UIU receives Great Lakes funds for student emergency grants

Upper Iowa University is one of the first four-year colleges in the nation and one of only three Iowa schools to be awarded a 2017-19 Dash Emergency Grant from Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates. The $88,988 in Dash Emergency Grant funding will be utilized to operate and maintain a student emergency aid program. The emergency grants are integrated into the college’s overall student success strategy with the goal of improving retention and completion rates.

The UIU student population is very diverse in age and background, meaning many students have a variety of family, employment and other responsibilities to manage while pursuing their degree. With all of these duties, any unforeseen financial setbacks, such as for automobile repairs and medical bills, can potentially threaten a student’s ability to continue their education.

“Our passionate and approachable faculty and staff are always here to help our students inside and outside the classroom,” UIU Director of Academic Success Amy Tucker said. “Thanks to the Dash Emergency Grant, the University has additional resources to provide modest emergency grants to our students in times of their greatest need.”

Tucker explained that the student emergency grants will be made available in fall 2017 to Fayette Campus students with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) below 7,000. To be eligible, students will complete an application detailing their financial emergency. A UIU committee will review the application and expenses up to $1,000 will be paid within two business days of approval. By quickly removing financial distractions, students can refocus on their studies and continue on their path to graduation.

“This opportunity can relieve the stress of an unexpected financial emergency and allow students to concentrate on their academic goals,” Tucker said. “Adding a financial intervention to UIU’s other strategies to help students succeed and graduate makes our efforts even stronger.”

A combined $7.2 million in Dash Emergency Grants were recently awarded to 32 colleges in Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin. The four-year college grant program has been built on the success two-year colleges have achieved since Great Lakes began supporting emergency grant programs in 2012. These colleges report students who receive emergency grants stay in school at better rates and graduate in larger numbers.

“We’re pleased to extend our Dash Emergency Grant to Upper Iowa University and other four-year colleges and universities to help more at-risk students overcome financial obstacles to completion,” said Richard D. George, President and Chief Executive Officer of Great Lakes.

About Great Lakes: Dedicated to making college education a reality since 1967.

Knowing that education has the power to change lives for the better, Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates was established as a nonprofit group focused on a single objective: helping students nationwide prepare for and succeed in postsecondary education and student loan repayment. As a leading student loan guarantor and servicer, Great Lakes has been selected by the U.S. Department of Education to provide assistance and repayment planning to more than 8 million borrowers—as well as assistance to colleges and lenders nationwide. The group’s earnings support one of the largest and most respected education philanthropy programs in the country. Since 2006, Great Lakes has committed nearly $225 million in grant funding to promote higher education access and completion for students of color, low-income students, and first-generation students. For additional information, visit home.mygreatlakes.org.