UTRGV is offering a helping hand to students in need through programs such as the Student Food Pantry, Student Emergency Fund and other monetary incentives.
The Student Food Pantry is a program that helps students with food insecurity who are unsure when their next meal will be. There are options such as fresh produce, frozen foods and canned goods to satisfy the dietary needs of each student.
Erica Perez, a UNIV course professor at UTRGV, shared her experience with food insecurity while a college student.
“They have several non-perishable items that a student can have, like soups or tunas or corn that they can create their meals, so it’s a great resource for students because they know that that may be one of the challenges that students have,” said Perez.
UTRGV also partners with Swipe out Hunger to bring currently enrolled students at the Edinburg campus one free meal per day, once they have been approved.
Swipe Out Hunger works with UTRGV Dining Services to distribute meals to students’ ID cards at the dining hall.
The Student Emergency Fund is a sum of money loaned to a currently enrolled student that acts as temporary financial relief for students at risk of dropping out of the semester due to unforeseen accidents, emergencies or events.
Jacob Fraire Director of Policy and Strategy at University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) said that this program is not available for all universities, but he is promoting the use of the program across all institutions.
“The early research in emergency aid indicates that it does help students stay in the classroom and finish that semester,” said Fraire.
Students are eligible if they can provide all required information, their attendance at UTRGV is in jeopardy or financial funds are insufficient; however, funds are limited and used on a first-come-first-serve basis.
UTRGV is also working to open new job opportunities for enrolled students.
President Guy Bailey has worked toward increasing student jobs at UTRGV because he believes it builds a community and is the most important thing the university can do for the students.
“We always continue to increase that, we’ve increased their wages. If you don’t, those students will work somewhere. Having them work on campus is important, they are building a community,” said Bailey.
Monetary incentives are known to be offered at UTRGV to encourage enrollment. When undergraduates enroll early to classes or in more than 12 hours per semester, as well as post-graduates enrolling in more than 6 hours a semester at UTRGV,qualifies them for an incentive.
More of this information can be found in the UTRGV webpage.
