Over the last few months, MHCC and all other colleges and universities across the state have closed their campuses to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Faculty worked hard to migrate course content to a virtual format and as a result MHCC’s first ever fully online Spring Term is currently underway.

MHCC recognizes that the services it provides to its students extend further than its academic offerings and that the social distancing measures associated with COVID-19 place even more stress on students, especially those who are already underserved or disadvantaged.

An emergency fund being coordinated by the MHCC Student Success Program is just one way the college is continuing to provide support. A $30,000 gift from the MHCC Foundation created the fund just for students who need emergency assistance due to the pandemic.

“Students are at the center of all that we do, even when we are not on campus. This is a great start and we would like to continue to offer these critical services to our students for as long as possible, so we are asking our community for support to make that happen,” said MHCC President Dr. Lisa Skari.

These emergency resources included direct payments to vendors, gift cards and loaner laptops on a first-come, first-served basis. Nyctasia French, a second-year student at MHCC, would not have been able to continue her academic journey without getting a laptop from the program.

“The Student Success program and MHCC team were amazing and helped me with a lot of the stress associated with everything being moved online. They responded and got me a laptop within 24 hours so now I can continue my coursework and even enjoy studying outside in the sun,” she said.

Ruby Vallarta, a first-generation student, aims to transfer to Portland State University (PSU) to continue her studies in the fall. That would have been delayed if it was not for the loaner laptop and gas and grocery gift cards she was provided through the program.

“Being able to access these emergency resources has meant so much to me. I wasn’t going to be able to complete Spring Term and that would have pushed back my graduation date, as well as my admittance to PSU,” she said. “My experience was wonderful and everyone with the MHCC team genuinely wants you to be successful.”

The college is determined to continue to provide ample supports such as these for its students, but needs the help of the community to do so. Donations are now being accepted by the MHCC Foundation in support of student success during this unprecedented time.