NYU Shanghai Foundation Launches Hardship Fund for Students Affected by COVID-19 Outbreak

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many NYU Shanghai students and families around the world have had to weather unexpected hardship. For those students who have also faced extraordinary financial challenges during these times, the NYU Shanghai foundation has created a Community Adversity Relief Fund to help ease the burden. 

"We know that students and families work hard every year to budget for their education. COVID-19 has caused disruption and added burden on families. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we hope to provide some relief so that students can focus their energy on completing their academic studies rather than worrying about the next meal,” said Dean of Students David Pe. 

The fund’s priority is to support students who have lost income due to disrupted work-study programs, or have lost access to university services such as housing, meals and health care. Students who have had to pay for unexpected domestic and international travel home, as well as shipping of personal belongings will also be eligible to apply for assistance. Awards will be made based on financial need. 

Since the beginning of the outbreak, NYU Shanghai has made key investments to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff, while maintaining high-quality teaching and learning. The fund will also help the university offset the cost of extrabudgetary items such as the purchase and implementation of software programs and additional bandwidth to support online learning, the upgrade of the campus HVAC filtration system, the creation of government-mandated quarantine facilities, and the purchase medical equipment and protective gear. 

“The Chinese name for the fund is translated as NYU Shanghai Looking Out for Each Other & Fighting the Pandemic Fund (上海纽约大学守望相助战疫基金),” Director of Development Rime Sun said. “We hope our community can pull together to lift each other up during these difficult times.”

Donations of any size are welcome. Contributions by members of the Class of 2020 will count towards the 2020 senior class gift. Please visit  the Community Adversity Relief Fund page to show your support.