The Missouri State campus has responded to the COVID-19 crisis. Many of you have made a gift to help with urgent student needs. For your generosity, we extend a heartfelt thank you.
“Missouri State alumni and friends continue to be generous especially during these times. We appreciate your gifts because they are being put into action on a daily basis helping students continue with their education. Thank you for being supportive during this international health crisis,” said Brent Dunn, executive director of the Missouri State Foundation.
Like many of you, Springfield, West Plains and surrounding communities are following stay at home orders. Each day brings new challenges and opportunities to both the MSU Springfield and MSU West Plains campuses as we are determined to keep moving forward.
As a result, all classes for both campuses have been moved to an online format for the remainder of the Spring semester and for all Summer classes.
Internet access for students in need
As our students find their new normal, learning completely remotely for the first time in the university’s history, they are asking for your help. Many of our students are returning to their homes, where internet services are unavailable or cost prohibitive.
To assist these students with efforts to continue their education, the Student Emergency Funds on both the MSU Springfield and MSU West Plains campuses will help provide an internet access device temporarily to students in need. The device would deliver internet service for a six month period, and the total cost of each device is $340 for prompt access, or approximately $57 per month.
With all the uncertainty in the world today, let’s make sure our current Bears and Grizzlies don’t have to put their educational dreams on hold.
GIVE NOW
Give to these efforts
The university has several efforts that alumni and friends can give to, if your situation allows. They include:
- The Student Emergency Fund – Set up to respond to students’ unmet needs by providing relief for immediate hardships, such as travel expenses related to returning home, technology needs to ensure students can access virtual learning, and other unforeseen financial challenges.
- Magers Health and Wellness Center – The center serves MSU students and all MSU employees, and in many cases, their families. As this pandemic widens, our medical personnel will need more screening and personal protection equipment, such as masks, gowns, gloves, etc. Additionally, mental health and counseling support services provided through Magers will be in high demand.
- Scholarship Support – Scholarships will become an even greater need as the economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis present new challenges and financial burdens for many students and their families. Your scholarship support will help students realize their educational dreams and goals, and change lives.
- The Bear Pantry – This pantry is one way the university is working to combat students’ and employees’ need for sustainable access to nutritional foods. As we work to provide a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the MSU community will likely face more food insecurity, rendering support from the Bear Pantry even more critical.
- Missouri State Fund for Excellence – This fund helps ensure that we offer educational excellence. With in-person classes canceled during the outbreak, we will rely on this fund to maintain academic continuity by moving to online and virtual classes. The solutions will likely involve additional costs.
Leave a Reply