CMHE Awards Support to SXU's Student Relief Fund
As COVID-19 continues to impact the Saint Xavier University (SXU) community and the way we learn, teach, work and communicate, our Mercy mission calls us to join together to support and strengthen one another. The Student Relief Fund is designed to assist students currently facing hardships as a result of the pandemic with emergency financial assistance.
The core values and Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy place emphasis on meeting the calls of charity and hospitality in pursuit of a more just and equitable world. As a mission-driven community, SXU is dedicated to ensuring that all students have the resources necessary to continue their educational journeys, and when there is a gap in opportunity, the community comes together to help those in need.
The Conference for Mercy Higher Education (CMHE), which serves as the ministerial arm of 17 Mercy colleges and universities across the country, saw the fund as worthy of emergency funding in response to COVID-19 because of its direct ties to mission and its immediate benefit to students and has awarded $30,000 in support of the fund. The CMHE is a key advocate for its higher education partners, and this funding signifies an important partnership for SXU to continue the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy with its national ministerial conference.
The fund provides equitable access to much-needed emergency funding in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences. Funding will directly benefit students deemed ineligible for the CARES Act emergency student aid due to undocumented, DACA or financial aid status. In addition to assisting with tuition and fees and textbook costs, the fund can also assist with transportation struggles, child care needs and food insecurity.
"The Conference for Mercy Higher Education is a vital partner in continuing the legacy and work of the Sisters of Mercy. This funding is crucial for our extraordinary students who are facing real financial challenges as a result of the pandemic, and I am grateful for the support of CMHE and the Sisters of Mercy in meeting these needs," said President Laurie M. Joyner, Ph.D.
The vast societal and economic shifts caused by COVID-19 require student support more than ever so that we may provide the resources needed to help students be successful.
SXU students can apply for these funds through the Office of Financial Aid. Those interested in supporting the Student Relief Fund can contact University Advancement at advancementFREESXU or 773-298-3322.