Help the Libraries Support UMass Amherst Students in Need

During the difficult and uncertain public health crisis posed by COVID-19, many of our students will experience financial hardships. Today, we are asking alumni, faculty, and friends to join the Libraries in supporting UMass Amherst students with a gift to the Student Care and Emergency Response Fund (SCERF).

Be part of UMass Amherst's Response to Support Our Students

As the campus and the Libraries respond to the COVID-19 crisis by transitioning to remote instruction and learning, we invite you to join fellow alumni, faculty, and staff to help provide emergency financial help to students impacted by this pandemic.

Your gift to the Student Care and Emergency Response Fund (SCERF) helps students with critical needs right now. Even though financial aid covers most tuition expenses, many students are struggling to cover the cost of other personal essentials, such as:

• Food and housing
• Medical and basic health needs
• Childcare
• Being an international student (such as visas and travel to get back home)
• Caring for a disabled or sick parent
• Technology needed for online learning

You Can Make a Difference

These essential needs can be met with your help. The Student Care and Emergency Fund is entirely funded by charitable donations like yours. Your gift of any amount enables us to help our students stay on track academically and to support them personally.

Your generosity unites our UMass Amherst family in extending support to all students experiencing financial needs at this time. Thank you for joining the Libraries to help protect and support the educational and financial needs of our students in this moment of uncertainty.

Thank you for your care and please stay healthy and safe,

Simon Neame, Dean of Libraries

SHAVE THE DATE 

Help SHAVE our Student Success & Outreach Librarian Annette Vadnais’s head! Annette will shed her purple hair live on the Libraries’ Facebook page if we reach our goal of $5,000 by Monday, April 13 at noon! Are you in?

Additional updates and resources can be found at umass.edu/coronavirus.

Let us know if there is a student in need! If you are a UMass Amherst student seeking more information about the Student Care & Emergency Response Fund or other university support services contact the Dean of Students Office at doso@umass.edu.