency Grant can donate online here.

About the CUNY School of Professional Studies

For over 15 years, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) has been leading online education in New York. Offering the most fully online Bachelor's and Master's degree options at the City University of New York, CUNY SPS meets the needs of adults who are looking to finish a bachelor's degree, advance from an associate's degree, earn a master's degree or certificate in a specialized field, and progress in the workplace or change careers.

The School's growth has been remarkable, with twenty-three egrees launched since 2006. Enrollment has risen by more than 30% in the last four years to over 3,700 students in the credit-bearing programs and thousands more who are enrolled in non-degree and grant-funded workforce development programs. In addition, the School has an active Alumni network and has established the CUNY SPS Foundation, which offers multiple scholarship opportunities to current students.

CUNY SPS has been ranked in the nation's top 5% by U.S. News & World Report for the past six years, most recently in its list of the 2020 Best Online Bachelor's Degree Programs, making CUNY SPS the highest nationally listed program in New York State and New York City.

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