South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) was awarded a $15,000 grant from the Ellucian Foundation to strengthen its Student Emergency Fund. The funds from this grant have already been provided to students facing unexpected crises, allowing them to continue their education uninterrupted. The grant, awarded through the Ellucian Foundation's PATH Scholarship program, represented a valuable opportunity for SLCC to expand its assistance to students facing financial distress.
"Here at South Louisiana Community College, we understand that our students are just one emergency away from putting their educational dreams on hold. The SLCC Foundation Emergency Assistance Fund is a lifeline for those facing unforeseen financial crises that could otherwise derail their college attendance. With the generous support of the Ellucian Foundation, we were better equipped than ever to ensure that our students could overcome these challenges and continue their educational journey uninterrupted,” said Lana Fontenot, SLCC Foundation Executive Director.
The grant allowed SLCC to assist an additional 35 students during the Fall 2023 semester. Assistance covered a wide range of needs, including the purchase of essential school supplies such as books, tools for specialized programs, uniforms, and laptops. The grant has also been instrumental in addressing unexpected financial burdens, including emergency medical bills and car repairs.
The SLCC Foundation Emergency Assistance Fund is for students who have an unforeseen financial emergency, which would otherwise halt their college attendance at SLCC. The maximum assistance amount per student was $500 per academic year, with a lifetime maximum of $1,000 per student. The funds were not considered loans and did not require repayment to the college.
The Ellucian Foundation was established in 2020 by Ellucian, the leading higher education technology solutions provider. Ellucian powered innovation for higher education, partnering with more than 2,900 customers across 50 countries, serving 22 million students, including those attending SLCC.
This grant from the Ellucian Foundation represented a significant step forward for South Louisiana Community College in its mission to support students and provide them with the resources they needed to achieve their educational goals. As SLCC prepared to embark on this endeavor, it looked forward to making a positive impact on the lives of its students through the Student Emergency Fund.