UTSA launches emergency funds to connect students to resources

APRIL 1, 2020 — To help relieve some of the stress that students might be facing due to coronavirus-related changes to their daily lives, UTSA has created key funds that support Roadrunners’ most prevalent needs during this time.

The Student Emergency Fund is managed in part by the Roadrunner Student Alumni Association to offer grants to students who find themselves in difficult situations as a result of natural disasters, medical bills or other unforeseen circumstances—like losing their jobs because of the current pandemic. The goal is to help cover some necessary expenses that will ensure students can stay enrolled.

The Student Tech Fund will assist students who need internet access or a personal computer to successfully transition to 100% online instruction during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Roadrunner Pantry provides food and personal care items to UTSA students. A donation of just a few dollars can help provide a week of meals.

The Fostering Educational Success Fund addresses unprecedented emergency needs and supports the well-being of students with a history of foster care—most of whom do not have a traditional family lifeline to help during the coronavirus situation. The Fostering Educational Success Center has increased the limit on grants from the emergency fund from $300 to $500. It is anticipated that without additional support these emergency funds will deplete more quickly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have already seen many alumni and other members of the community step up to support our students with gifts to these funds. We are overwhelmingly grateful for the support,” said Karl Miller-Lugo, vice president for development and alumni relations at UTSA. “Still, we have also seen a great level of need in all of these areas. We know this time is challenging for everyone, but if people can spare it, gifts to these funds are vital because it will help students stay enrolled and stay on time to graduate.”

⇒ Stay informed about the pandemic’s impact by visiting UTSA’s Coronavirus Updates site.

Students are also grateful for support of these funds. “What a message it sends when alumni and other people donate to these assistance funds,” said Gage Martin, a UTSA junior who is president of the Roadrunner Student Alumni Association. “It tells me that Roadrunners will take care of other Roadrunners, and it makes me proud to go to UTSA.”

Gifts made online can be processed and put to use immediately. If you’d like to make a gift using another method, please email alumni@utsa.edu.

UTSA Today is produced by University Strategic Communications,
the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio.
Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu.

UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.

Events

Thursday, December 7, 7:00 p.m.

Doctoral Hooding Ceremony

Come celebrate the doctoral students graduating this commencement season.

H-E-B Student Union Ballrooms, UTSA Main Campus

Saturday, December 9, 10:00 a.m.

Commencement: Ceremony One

Celebrate the accomplishments of the graduates of the College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and College of Sciences.

Alamodome, 100 Montana St, San Antonio, TX 78203

Saturday, December 9, 4:00 p.m.

Commencement: Ceremony Two

Celebrate the accomplishments of the graduates of the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, College of Education and Human Development, Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design and University College.

Alamodome, 100 Montana St, San Antonio, TX 78203

Friday, December 29, 6:00 p.m.

First Friday Stargazing

First Friday Stargazing gives anyone free access to the night sky using university telescopes and teaching equipment. Weather permitting, experienced astronomers will provide a handful of telescopes of varying designs, give training on how each operates, and point to various astronomical objects that may appear in the sky for that given time of the year. If you have a telescope and do not know how to operate it, feel free to bring it and get instructions on its use.

4th Floor of Flawn Science Building, Main Campus

Submit an Event

Spotlight

University of Texas at San Antonio receives ‘transformational’ $40M gift

UTSA’s Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA’s Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education.

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to ending generations of discrimination and inequity. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.