Ellucian Foundation Grant Supports Students in Need
ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 16, 2021) — Twenty first-year students received needed assistance through a $25,000 grant from the Ellucian Foundation.
UAlbany received the funds through Ellucian’s 2021 Progress, Accomplishment, Thriving, Hope (PATH) Scholarship program, which provides grants to higher education institutions to support students facing economic hardship.
The funds, which can cover items such as tuition, books, food and medical expenses, have already been distributed to the 20 students.
“The PATH funding not only offered immediate aid for our students in need, but also served to keep $25,000 in our Student Emergency Fund, allowing us to increase the number of students who can get emergency assistance,” said Vice President for Advancement Fardin Sanai.
UAlbany’s Student Emergency Fund (SEF) supports students experiencing an unforeseen hardship that might otherwise result in their leaving school. Such hardships can include unexpected medical or repair bills, childcare, loss of income, or other emergency situations. Since the 2018 start of the SEF, the program has helped more than 1,000 students with awards totaling more than $679,704. In this year alone, there have been 183 SEF grants totaling $116,526.
The PATH funds were available for similar situations, and to support gaps between a student’s tuition and financial aid. Awardees were chosen based on demonstrated need through their FAFSA forms. Awards ranged from $500 to the established cap of $1,500, with the average award totaling $1,250.
The Ellucian Foundation began offering the grants in 2020, as students faced additional hardships because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first year, the PATH Scholarships provided 25 eligible higher education institutions a total of $500,000 in grants, delivering scholarship awards to 680 students.
“The feedback was phenomenal from last year’s inaugural PATH Scholarship, and we are pleased to expand the program to have a greater impact in the U.S. and around the world,” said Laura Ipsen, president and CEO of Ellucian. “For too many students, even small financial difficulties can critically alter their journey and keep them from reaching their educational goals. Working with our partner institutions, these funds will have a positive impact on the lives of students and enable them to continue on their learning journey.”