ADRIAN, Mich. – Even with its Adrian campus closed, Siena Heights University is still housing and assisting many students who are unable to return home for a variety of reasons due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
The crisis has created many new and unanticipated needs for those students, as well as for SHU students at its Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Dearborn, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Monroe and Southfield locations and SHU’s Online Program.
The University was originally planning its Annual Day of Giving fundraising event on March 25. However, in light of recent events, the university decided to establish the Saints Strong Fund that will help meet those student needs.
“More than 60 percent of our Adrian campus students are the first in their family to attend college,” said SHU President Sister Peg Albert, OP, PhD. “They were not secure with many of the needs like food, toiletries, rent/housing, medical bills and technology when they arrived to study at Siena, and the COVID-19 situation has only increased their needs.”
“Our SHU Day of Giving scheduled on March 25 and the Scholarship Gala scheduled on April 18 both have had to be postponed,” said SHU Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dan Pena. “The loss of these events are a tough blow, because more than 90 percent of our students receive financial aid support to study at Siena. These events bring in significant financial aid support for our students. However, we are excited to announce the start of the Saints Strong Fund to support our students in need.”
President Albert said the fund will provide immediate support to students so they can continue their studies at Siena Heights.
“We are all under constraints right now with our jobs, family challenges and the uncertainty of the economy,” she said. “We are teaching our students remotely,” President Albert said. “Community is what Siena Heights has always embodied. Let’s use this challenge as an opportunity to demonstrate to our students, alumni and friends how the Siena family cares for one another.”
To make a gift to the Saints Strong Fund, https://saintsstrong.givesmart.com, visit sienaheights.edu/saintsstrong. Or text “saintsstrong” to 76278.
“It’s a very uncertain time, but as a Siena community, we will get through this together,” President Albert said.
Siena Heights University is a Catholic university founded and sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Siena Heights is a coeducational North Central accredited institution founded in the liberal arts tradition, offering associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The university is headquartered in Adrian, Mich., with degree completion centers in Dearborn, Southfield, Benton Harbor, Monroe, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Jackson and Online.
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*Media courtesy of Siena Heights University*