Simmons University’s response to the coronavirus pandemic prioritizes helping its students, including through the newly launched Support Our Students (SOS) Fund, for which Simmons is working quickly to raise $150,000 in gifts from alumnae/i, faculty, staff, and friends by March 31. More than 175 members of the Simmons community had given over $81,000 to the SOS Fund as of March 27.
The SOS Fund is designed to help students cope with urgent, unavoidable expenses as they adapt to taking online courses, moving out of the residence halls—and living without paychecks.
“The SOS Fund and financial support are more critical than ever,” says Dean of Students Susan Antonelli '98, “Students suddenly find themselves without on-campus or local jobs that provided much-needed funds for food, housing, and personal essentials. In many circumstances, students had to quickly depart Boston and unexpectedly spend thousands of dollars just to travel home. With this fund, we are able to provide money so students can pay for necessities and keep a roof over their heads.”
Antonelli says Simmons has been able to purchase plane, train, and bus tickets for students who wanted to head home but couldn’t afford to do so; some got help paying fees for extra baggage if they wanted to take all of their belongings with them. Hands-on assistance included Simmons staff packing up and storing the belongings of 66 students who could not return to Boston to move off campus. And 34 students who were unable to go home have been placed in a nearby Residence Inn.
These funds are making it possible for students to focus on their academics without worrying if they will have money for groceries.
– Dean of Students Susan Antonelli '98
Those seeking financial assistance have also included a student struggling to pay a phone bill after their place of employment closed. Another, working on a capstone research project, needed funds to buy books that would normally be available through libraries—now closed. A number of students have explained that the crisis has impacted their families—in some cases severely—limiting how much they can help. And some students were helping to support their families even before the crisis.
“In times like these, we are continuously reminded of the power of our community and the impact our collective spirit can have,” says Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement Amy White '81. She asks everyone in the community to “please join alumnae, alumni, staff, faculty, and friends who have already supported our students” with gifts to the SOS Fund. The Simmons Board of Trustees has committed to a matching donation for every gift made this month, doubling the impact.
Staff in the Office of Advancement say it is especially helpful if people can make their gifts online. That way the funds can be put to use more quickly than gifts made by check (processing checks currently takes longer than usual because most staff are required to work remotely).
“These funds are making it possible for students to focus on their academics without worrying if they will have money for groceries,” says Antonelli.