JCSU Launches Emergency Aid Campaign To Keep 300 Students in School
More than 300 students at Johnson C. Smith University are in need of financial help to stay in school. The University has launched an emergency aid campaign to raise $250,000 in 10 days.
Graduating senior Jessica McDonald serves as Miss Johnson C. Smith University. She is studying psychology and between her grants, scholarships and loans, she’s able to pay for classes. She remembers when she had an outstanding balance on her account in her freshman semester.
“It is a concern for students whether they can start and whether they will be able to continue school,” McDonald said. “That’s something that should not weigh on their minds.”
Right now, there are more than 300 JCSU students who can’t afford to pay the balance on their student account to stay in school.
“Obviously, you want to focus on getting books and your classes, but you can’t go to classes if you’re not financially cleared,” McDonald said.
Davida L. Haywood, VP of Student Affairs and enrollment at JCSU says officials are putting out an emergency call for the community to donate a quarter of a million dollars to the Gap Fund to help students continue their education.
“We are attempting to help many of our students come down to the financial threshold and then explore some additional options that we offer, like a university payment plan,” Dr. Haywood said.
JCSU has the highest enrollment the school has seen since before the pandemic with 1,378 students including more than 600 incoming freshman. Davis says the majority of students in need of financial clearance are freshman.
This is also the first school year since the federal government reworked its FAFSA formula to determine eligibility aid.
According to the National College Attainment Network, the average student at a four year institution will owe $2,256 after financial aid.
“We’re playing catch up at the same time that like the game is being devised and I gather we may be facing some similar issues as we approach the 25-26 academic year,” Dr. Haywood said.” We’re still trying to iron out some of the issues with the current FAFSA.”
While the university works to keep students enrolled, McDonald hopes this emergency aid campaign starts a larger conversation about the cost of college. Twenty two counties offer some form of free higher education across the world.
“I do not feel like college is affordable and I don’t understand why college isn’t free,” McDonald said. “Honestly, I know in other countries it is.”
The Final day to pay off outstanding account balances is August 30th. JCSU is hosting a call with students, faculty and potential donors Monday August 26th at 6pm.
You can donate to the campaign here.
