Emergency $$$

Find out ways CCNY offers money to help students with rising college costs.by Kritzie Roberts.Last semester, Chavonne Hodges came “this close” to dropping out of City College. A flood destroyed her home in Queens and almost everything inside, including her schoolbooks. Despite a part-time job, she didn’t have enough money to make ends meet—and the rise in tuition made things worse.“I started to feel stressed about not knowing if I was going to be able to return home,” says Hodges, a senior. "I had no money to purchase a new bed or fix my room so that I could stay at home, and ended up staying in a friend's home for about a month."But Hodges found help, in the form of an Emergency Aid grant through the City College administration office. Though according to the rules of the grant, she couldn’t use the money for tuition, she was able to buy herself a new bed and fix her room so she could return to her home. Given the tough economic climate and the rising cost of attending college, Hodges isn’t the only one who has needed some extra help. Thanks to the organization and perseverance of the CCNY Faculty, staff and President Lisa Staiano- Coico, they are able to receive it two ways.The first is the emergency aid grant that Hodges received. It is given to students in need under unexpected circumstances, but can’t be used toward tuition. The grant is funded in part by Dream Keepers fund and through the Pieter fund and can be used to pay for a metro card, medical costs, bills that result from loss of job and death in the family, and similar documented emergencies.  Students can apply for a max of $1,500 can be awarded and cannot exceed more than one award per two-year period.  An example of problems that funds would not cover: debts to CCNY, tuition bills, cell phone bills, credit card bills, traffic violations, and car insurance.Along with emergency aid, students can also apply for the CCNY Faculty, Staff and administration scholarship. In the spring the Humanities and Art Department held an amateur night to raise money for the scholarship. It is only available to those part-time or full-time working students with a GPA of 2.5 or higher who do not already receive PELL or TAP grants that cover tuition."The scholarship will be given only in the amount needed to cover the tuition increase,” says Robert Rodriguez, assistant vice president of student affairs at CCNY.  “The scholarship is designed to ensure that all students can bridge the difference between the current and new tuition."One note: Not many students are applying for this scholarship, so if you need help, be sure to look into it.  For more information: Visit the student affairs office in the administration building, 204 or go online.