The University of Otago has confirmed to Critic that there will be a student hardship fund available for students, the details of which will be announced next week. The fund will help Otago Uni students cover living expenses.
Last week, the Otago Uni began soliciting donations from alumni for a student hardship fund. Alumni were told that the fund will "help our students cover expenses such as rent, power and increased Wi-Fi to access online teaching.”
"In this extraordinary time many Otago students in flats, who rely on part-time and casual work to get by, are facing major financial hardship as retail and hospitality close for the foreseeable future," the email to alumni said.
OUSA President Jack Manning confirmed that student representatives, as well as OUSA Student Support, were on the group that is leading Otago Uni’s planned hardship program.
Since the lockdown began, other universities in New Zealand have also launched a Covid-19 student hardship fund. Auckland University has one to help cover living costs, and Victoria University of Wellington will cover living costs plus support for dental, glasses and textbook costs.
In the meantime, most student unions, including OUSA, have open hardship funds. OUSA’s hardship fund can be accessed through the OUSA website under the ‘support’ section.