Three special funds have been created to address the impacts of the pandemic and make the university a better institution long after the immediate health threat of the virus has faded.
Student Emergency Fund
Helps students who face temporary financial hardship.
To be eligible for help, a student must be enrolled, have a temporary financial hardship and have exhausted other financial resources. The maximum amount a student can receive is $500 for such things as school-related expenses, food, transportation, housing, health care and child care.
Innovation Fund
Supports innovative ideas that could address an issue caused by the pandemic while at the same time improve the overall educational experience at UW-Stout.
Some examples of this fund's use:
- Develop an online advising and peer mentoring program for students in the biology concentration of the applied science program.
- Improve biology and chemistry students’ conceptual understanding and lab experiences while providing animation projects for entertainment design students.
- Expand library research support with a 24/7 librarian chat service using Springshare LibChat and LibAnswers.
- Build university identity and community through collecting and archiving student, faculty and staff stories about our response to the COVID-19 crisis.
- Develop a best practices guide for teaching in a digital or hybrid environment.
Recovery Fund
Addresses new health and safety needs in learning environments because of the pandemic.
Examples of the needs include:
- Personal protective equipment, thermometers, sanitation stations, virus shields, testing and quarantine spaces for students, faculty and staff. As supplies become limited, demand increases the cost for these items.
- Safe learning spaces and expanded virtual course delivery, which provide continued hands-on and expanded online learning experiences for students.
- Access to laboratory materials, consumables and other items necessary for students to complete their applied learning outside of a classroom environment.