All Hornets are in this difficult time together… but not all have the same resources.
The establishment of the SUNY Broome Student Emergency Fund is a way for us to support the needs of our students, not only during this pandemic, but through any hard times they face in their time at the college.
Students will be able to apply for a grant of up to $500.00 per year from the Student Emergency Fund. We are hopeful that this support will help our students to feel confident that, though times may be tough, SUNY Broome is here to help them continue their education. We know that, even when we are not experiencing a pandemic, 87% of our students have documented financial need – this isn’t just now, it’s an ongoing issue for many of our students.
We are committed to building this fund. Together, we can help SUNY Broome students in troubling times to stay in college and move into a brighter tomorrow.
Your gift can make a difference — join us today!
Gifts to the Student Emergency Fund will help with essential non-tuition-related expenses such as:
- Unexpected medical bills
- School Supplies such as specific software purchases, books and or academic program expenses not covered by tuition.
- New distance learning educational expenses such as laptops and internet services
- Housing costs and other living expenses
This pandemic has required students to embrace a new method of learning that requires extra support to be successful. Many have difficulty focusing on their studies when they are moved out of their comfort zone and may lack access to a computer or worry about paying rent and keeping up with expenses.”
David M. Michalak (LAAA ’13), SUNY Broome Academic Advisor
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SUNY Broome Students & Poverty
62% of SUNY Broome students are natives of Broome County, which has a poverty rate 4% higher than the national average.
88.5% of SUNY Broome students range in age from under 18 to 29. This age demographic is the most vulnerable to poverty, both in Broome county at 34.9% and in New York state at 26%.
Individuals with an associate degree will earn 18% to 26% more income annually than those with only a high school diploma. Helping students on their path to graduation creates more greater economic security in their future.
Student Food Insecurity
Community college students are more vulnerable to food insecurity than their peers at four year colleges. A Food Insecurity study found that 13.3% of community college students belonged to a food insecure household in 2015. During the 2008 economic recession that estimate was 7.4% higher.
According to a Food Pantry report by the SUNY System Administration’s Food Insecurity Task Force, SUNY students in the Southern Tier made 30,000 visits to a campus or campus-partnered food pantry in 2019.
Student Housing Insecurity
An education study in 2017 estimated one-third of two-year students are housing insecure with about 14% experiencing homelessness. It also found that, among housing insecure community college students, the most common challenges were paying rent, mortgage or utility bills.
