HELP UT DALLAS STUDENTS RETURN TO CAMPUS

As the fall 2022 semester gets underway, some UT Dallas students need help during the transition into the new school year. As students return to campus and get settled in, an unexpected cost or emergency can all too often threaten to derail their studies before they begin. Help support UT Dallas students by making a donation to our on-campus resources available to help students in need.

• Comet Cupboard
• UT Dallas Student Emergency Fund
• UT Dallas International Student Emergency Fund

Choose your area of impact and make an immediate difference with your gift today. 

COMET CUPBOARD 

To meet the needs of on-campus students experiencing food insecurity, the Comet Cupboard continues to serve the UT Dallas community. The Comet Cupboard experiences high levels of demand year-round. 

The Comet Cupboard could not exist or grow without your help. 

The Comet Cupboard will be moving to a larger new physical location during the 2022-23 academic year, resulting in a greater expansion of the Comet Cupboard’s mission to build a #HungerFreeUTD! Contributions to the 2022 Back to School Drive will support the following startup initiatives connected to our upcoming relocation:

• Purchase of refrigeration equipment to allow increased capacity for, and distribution of, frozen, refrigerated and fresh produce items. 
• Acquisition of larger amounts of cereal, boxed meals, household items and personal care items.
• Increased access to vegetarian, vegan, grain-free, Kosher and Halal-compliant food items

The Comet Cupboard food pantry, an on-campus student-led initiative, began operations in 2012 and is dedicated to helping students in need achieve academic success by alleviating their food insecurity challenges. Additionally, undergraduate Comets are able to engage in volunteerism and leadership with the Comet Cupboard as a service-learning experience that helps students value community over individualism.  

Food insecurity compromises a student’s ability to achieve academic success. According to college students surveyed in the College and University Food Bank Alliance’s Hunger on Campus study, 53% report missing a class, 55% did not buy a required textbook and 25% dropped a class because of hunger or housing problems. 

We value each student and want to ensure they have their essential needs met in order to achieve their full potential during their academic journey. Please join us to continue the mission of feeding hungry Comets. Let’s create a #HungerFreeUTD!

You can learn more about the Comet Cupboard, along with how to donate the cupboard's most needed items, here: https://oue.utdallas.edu/cupboard

STUDENT EMERGENCY FUND

The UT Dallas Student Emergency Fund supports all UT Dallas students experiencing financial hardships. It is managed by the Division of Student Affairs and Office of Financial Aid, and financial support is based on immediate needs. 

The Student Emergency Fund was created during a time of unprecedented uncertainty. Unfortunately, many UT Dallas students continue to face difficulties. Unexpected financial hardships may limit students from continuing on their academic journeys. 

To date, 2,895 students have been served and over $1 million in emergency funds have been disbursed. The Student Emergency Fund represents the resilience and generosity of the Comet spirit. Its creation was driven by alumni and friends asking how they could help current students, and provides a way for our community to continue meeting student's emergent needs.

By supporting the UT Dallas Student Emergency Fund, you can assist UT Dallas students contending with financial challenges such as:

• Housing and food insecurity
• Medical care and prescriptions
• Emergency travel costs
• Elimination of jobs and/or reduction of income
• Other unplanned expenses

You can learn more about the Student Emergency Fund and the application process here: www.utdallas.edu/deanofstudents/emergency

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT EMERGENCY FUND 

This fund is managed out of the International Student Services Office and was established to support F-1 international students at UT Dallas. The UT Dallas International Student Emergency Fund (UTDISEF) exists to offer limited financial assistance to UT Dallas international students experiencing unforeseen and unexpected circumstances that require financial resources to solve and which, if not addressed, could prohibit the student from remaining enrolled and persisting toward graduation

By supporting the UTDISEF, you can assist UT Dallas students contending with financial challenges such as:

• USCIS application fees for critical immigration applications (economic hardship, extension of stay, temporary protected status)
• Medical expenses such as hospitalization or medication expenses
• Unexpected emergency travel
• Unexpected housing expenses
• Food insecurity
• Loss of financial resources due to being a victim of crime (i.e., scam, theft, etc.)

You can learn more about the International Student Emergency Fund and the application process here: https://isso.utdallas.edu/isef/