WSAS Student Services Grants
The Wellesley Students' Aid Society (WSAS) is pleased to announce the continuation of WSAS Student Services Grants. WSAS recognizes that many other departments and offices throughout Wellesley College offer support to students, and through this program, we continue to collaborate with colleagues both to identify students’ needs and to help address them.
As in our previous Grants Award year, WSAS sent Requests for Proposals to student service offices at the College inviting them to apply to WSAS for grants to develop and sustain programs to support the students with whom they work. As of Spring 2023, WSAS has awarded 51 grants totaling $283,150.
General questions about WSAS’ Student Services Grants program should be directed to Catherine Kefalas.
GRANTS AWARDED Academic Year 2022-2023 (as of 5/2023):
Office of Accessibility and Disability Resources
Support for Assistive Technologies - $1,200
Funds from this grant will be used to provide students access to paid versions of two assistive technologies: Kami and Beeline. Providing the premium versions of these software follows the College’s desire for inclusive excellence, furthering its mission of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by giving students with disabilities access to tools that give them an equal opportunity to succeed. It would also give students an equal opportunity to access these tools regardless of their socioeconomic status.
Contact: Jim Wice, Director of Accessibility and Disability Resources
Wellesley Career Education
Graduate School Preparation Support for Students with Financial Need Spring 2023 - $10,000
These funds would provide awards of $100 to help students cover costs associated with the graduate school application process. These grants would be available to juniors and seniors who are in the process of applying to graduate school. Our mission in Career Education is to equip and empower Wellesley students and graduates to engage, personally and professionally, in an ever-changing world with a keen awareness of self, an expansive sense of possibility, and the confidence in their abilities to make decisions, build connections, and pursue a life of purpose. Inclusive excellence is at the heart of every decision we make to turn this mission into a daily reality for Wellesley students and grads. Often funding plays a major role in how students prepare for graduate school entrance exams, choose the number of schools to apply to, etc. These funds directly impact our mission and the mission of the College by helping students to achieve their postgraduate goals regardless of income level.
Contact: Jen Pollard, Associate Provost and Executive Director, Career Education
Health Professions Advising Pre-Health Scholars Cohort - $2,000
Health Professions Advising (HPA) is developing a cohort program that aspires to support URiM (underrepresented in medicine) students by providing connections, information and opportunities for incoming first year students who express an interest in a career as a physician. In offering early opportunities, the goals of the Pre-Health Scholars program are to increase persistence in healthcare pathways, facilitate early mentorship, and demystify the college experience and professional school application. Funds from this grant will provide funding to support transportation to off-campus components of the program.
Contact: Cindy Seltzer, Director of Health Professions Advising
Office of Intercultural Education
Latinx Intercultural Engagement - $1,000
Many Latinx students at Wellesley College do not have access to explore and learn more about their Latinx culture and identity. It is imperative for the Latinx community during this important developmental time to have the opportunity to experience enriching cultural events related to their heritage. Additionally, being that the Wellesley College Latinx population is small, students need to reach out to other Latinx student groups at colleges in the area to have a greater community to share cultural experiences, expand students’ networks and consequently have a more well-rounded, positive college experience. Funds from this grant will be used to subsidize trips to various cultural enrichment events prioritizing those Latinx students with financial need.
Contact: Mared Alicea-Westort. Assistant Dean of Intercultural Education, Advisor to Latinx Student and Co-Advisor to Native American & Indigenous Students
Office of International Study
Study Abroad Support for Students with Financial Need Spring 2023 - $10,000
Funds from this grant will be used to provide high-need students hoping to study abroad during the 2023-2024 academic year with small grants to offset costs associated with going abroad that are not covered by Wellesley financial aid. These include fees for passport applications, passport renewal, and visas, as well as income lost by forgoing on-campus work-study.
Contact: Katie Saibara, Assistant Director of International Study
Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honor Society
Membership Dues for Students on Financial Aid - $3,750
Funds from this grant will assist with paying membership dues for students on financial aid. The national organization requires that students join the society in order to claim the honor of membership. Our chapter has always had a policy of paying the dues for students on financial aid. In recent years, the number of new members on financial aid has increased dramatically, in part due to our more holistic selection process in keeping with the goals of inclusive excellence.
Contact: Corinne Gartner, Associate Professor of Philosophy, President of the Wellesley Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa
Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics
PERA Physical Education Gear Program - $10,000
Funds from this program will directly impact any student at Wellesley College who needs assistance with purchasing PE gear. The College’s Physical Education graduation requirement ushers every single student through PERA’s doors. However, many students, especially those with financial need, cannot afford the cost of basic fitness gear like proper running shoes or a sports bra. With this program, students would be able to access the gear they need to safely complete their requirement.
Contact: Martha Dietrick, Associate Director, PERA, Finance and Personnel
Office of Residential Life
Winter Break Food Grant - $3,500
WSAS provided a food grant of $3,500 to Wellesley College Residential Life to support those students remaining on campus during the Winter break from 12/24/22-1/2/23.
Contact: Helen Wang, Associate Dean of Residential Life and Community Development; Interim Community Director, Stone Davis Hall
Slater International Center
US Work Authorization Application Fee Support for Senior International Students Spring 2023 - $4,500
Funds from this grant will support senior international students with high financial need with the cost of applying to the US government for the opportunity to work post-graduation. The application fee for this post-graduation work opportunity is a heavy burden for many international students. If approved, these students will receive a work authorization card to work in the US legally for 12 months.
Contact: Tana D. Ruegamer, Director, Slater International Center; Advisor to International Students and Scholars
Food Accessibility Program for Academic Breaks – $2,500
Funds from this grant will be disbursed in five separate increments prior to the start of each academic break: Fall, Thanksgiving, Winter, Spring, and Summer. The Slater International Center proposes to create a safe and accessible space to provide our student and scholar community food security, and access to cultural ingredients that may be more difficult for students to obtain. The Slater Center space offers our community basic kitchen needs, such as cooking utensils, cooking appliances, and non-perishable snacks and beverages. This proposal came about from students’ requests for more diverse food accessibility and an increase in food insecurity concerns, specifically from students who are on financial aid, and/or experiencing financial hardships. This particular student population is also vulnerable to cultural adjustment and experiences feelings of isolation, anxiety, depression, or homesickness during these breaks. Food is universally interconnected with the emotional, mental, and cultural ties that can provide the comforts of home and provide an additional layer of student support.
Contact: Tana D. Ruegamer, Director, Slater International Center; Advisor to International Students and Scholars
Wellesley Students' Aid Society
Winter Clothing Grants - $21,000
The WSAS Board of Directors approved grant funds to provide Winter Clothing grants of $100 to 210 students on Financial Aid. These grant funds provided students with warm winter coats, gloves, scarves, hats, and boots.
GRANTS AWARDED Academic Year 2021-2022:
Class Deans’ Office
Emergency Leave of Absence Support Spring 2022 - $5,000
Office of Intercultural Education
AAPI First Year Fellowship Fall 2022 - $3,500
Office of International Study
Study Abroad Support for Students with Financial Need Spring 2022 - $10,000
Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics
PERA Physical Education Gear Program and Lifeguard Training - $10,000
Office of Residential Life
Laundry Support Grant (For AY21/22 Only) - $2,400
Winter Break Food Grant - $3,000
Slater International Center
Food Accessibility Program For Academic Breaks – $2,000
Stone Center Counseling Service
Improving Access to Mental Health Services - $10,000
Wellesley Career Education
Graduate School Preparation Support Spring 2022 - $10,000
Wellesley Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa
Membership Grants for Students on Financial Aid - $3,400
Wellesley Students' Aid Society
Winter Clothing Grants - $31,000
Class Deans’ Office
Emergency Leave of Absence Support Spring 2022 - $5,000
Funds from this grant will be made available for students who need to go on leave during the academic year because of a medical, mental health or personal emergency. There is substantial need for this support, especially given the financial pressures students and their families have been facing during the pandemic. These funds will be used to assist with expenses related to packing, shipping, and storing personal items, and for the student’s transportation so that financial concerns do not interfere with the students’ decision-making process.
Contact: Susan Cohen, Dean of the Class of 2022 & Davis Scholars
Office of Intercultural Education
AAPI First Year Fellowship Fall 2022 - $3,500
Funds from this grant will support the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) First Year Fellowship program. This program offers AAPI students an opportunity to reflect, explore and affirm their racial experience and identity. Asian American students often feel that they are invisible in curriculum, media and political representation, as well as racial discourse. They experience daily micro and macro aggressions, but these experiences are rarely acknowledged and addressed. With the rise of anti-Asian violence due to COVID-19, Asian American students have this added layer of stress as they are worried about the safety of their family, friends, and themselves. Students who participated in the pilot program reported the fellowship helped them (1) develop a strong sense of community as well as (2) develop close friendships. Students also shared they became more centered and grounded with their Asian American identity.
Contact: Karen Shih, Assistant Dean of Intercultural Education, Advisor to Students of Asian Descent, and Co-Advisor to Native American Students
Office of International Study
Study Abroad Support for Students with Financial Need Spring 2022 - $10,000
Funds from this grant will be used to provide high-need students hoping to study abroad during the 2022-2023 academic year with small grants to offset costs associated with going abroad that are not covered by Wellesley financial aid. These include fees for passport applications, passport renewal, and visas, as well as income lost by forgoing on-campus work-study.
Contact: Katie Saibara, Assistant Director of International Study
Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics
PERA Physical Education Gear Program and Lifeguard Training - $10,000
Funds from this grant will (1) help high need Wellesley College students purchase the athletic gear needed for physical education classes (2) assist with costs related to Lifeguard training. Wellesley College’s physical education graduation requirement brings every Wellesley student through PERA’s doors. However, many students, especially those identified as high need, cannot afford the cost of basic fitness gear like proper running shoes or a sports bra. With this program students would be able to acquire the gear they need to safely complete their requirement.
Contact: Martha Dietrick, Associate Director for Finance & Personnel
Office of Residential Life
Laundry Support Grant (For AY21/22 Only) - $2,400
WSAS provided $2,400 to Wellesley College Residential Life for laundry cards for students. WSAS also stocked the WSAS Clothes Closet with free laundry detergent pods and dryer sheets.
Contact: Helen Wang, Associate Dean of Residential Life and Community Development; Interim Community Director, Beebe and Cazenove Halls
Winter Break Food Grant - $3,000
WSAS provided a food grant of $3,000 to Wellesley College Residential Life to support those students who could not leave campus during the Winter break from 12/24/21-1/2/22.
Contact: Helen Wang, Associate Dean of Residential Life and Community Development; Interim Community Director, Beebe and Cazenove Halls
Slater International Center
Food Accessibility Program For Academic Breaks – $2,000
Our proposal is to (1) address food insecurity concerns, specifically for our international students and scholars who are on financial aid, and/or experiencing financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic or global crises, and (2) increase diverse food accessibility. Funds from this grant would be disbursed in five separate increments prior to the start of each academic break, which would include the following: Fall, Thanksgiving, Winter, Spring, & Summer Academic Break. The student population we support is vulnerable to cultural adjustment and may experience feelings of isolation, anxiety, depression, or homesickness during these breaks. We propose to create a safe and accessible space to provide our student & scholar community food security, and access to cultural ingredients that may be more difficult for students to obtain. Food is universally interconnected with the emotional, mental, and cultural ties that can provide the comforts of home and provide an additional layer of student support.
Stone Center Counseling Service
Improving Access to Mental Health Services - $10,000
Funds from this grant will be used to address the treatment and transportation needs of our students and remove barriers to access to care. This grant is intended to mitigate or eliminate financial barriers to treatment and targeted to address the needs of high-risk students that without a higher level of intervention could see their mental health deteriorate. This grant is also intended to eliminate the need for a student to have to make a choice of either seeking the treatment that they need or putting themselves or their families in financial hardship.
Contact: Sandra Acevedo, LICSW, Student Care Coordinator
Wellesley Career Education
Graduate School Preparation Support for Students with Financial Need Spring 2022 - $10,000
Funds from this grant will help students cover costs associated with the graduate school application process. These grants would be available to juniors and seniors who are in the process of applying to graduate school. Typical costs associated with the graduate school application process include Application Fees, Standardized Tests, Test Prep and Program Visits and Interviews. Considering that almost 60% of Wellesley students receive financial aid, these are the types of expenses many of our students cannot afford.
Contact: Jen Pollard, Executive Director & Associate Provost
Wellesley Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa
Membership Grants for Students on Financial Aid - $3,400
Funds from this grant will provide assistance with paying membership dues of the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society for students on financial aid. In recent years, the number of new members on financial aid has increased dramatically, in part due to our more holistic selection process in keeping with the goals of inclusive excellence. The selection process will take place in April of 2022 and registration and induction will take place in May of 2022.
Contact: Kimberly Cassibry, Associate Professor of Art, President of Wellesley's Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa
Wellesley Students' Aid Society
Winter Clothing Grants for Students on Financial Aid - $31, 000
With the full complement of students returning to campus in Fall of 2021, the WSAS Board of Directors approved grant funds to provide Winter Clothing grants of $100 to over 300 students on Financial Aid. These grant funds provided students with warm winter coats, gloves, scarves, hats, and boots.
GRANTS AWARDED Academic Year 2020-2021:
Class Deans’ Office
Emergency Leave of Absence Support Spring 2021 - $5,000
Office of Intercultural Education
Virtual Self-Care Event Spring 2021 - $1,000
LatinXpo to be presented Fall 2021 - $1,600
Asian American First Year Fellowship - $2,500
Office of International Study
Study Abroad Support for Students with Financial Need Spring 2021 - $10,000
Office of Residential Life
Winter Clothing Grant Fall 2020 - $5,000
Holiday 2020 and Winter Break 2021 Food Grant Winter 2020/2021 - $2,000
Residential Resource Closets Spring 2021 - $5,000
Slater International Center
US Work Authorization Application Fee Support for Senior International Students Spring 2021 - $5,000
Stone Center Counseling Services
CARE NOW Grant - $10,000
Transportation Grant For Mental Health Provider Visits - $10,000
Wellesley Career Education
Wellesley College Hive Internship Support for International Students and Students with Financial Need Spring 2021 - $9,000
Graduate School Preparation Support for Students with Financial Need Spring 2021 - $5,000
Class Deans’ Office
Emergency Leave of Absence Support Spring 2021 - $5,000
Funds from this grant will be made available for students who need to go on leave during the academic year because of a medical, mental health or personal emergency. These funds will be used to assist with expenses related to packing, shipping, and storing personal items, and for the student’s transportation so that financial concerns do not interfere with the students’ decision-making process.
Office of Intercultural Education
Virtual Self-Care Event Spring 2021 - $1,000
Funds from this grant will support a virtual self-care evening of DIY cookie decorating, mindfulness and reflection in an effort to help our students currently attending Wellesley from their homes to feel seen, known, and loved in the student community.
Contact: Mared Alicea-Westort, Assistant Dean of Intercultural Education & Advisor to Latinx Students
LatinXpo to be presented Fall 2021 - $1,600
Funds from this grant will support the LatinXpo event to be held during Hispanic Heritage month. LatinXpo will be a space for building community and rapport among Wellesley students, faculty and staff, and will offer this year’s First Year students (who will be sophomores in the Fall) a special opportunity to continue finding their place at Wellesley. This experience will also offer a taste of the vibrant cuisines from areas of Latin America.
Contact: Mared Alicea-Westort, Assistant Dean of Intercultural Education & Advisor to Latinx Students
Asian American First Year Fellowship Fall 2021 - $2,500
Funds from this grant will support an 8-week long fellowship that will consist of weekly workshops for Asian American students to explore their racial identity, the intersectionality of their racial identity, and how to practice inter-racial solidarity and allyship as they navigate their first year at Wellesley. The goal of the project is to provide Asian American students a space to unpack their racial identity in relation to other identities (e.g. gender/sexual orientation and class status); connect Asian American students with Wellesley professors who teach Asian American Studies/related topics or are allies to the Asian American community; and foster meaningful relationships between participants that will last throughout their four years at Wellesley. Each week’s 2-hour-long workshop will center on a specific identity/topic. In the program design, Wellesley professors from a diverse range of disciplines will play an integral role in both deepening participants’ understanding of their racial identities at Wellesley and exposing first year students to the inclusive curricula Wellesley departments have to offer. We believe that providing first years exposure to Asian American professors and academic allies to the Asian American community will have implications for Asian American students’ academic trajectories, personal development, and mental health and wellbeing during their four years Wellesley and beyond.
Contact: Karen Shih, Assistant Dean of Intercultural Education and Advisor to Students of Asian Descent
Office of International Study
Study Abroad Support for Students with Financial Need Spring 2021 - $10,000
Funds from this grant will support students with high financial need who are planning to study abroad in Fall 2021. Participating students have significant expenses for study abroad program that they will need to pay in advance of receiving their financial aid. For some students, these expenses are a concern as they begin their preparations for study abroad.
Office of Residential Life
Winter Clothing Grant Fall 2020 - $5,000
With the WSAS Clothes Closet closed for AY20/21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students coming to campus from warm climates do not have an on-campus resource for obtaining cold weather clothing. These funds will be used to provide grants of $100 to approximately 50 students who are in need of winter clothing.
Holiday 2020/Winter Break 2021 Food Grant - $2,000
Funds from this grant purchased a holiday meal and other food for a small population of students who could not return home and remained on campus this holiday season and winter break.
Residential Resource Closets Spring 2021 - $5,000
The joint initiative between Wellesley Students’ Aid Society and Wellesley ResLife and Housing will make available a place where students may access living necessities (toiletries, hygiene products, laundry, etc.) for free. In addition, students may replenish the Resource Closet as their situation permits. There are two Resource Closets on campus: (1) Stone Davis - 1st Floor, Outside the WSAS Clothes Closet; and (2) Severance - 1st Floor Living Room.
Slater International Center
US Work Authorization Application Fee Support for Senior International Students Spring 2021 - $5,000
Funds from this grant will support senior international students with financial need with the cost of applying to the US government for the opportunity to work post-graduation. The application fee for this post-graduation work opportunity is a heavy burden for many international students. If approved, these students will receive a work authorization card to work in the US legally for 12 months. Many students and their families have been negatively affected by the pandemic. This, coupled with the devaluation of currency around the world, increases the need of these students even more than usual.
Contact: Tana Ruegamer, Director, Slater International Center
Stone Center Counseling Services
CARE NOW Grant - $10,000
Funds from the CARE NOW grant aims to assist high risk students in need of higher level of mental health care treatment, and encountering financial barriers to access this life saving treatment. This grant will provide funds to eliminate or mitigate financial barriers when a student is in need of Partial hospitalization Program, Inpatient hospitalization or specialized out of network needs. The grant allows for flexibility in exploring treatment options and how to eliminate or mitigate the financial barrier by covering a deductible, coinsurance, or when most cost effective will subsidize the purchase of the college insurance. The CARE NOW grant hopes that no student has to make a choice between getting care and financial setback. Students are expected to contribute personal/family resources towards their treatment if available and able as we hope to help as many students as possible in a fair and equitable manner.
Contact: Sandra Acevedo, LICSW, Student Care Coordinator
Transportation Grant For Mental Health Provider Visits - $10,000
The Stone Center Counseling Services provides therapy services to about 35% of the students on campus. Our model is designed for short term support as we do not have the staffing capacity to see every student that needs support once a week. A clinician position was created to assist students in connecting with providers in the community when the needs of our students exceed the SCCS capacity. It is in the referral process that many students raised concerns about their ability to pay for co-pays and transportation cost to and from the office of the community provider. These concerns are consistent with 60% of our students receiving financial aid. Funds from this grant will provide mini grants to help students subsidize the cost of transportation to get to a provider’s office. We expect students to use their resources as this support is intended as a subsidy only to this cost.
Contact: Sandra Acevedo, LICSW, Student Care Coordinator
Wellesley Career Education
Wellesley College Hive Internship Support for International Students and Students with Financial Need Spring 2021 - $9,000
Funds from this grant will support students participating in Wellesley College Hive Internship Projects that are otherwise unpaid. Applications for funds will be available to both international students and students demonstrating high financial need. This amount will allow us to distribute grants to offset financial and international student legal hurdles that would otherwise inhibit participation in these summer experiential learning projects.
Contact: Tess Mattern, Associate Director of Operations & Marketing, Wellesley Career Education
Graduate School Preparation Support for Students with Financial Need Spring 2021 - $5,000
Funds from this grant will help students cover costs associated with the graduate school application process. These grants would be available to juniors and seniors who are in the process of applying to graduate school. Typical costs associated with the graduate school application process include Application Fees, Standardized Tests, Test Prep and Program Visits and Interviews. Considering that almost 60% of Wellesley students receive financial aid, these are the types of expenses many of our students cannot afford.
Contact: Jen Pollard, Executive Director & Associate Provost
GRANTS AWARDED Academic Year 2019-2020 (Temporarily suspended in Spring 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic and evacuation of campus.):
Class Deans’ Office
Emergency Leave of Absence Support Spring 2019 - $5,000
First Generation Network/Class Deans’ Office
Wellesley First Graduate School Bootcamp Prep Program Spring 2019 - $5,000
Health Services and the Stone Center Counseling Service
Transportation Pilot Program for Medical Visits Spring 2019 - $6,500
Office of Accessibility and Disability Resources
Student Disability Testing for Low Income Students Spring 2019 - $5,000
Office of Intercultural Education
Latinx Study Break Spring 2019 - $1,000
Traditional Holistic Health and Wellness Workshop Spring 2019 - $1,000
Office of Religious and Spiritual Life
Ramadan Community Iftar Dinner Spring 2019 - $1,500
Office of Residential Life
Laundry Support Fall 2019/Spring 2020 - $1,800
Wintersession Food Grant Winter 2020 - $500
COVID Student Support Grant Spring 2020 - $1,000
COVID Food Pantry Grant Summer 2020 - $1,000
Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics
PERA Physical Education Gear Program Pilot Spring 2019 - $10,000
Slater International Center
Increased Awareness and Support for Nutritional Food Access and Food Insecurity Spring 2019 - $2,000
Non-Resident Tax Advising and Preparation Support for International Students and Scholars Spring 2019 - $5,000
Wellesley Career Education
Graduate School Preparation for Students of Need Spring 2019 - $5,000
Wellesley Career Education Suit Program Spring 2019 - $1,000
Class Deans’ Office
Emergency Leave of Absence Support - $5,000
Funds from this grant will be made available for students who need to go on leave during the academic year because of a medical, mental health or personal emergency. These funds will be used to assist with expenses related to packing, shipping, and storing personal items, and for the student’s transportation so that financial concerns do not interfere with the students’ decision-making process.
First Generation Network/Class Deans’ Office
Wellesley First Graduate School Bootcamp Prep Program - $5,000
This 5-day program is designed to acquaint first generation students – the first in their family to pursue a four-year college degree – with the knowledge needed to successfully apply to graduate school. The program includes a variety of workshops, events, and networking that help demystify the graduate application process. The program is open to any Junior of Senior first generation or underrepresented student.
Health Services and the Stone Center Counseling Service
Transportation Pilot Program for Medical Visits - $6,500
Off-campus transportation for routine and urgent care visits to outside medical offices and referrals to community specialists are an issue for students with limited funds and with no access to personal transportation. The funds from this grant will pilot a robust program by tracking and monitoring off-campus transportation for routine and urgent medical visits during and after business hours including weekends.
Office of Accessibility and Disability Resources
Student Disability Testing for Low Income Students - $5,000
Neuropsychological testing determines whether a learning disability, ADHD, or a mental health disorder exists. The results of such testing provide documentation for academic accommodations that support student learning. Low income students may not have the resources to pay for testing and therefore are not given equal access to academic accommodations. The funds from this grant will be used to develop a pilot program that would assist staff with implementing a process to help students obtain testing regardless of their ability to pay.
Office of Intercultural Education
Latinx Study Break - $1,000
The funds from this grant will support a study break for students during reading period week. This much needed break will consist of arts and crafts activities, board games, 15-minute chair massages, and food offerings. This will provide students an opportunity for an incredible therapeutic and relaxing experience during a particularly stressful time in the semester.
Traditional Holistic Health and Wellness Workshop - $1,000
Funds from this grant will be used to support a workshop which centers on culturally appropriate wellness techniques and practices. This workshop would resonate with Latinx students’ background and traditions, with a focus on holistic wellness. According to The Stone Center Counseling Service, Latinx students at Wellesley are the demographic using counseling services the least. This workshop will expand upon the health and wellness services available at Wellesley, and hopefully will increase dialogue about, and an interest in, learning more about on-campus health and wellness resources for Latinx students.
Office of Religious and Spiritual Life
Ramadan Community Iftar Dinner - $1,500
The Wellesley College 2019 Commencement coincided with the month of Ramadan, a special time for Muslims commemorating the revelation of the Quran. The month occurred this year between May 5 - June 4, 2019, and many Muslims were observing the traditional fasts from dawn to sunset. The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life hosted a Commencement Iftar Dinner on May 30, 2019 for seniors, their families, and friends. Funds from this grant provided dinner for approximately 58 people.
Office of Residential Life
Laundry Support - $1,800
Funds from this grant will help students access laundry services by providing them with detergent pods and dryer sheets. These items are available by making a request to a Community Director on an as needed basis.
Wintersession Food Grant - $500
Funds from this grant helped stock the kitchens with food for students who were staying on campus for wintersession.
COVID Spring 2020 Student Support Grant - $1,000
Funds from this grant helped support students who could not return home and remained on campus this spring during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID Summer 2020 Food Pantry Grant - $1,000
Funds from this grant purchased food for a small population of students who could not return home and remained on campus this summer for an extended period of time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics
PERA Physical Education Gear Program Pilot - $10,000
Funds from this grant will help high need Wellesley College students purchase the athletic gear needed for physical education classes. Wellesley College’s physical education graduation requirement brings every Wellesley student through PERA’s doors. However, many students, especially those identified as high need, cannot afford the cost of basic fitness gear like proper running shoes or a sports bra. Based on 2017-18 academic year statistics, this program would impact nearly one quarter of the student population. With this program students would be able to acquire the gear they need to safely complete their requirement.
Slater International Center
Increased Awareness and Support for Nutritional Food Access and Food Insecurity - $2,000
Funds from this grant will assist Slater Center in creating a safe and accessible space for their student and scholar community during Wellesley College break periods. This space will provide students with not only food security, but also nutritious cultural ingredients that tend to be more difficult to obtain. This population is susceptible to experiencing strong feelings of isolation, homesickness, and culture shock during these breaks. Food can be emotional for these individuals living abroad, and home cooking can give them some socio-emotional support. This proposal will assist Slater in purchasing healthier food options for students who cannot afford to travel or meal swipe into on-campus dining facilities during the academic breaks.
Non-Resident Tax Advising and Preparation Support for International Students and Scholars - $5,000
Funds from this grant will assist Slater Center to better support all international students and scholars with access to specialists and an upgraded tax program so that they can maintain accurate tax records. Students and scholars may find adjusting to permanent residence status and other immigration statuses in the future difficult if accurate tax records are not filed and maintained. Since the Slater Center Team is not legally allowed to advise on taxes, this leaves our students without the advice necessary to properly file taxes. Grant funds will allow the upgrade to a new tax program, tax workshops to learn how to use the new tax program presented by the tax company providing the software, 24-hour technical support, and two tax workshops by a CPA/tax specialist to support our tax advising.
Wellesley Career Education
Graduate School Preparation for Students of Need - $5,000
Students of need can apply for funding from this grant for graduate processes including test preparation books and sample tests for students to access (MCAT, LSAT, GRE, DAT, GMAT, etc), as well as application fees for graduate programs. There will be an application process for students to be eligible for this funding, and the maximum amount of funding will be $250 per student
Wellesley Career Education Suit Program - $1,000
Funds from this grant will be used to support students in need by covering the $25 cost of dry cleaning when they borrow a suit. For many students, even the $25 cost can prohibit them from borrowing one of our free suits to use for an internship – on or off campus. Any unused funds that remain at the end of the academic year will be used to purchase new suits to supplement what is currently available.