Mercy College Receives $84,000 DASH Emergency Grant

Mercy College of Health Sciences, Des Moines, IA, received an $84,000 Dash Emergency Grant from Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates to operate and maintain a student emergency aid program. Emergency grants will be integrated into the college’s overall student success strategy, with the goal of improving student retention and degree completion rates.

Mercy College serves students from diverse backgrounds, and a situation that might be a headache for one can be a major financial crisis for another. If a student is already struggling to make ends meet, an unexpected car repair or medical bill might cause that student to withdraw from college.

“Thanks to the Dash Emergency Grant, Mercy College has the resources to provide modest emergency grants to our students in times of greatest need,” said Karen Anderson, PhD, vice president of enrollment management and student affairs.

Mercy College will begin making student emergency grants available in fall 2017. Students will complete an application that details their financial emergency. A Mercy College committee will review the application, and expenses up to $1,000 will be paid within two business days of approval. By quickly removing financial distractions, students can refocus on their studies and continue toward graduation.