EMERGE Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQ
for College Scholars & High School Fellows
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Updates
for College Scholars
Due to ongoing concerns posed by coronavirus (COVID-19), college students at specific colleges and universities have been asked to move out of their dorms in the upcoming days. For information about school closures, please visit your school's website, social media pages, and student portal. At schools with closures, all academic courses will continue to be held remotely.
What schools have announced school closures?
For information about campus closures please visit this website.
My school hasn’t closed yet. What should I do?
Be proactive! Reach out to your financial aid or student support office to get informed about possible funding opportunities for travel should it become necessary. Think about storage options and create an exit plan. It’s looking like colleges are moving towards closing for the rest of the semester. It is better to be safe than sorry.
My school has announced that it will be closed, will classes continue to meet?
For most schools, courses will continue to be taught remotely for the remainder of the semester. For questions about specific courses, students should contact the instructor of the course.
My school is closing and I cannot afford a plane, bus or train ticket, what do I do?
If you are currently receiving financial aid, please contact the Financial Aid Office at your school if you have questions related to financial resources for departing campus.
My school is closing, I can’t afford my travel home, and my school can’t help me. What should I do?
Fill out this form and provide as much information as you can. An EMERGE Staff member will reach out as soon as possible.
Who should I contact if I don't have a safe place to go or don't want to leave?
Please contact your school’s housing office for more information about housing. Additionally, complete this form and provide as much information as you can. An EMERGE Staff member will reach out as soon as possible.
Can I get a refund for room and board for the remainder of the semester?
Colleges and Universities are still working on the details for what will happen with student charges. Please be patient as this will take some time and the priority is getting students home safely. Eventually, students should contact their school’s Student Accounts Office and the Financial Aid Office.
Will my Pell Grant be affected?
The Department of Education released emergency guidelines regarding the use of federal financial aid funds. As long as students are enrolled and working towards their degree, Pell and SEOG funding will not be impacted.
Who should I contact if I need access to food, technology, mental health resources, or other needs as a result of displacement prompted by COVID-19?
Please complete this brief survey to notify us of your needs so we can provide you with direct support and resources.
Where can I access resources immediately for myself and/or my family?
The office of Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin is maintaining a live document with resources that you can access. The document includes information for part-time jobs, mental health resources, COVID-19 testing centers, amongst other things. Here is a breakdown of the information you will find in each of the tabs in the excel document:
-
Health Resources: testing sites, mental health, CDC guidelines and resources
-
Senior Resources: recommendations for older adults
-
Community Resources: food and basic needs assistance
-
School Resources: Online learning platforms, food resources, school closure updates
-
Volunteer + Donate: Houston food bank, blood banks, homeless shelters
-
Job Alerts: grocery stores, Amazon, Census Bureau
Are there any internship opportunities available?
Several paid summer internship opportunities have been posted on EMERGE Connect. Please email Marci Arnold at marciarnold@comcast.net if you have any questions about specific internship opportunities or if you need your resume/cover letter reviewed.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Updates
for High Schools Fellows
Due to ongoing concerns posed by the coronavirus (COVID-19), we are providing an update on upcoming EMERGE student activities. At EMERGE, the health and safety of our students is our top priority, and we are closely monitoring updates and new information as it becomes available.
10th grade
Am I still going to sophomore bootcamp/induction retreat on April 4-5?
Sophomore Bootcamp/Induction Retreat has been postponed until fall 2020. Please continue to watch for updates from your district program through the remainder of the spring and summer.
Am I still going on a college tour? (HISD Students)
We are actively monitoring the situation and will move in accordance with the recommendations of our partner districts, governments, and the EMERGE leadership team. A definitive decision will be made in mid-April.
11th grade
Am I still going on a college tour?
We are actively monitoring the situation and will move in accordance with the recommendations of our partner districts, governments, and the EMERGE leadership team. A definitive decision will be made in mid-April.
Should I attend an accepted summer learning opportunity (SLO/DiscoverU)?
We recommend you reach out to the program directly to check the status of your program. If your program will continue as planned, we recommend students defer to the judgement of your parents/guardians to decide if you are still attending. If your program requires a financial deposit, all deposits are on hold for the time being. DiscoverU is not accepting any payments at this time.
12th grade
Are we still having senior celebration?
Our intention is to celebrate the accomplishments of all of our EMERGE fellows in the safest way possible. Senior Celebration has been postponed from its original May date. We are actively monitoring the situation and will move in accordance with the recommendations of our partner districts, governments, and the EMERGE Leadership team.
Should I attend an accepted college visit?
Many colleges are in the process of transitioning their spring visits to a virtual option. We recommend you reach out to the admissions office at the college directly to see what additional virtual connection options exist for that school (ex.1 on 1 check-ins with financial aid, admissions, etc.).
What is the long term impact of COVID-19 on my child’s college plans?
Currently, the fall matriculation process is scheduled to take place as planned. Many colleges are cancelling courses/programming for the remainder of spring semester. We expect updates about summer and fall programming in late April. We highly recommend students regularly check their college portals and emails to receive the most up to date information.
How should I prepare/plan for my child’s college matriculation during this time?
Actively monitor information from your school district, news outlets, government, and EMERGE. We will continue to share updated information and best practices on how to operate accordingly with the information present.