‘Academic Shelter’ for Victims of Hurricane Katrina
September 1, 2005
Contact: University Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
The University of Baltimore is offering academic shelter for any junior, senior, graduate student or law student adversely affected by Hurricane Katrina. Students whose institutions have closed indefinitely, or who are facing educational hardships due to curtailed class schedules, loss of employment, or personal or family difficulties arising from this disastrous storm will be offered a waiver of the University’s application fee and will be charged in-state tuition rates for the fall 2005 semester. The tuition will be waived if they have already paid tuition at their home institution.
For additional information, please contact the University of Baltimore Office of Admissions, toll-free at 1.877.ApplyUB, or http://www.ubalt.edu/admissions.
Details of the ongoing UB effort:
In adherence to guidelines established by the University System of Maryland Board of Regents concerning college students affected by the hurricane, Enrollment Management and Student Affairs has worked with the Merrick School of Business and the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts to develop a process to streamline admission and facilitate enrollment of these students into our undergraduate and graduate programs. Affected students will be asked to complete an admission application and will be admitted as non-degree students to the University. The admission application fee will be waived for these individuals, and they will be charged in-state tuition rates for the fall 2005 semester. The Law School has developed a similar approach to support these students.
All UB faculty and staff are aware of this initiative and are urged to support these students as they enroll. To provide support for these individuals, Enrollment Management and Student Affairs has:
-Developed a list of local housing properties with known vacancies for those traveling from out-of-state (Center for Student Involvement)
-Arranged for additional tutoring support for late arrivals (Academic Resource Center)
-Reserved counseling appointments for these students (Counseling Center)
-Delayed the tuition payment deadline for those with financial need until November 1, 2005 (Financial Aid Office)
Please refer all inquiries from students affected by Hurricane Katrina for the School of Business and College of Liberal Arts to Joan Anson, director of Admissions, at 410.837.4777. Inquiries regarding Law School admissions should be directed to Tony Torain, associate dean for Enrollment and Student Services, at 410.837.4529.
UB has undertaken several other initiatives to provide assistance to those whose lives were affected by the storm. In addition to the previously announced offer of academic shelter for affected students – which has resulted in a number of admissions as well as many enquiries – the University is involved in several other aid-related projects.
The following is a brief up-to-date overview of those projects. More ideas are being generated almost daily, so this cannot be considered a comprehensive list, nor is it in any order of priority. This overview is designed to provide a simple snapshot of UB in action – what the campus is doing to help those in need of assistance.
(If you have additions to this list, or if you would like to propose an idea, contact 410.837.5417.)
1. A fundraising effort for students, faculty and staff has begun in the Center for Student Involvement. The immediate goal is to raise $5,000, which will be donated to the Red Cross. A corporate matching gift has been obtained. The Oct. 6 Block Party here on campus will focus on this key fundraiser. In addition, the UB Athletic club is selling T-shirts ($10 each) and the Center for Student Involvement is selling bracelets ($5), both with a Katrina recovery and support theme. All proceeds will go to a selected charity to support recovery efforts. Numerous student clubs are sponsoring activities on and off campus to raise funds for UB’s donation.
2. The University will host a blood donation drive on Thursday, Nov. 10. Time and location to be announced.
3. The local chapter of the Red Cross is considering an offer by UB of physical space for volunteer training. A response to the offer is expected shortly. Existing UB curricula could enhance this training. Some faculty members are volunteering to lead training sessions.
4. Some employees with families in the affected areas have requested and been granted leave time to help with clean-up efforts. Other employees are making plans to visit the devastated areas as volunteers.
5. Students have proposed an alternative spring break that would involve a group visiting affected sites and volunteering in a variety of ways.
6. Employees and other community members have offered to open up their homes to provide shelter to victims.
7. Various UB faculty are providing relevant expertise to the myriad problems created by the hurricane, in areas ranging from public health to financial matters to the law.
8. UB is participating in the Sloan Semester, a major effort to accommodate college and graduate students displaced by Hurricane Katrina with tuition-free online courses. Sponsored by the Sloan Foundation and the Southern Regional Education Board, the Sloan Semester includes UB as one of nearly 200 campuses that will be offering online undergraduate and graduate courses at no charge in a special term that will begin on October 17 and end on December 14. Courses offered include Ethical Issues in Business and Society, Ancient Civilizations, Economics, International Management, and several others. Additional information is available at 410.837.4078.
If you are interested in donating to the relief efforts, please see the list of organizations posted on the State of Maryland's Web site: http://www.marylandcares.us/