Two programs providing material assistance to students will be able to help more people thanks to funding from the partnership with University Credit Union.

One tenet of the Preferred Partnership Program, or UP3, is ensuring partnerships tangibly and directly benefit and uplift the campus community. To this end, the agreement with University Credit Union made in 2021 included $17,500 in annual funding for undergraduate student initiatives.

This year the undergraduate student funding was awarded to the Women’s Resources and Research Center and Aggie Compass. Representatives of Associated Students of UC Davis, or ASUCD, leadership and Student Affairs met in March to decide which groups to fund.

“We’re proud to support student initiatives across campus that further access to resources for students who need them most” said David Tuyo, CEO of University Credit Union. “Helping to create equitable education is at the heart of who University Credit Union is, so supporting these amazing student initiatives that reinforce equality on campus is an honor.”

Supporting housing with Aggie Compass

Aggie Compass supports students with financial assistance, free produce, and access to resources to promote safety and stability. Through the partnership with University Credit Union, Aggie Compass received $14,100 of funding to support the Basic Needs housing program.

“Living in your car while you're trying to get a degree is next to impossible and yet more and more of our students are forced to do it because they're priced out of the local housing market,” said Leslie Kemp, director of the Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center.

According to a 2017-18 survey conducted by ACUSD and the Graduate Student Association, almost 1 in 5 UC Davis students experience housing insecurity.

“Once a student is homeless everything is affected,” Kemp said. “There's no place to cook or prepare food, so you have to buy more expensive prepared foods. There's no bathroom or shower so healthy hygiene is a challenge. There are no secure parking lots so students are vulnerable to violence and theft.” Kemp also explained that students who are homeless “have a greater risk of experiencing stress and anxiety, which results in higher rates of depression and behavioral issues.”

Aggie Compass works to assist these students with hotel vouchers, rental assistance grants, and through the College-Focused Rapid Rehousing program. Funding from the UCU partnership will be used on housing grants and shower kits for homeless students. Housing grants, which average about $900, are awarded to students in imminent danger of homelessness or eviction. The grants help the students pay for rent or pay security deposits, which are often the “biggest barrier to accessing housing” according to Kemp.

“It's a terrible situation and yet I've seen many students persevere and succeed in spite of these challenges,” Kemp said. “It's often because we were able to help them with the security deposit, first and last month's rent that are often required to access housing.”

Supporting student parents with Women’s Resources and Research Center

The other program selected to receive undergraduate student funding from the University Credit Union partnership is the Women’s Resources and Research Center, or WRRC, which collaborates with other campus units to emotionally, socially, and financially support parenting students. The WRRC received $3,400, which funded the Student Parent Closet.

“Student parents navigate many barriers to completing their education, including access to affordable childcare and housing, as well as managing their time as parents and students.” said Cecily Nelson-Alford Director, director of the Women's Resources and Research Center. “The Student Parent Closet offers diapers and wipes as a way to offset the financial challenges faced by many parenting students to make higher education more accessible.”

According to Nelson-Alford, student parents are more likely to hold other historically underrepresented identities, including being students of color and low income. “In spite of these challenges, our student parents are incredibly resilient and inspiring,” they said.

The Student Parent Closet supports approximately 50 families with 100 children. With the additional funds, the WRRC will expand the current Student Parent Closet offerings and impact more families. The closet will be able to offer “big ticket items,” including strollers and car seats.

“Offering larger items makes a more significant impact on the financial situation of our parenting students,” Nelson-Alford said. “This kind of support also demonstrates to our student parents that their experience is valid and that they belong at UC Davis.”

The funds will also be used to offer more diverse items like board games, toys and art supplies.

“Expanding our offerings means [families with older children] don't get left behind and that we are also able to serve children and their families as they grow,” Nelson-Alford said. “Children don't stop needing support once they grow out of diapers and we are glad to be able to continue offering resources for children of our students all the way until they turn 18 years old.”

The annual undergraduate student program funding from the University Credit Union partnership will continue to uplift students each year by offering financial support to invaluable programs at UC Davis.