Students affected by Katrina can apply now for financial assistance to re-enroll
Contact: Christina Chapple
4/24/06
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University is offering a one-time award of $100-$250 to help students affected by Hurricane Katrina return to school.
Eligible students are being notified now for the special disaster relief program, which has been funded by approximately $150,000 collected through donations and fund-raising efforts by the university’s Student Government Association, Development Foundation, Alumni Association, and the Spears Hurricane Relief Foundation.
Students qualify for the assistance if they resigned from Southeastern in fall 2005 as a result of the hurricane, are in good academic standing, and were not enrolled in a college or university during the current (spring 2006) semester. The award is available for either the summer 2006 or fall 2006 semesters.
“We know this has been a very difficult time for many of our students and their families,” said President Randy Moffett, “This program is designed to defray some of the non-tuition costs of re-enrolling, such as rental textbooks, and course, lab and student I.D. fees.”
The award amount is based on the number of course hours in which a student enrolls: $100 for one-six hours; $150, seven-11 hours; $200, 12-15 hours; $250, 16 or more hours.
Southeastern is attempting to contact approximately 700 qualified students by mail, but those who do not receive a letter and application form can get information about the disaster relief program by contacting Southeastern’s Scholarship Services Office at 985-549-2245 or by e-mailing Director of Financial Aid Rosie Toney at rtoney@selu.edu, said Stephen Soutullo, dean of enrollment management. He said the university would like to hear from all eligible students whether they plan to return to the University or not.
“Students gave us contact information when they resigned, but many of those addresses were temporary,” Soutullo said. “We want to hear from everyone, so we really appreciate students taking a few moments to tell us about their plans.”
Although the special awards initially target students who resigned last fall and were not able to return in the spring, Soutullo said the university hopes to extend the award, on a funds available basis, to the approximately 600-plus hurricane-affected students who resigned in the fall, but did return this spring.
“We hope that Southeastern’s disaster relief assistance program will help make it possible for students to return to Southeastern in the near future,” Moffett said.
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