Funding All But Fee
Hunter offers emergency funding to those in need
Sabrina Fong
Issue date: 2/25/09 Section: News
The Petrie Emergency Fund, a sum of money to help relieve the burden of non-tuition expenses in case of loss of employment and other extenuating circumstances, is now available to Hunter College students, according to Hunter's Office of Student Services.
Recognizing that the population at Hunter is no exception to the job losses and eviction notices that mark the times, the Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation has provided the emergency funding on the condition that it may not be used for expenses such as tuition or other college fees.
"This gift provides emergency funding assistance to Hunter students for non-tuition related expenses in cases of verifiable short-term financial emergencies," the Office of Student Services website announced recently.
In 1994, the New York Times identified the fund's namesake Milton Petrie as an American retailer, investor, and philanthropist. Petrie, along with his wife Carroll Petrie, is famous for his million dollar donations to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Beth Israel Hospital among others, the paper reported.
A similar $1 million Petrie Emergency Fund was established by the foundation at New York University in 2006, according to NYU's newsletter.
The fund, a onetime grant to students in good standing who qualify, is only to be used for the purposes of a short-term financial crisis. In order to qualify, according to Student Services, students must be able to verify their financial emergency. Thus, students must have all necessary documentation as proof of their circumstances. This may include police reports, medical reports, eviction notification, etc.
Since the fund is not a scholarship or loan, it can only be accessed by Hunter students in case of pressing circumstances. These include sudden unemployment, eviction, fire, flood, or robbery that bring about severe damage to books, computer equipment, clothing, or any other material necessity, or result in medical expenses.
The money can also be used to purchase interview-appropriate clothing that a student may otherwise deem currently unaffordable.
Many Hunter College students say they approve of the non-tuition bend of the fund.
Jim Tse, for example, a freshman at Hunter, liked the idea of Hunter funds bailing out students in a non-educational context.
"It's nice to know that Hunter understands that there are other things occupying a student's mind besides tuition and exams. Food and housing always take precedence," he said.
Fellow freshman Anna Rodriguez agreed. She approved of the Petrie Fund as a "safety net," she said.
For more information on the fund, or to apply for funding, Student Services has encouraged students to contact Amanda Fuentes Lorens by email at amanda.lorens@hunter.cuny.edu or by phone on 212-772-4916.
Recognizing that the population at Hunter is no exception to the job losses and eviction notices that mark the times, the Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation has provided the emergency funding on the condition that it may not be used for expenses such as tuition or other college fees.
"This gift provides emergency funding assistance to Hunter students for non-tuition related expenses in cases of verifiable short-term financial emergencies," the Office of Student Services website announced recently.
In 1994, the New York Times identified the fund's namesake Milton Petrie as an American retailer, investor, and philanthropist. Petrie, along with his wife Carroll Petrie, is famous for his million dollar donations to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Beth Israel Hospital among others, the paper reported.
A similar $1 million Petrie Emergency Fund was established by the foundation at New York University in 2006, according to NYU's newsletter.
The fund, a onetime grant to students in good standing who qualify, is only to be used for the purposes of a short-term financial crisis. In order to qualify, according to Student Services, students must be able to verify their financial emergency. Thus, students must have all necessary documentation as proof of their circumstances. This may include police reports, medical reports, eviction notification, etc.
Since the fund is not a scholarship or loan, it can only be accessed by Hunter students in case of pressing circumstances. These include sudden unemployment, eviction, fire, flood, or robbery that bring about severe damage to books, computer equipment, clothing, or any other material necessity, or result in medical expenses.
The money can also be used to purchase interview-appropriate clothing that a student may otherwise deem currently unaffordable.
Many Hunter College students say they approve of the non-tuition bend of the fund.
Jim Tse, for example, a freshman at Hunter, liked the idea of Hunter funds bailing out students in a non-educational context.
"It's nice to know that Hunter understands that there are other things occupying a student's mind besides tuition and exams. Food and housing always take precedence," he said.
Fellow freshman Anna Rodriguez agreed. She approved of the Petrie Fund as a "safety net," she said.
For more information on the fund, or to apply for funding, Student Services has encouraged students to contact Amanda Fuentes Lorens by email at amanda.lorens@hunter.cuny.edu or by phone on 212-772-4916.
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