The rapid evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused sudden and widespread changes for AES students, many of whom are now struggling to make ends meet.
According to Dean Geitmann: “Every day, my team and I hear the anxiety and uncertainty in students’ voices as they struggle to meet even their most basic needs. In the wake of campus closures, travel restrictions and shuttered businesses, students have found their routines entirely upended, and many are struggling to make ends meet. Many of them will not be able to obtain the summer jobs or paid internships they were counting on to finance their next academic year.”
The Brown Martlet Funding Committee, one of AES’ most dedicated and generous benefactors, has come to the Faculty’s support and made a substantial gift of $189,000 to launch the AES Student Emergency Support Fund. These funds are going to work immediately to create financial assistance for graduate and undergraduate students to support their academic activities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Associate Dean Student Affairs Valérie Orsat: “The funds will be used to not only support our student populations to overcome some of their technological challenges as they navigate online courses but to offset lost income due to missed opportunities such as summer internships or stage placements.” Technological considerations could be iPads, mini computers, internet sticks, etc., and offsetting lost summer employment could take the form of videotaping lab demonstrations in support of an enhanced McGill experience for our incoming students or tutoring support for students with learning challenges with online course delivery.
We would like to invite you to be a creative partner in helping to support the AES Student Emergency Support Fund. As part of the Brown Martlet Funding Committee’s generous gift $41,000 has been set aside as matching funds to encourage other donors to support the AES Student Emergency Support Fund. Each donation will be matched 1 to 1, up to a maximum of $5,000 per donor, until funds are no longer available. This means your gift will go even further.
While AES is providing emergency support funding to respond to this crisis, these funds are still insufficient to meet the large and growing need that we forecast will continue through June into the summer and the upcoming fall academic year.
We are counting on our alumni and friends to help support this crucial initiative and give generously to ensure our students have the necessary financial support to navigate during this most difficult time. Make your gift here.
Thank you for your support. If you require more information, please don’t hesitate to contact Ron Henry at ron.henry@mcgill.ca.