GSIE Raises More Than $14,500 for Graduate, International Student Emergency Funds

Cassandra Thomas

More graduate and international students will be able to continue their education at the U of A when faced with emergencies thanks to supporters of the Graduate School and International Education.

More than 50 donors have given more than a combined $14,500 to the International Student Catastrophic Fund and the Needy Family Graduate Student Emergency Fund during GSIE's FundRazor campaign, which launched in mid-October and continues through the end of December.  

The two funds provide one-time support to graduate and international students facing unexpected emergencies or crises that could cause them to withdraw from school. Types of emergencies include unexpected medical expenses, technological needs such as broken laptops, transportation needs and unexpected deaths in the family.

"These funds are so important because they're often the only resource students have when they're facing emergencies, as scholarships and financial aid cannot cover these situations," said Ed Pohl, dean of the Graduate School and International Education. "Thank you to all of our donors who have given both during this campaign and throughout the year to support our graduate and international students."  

Kim Needy, dean of the College of Engineering, and her husband, Bill — founders of the Needy Family Graduate Student Emergency Support Fund — gave a $2,500 matching gift to the graduate student emergency fund, and Pohl and his wife, professor Tish Pohl, committed a $2,500 match for donations to the International Student Catastrophic Fund. Both matching gifts were met during the campaign.

"We are grateful to our many donors who have helped make this FundRazor campaign a success," said Mathilda Hatfield, associate director of development and alumni relations. "Sometimes, only a few hundred dollars can be the difference between a student staying in school or dropping out. These high-impact gifts can be truly life-changing for our students." 

GSIE is still accepting gifts for the student emergency funds through the end of the calendar year. Any donation amount is welcomed, and donors can give to one or both funds. As a reminder, gifts must be made by midnight on Dec. 31 to receive any potential tax benefits for the 2023 calendar year.