The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented impacts on nearly all aspects of our lives. With over 3.6 million cases of COVID-19 across the globe, only essential services remain open in order to slow the spread of the disease and flatten the curve. Over the course of a few weeks, tens of millions of Americans became unemployed, a devastating statistic, that’s left millions of families and businesses in precarious situations. Although most headlines are unsettling and focus on challenges, not all updates are grim. There are countless examples of what CUMU members are doing to continue to serve as responsible community partners in the midst of crisis.
Related post: CUMU responds to COVID-19
Anchor institutions are fundamental to fostering successful and thriving communities during both challenging and prosperous times. Colleges and universities in the United States and abroad are hubs for research and innovation, employ thousands of people, and spend billions per year procuring goods and services. Now more than ever, the economic engines, human capital, and research agendas of these institutions can support everyone enduring impacts of this pandemic. We are encouraged by the actions CUMU members are taking to support individuals, families, businesses and entire communities during this trying moment in history.
Higher education institutions continue to demonstrate what responsible civic action looks like. Higher education leaders are also disproving the assumption that institutions are slow-moving. Within hours, universities developed plans to shift courses online, while also developing solutions to support the unique needs of some of the most vulnerable students.
We update this list with additional examples weekly. If you have a news item you find valuable and want CUMU to share, email updates to news@cumuonline.org.
Student Support
- Dallas County Community College District swiftly moves 60K students to remote options in one week
- Rutgers-Newark’s Dana Library lends a virtual helping hand during the pandemic
- Supports in place at Towson University for veterans during this time struggling with loss of income
- Virtual ventanita keeps the Florida International University community connected
- York International introduces Virtual Coffee Chats to build community
- Towson University Student Emergency Fund directly helping students, families in need
- Sacramento State offers “Drive-in WiFi” for students with limited internet access
- University of San Diego helping with food, technology and transportation needs
Community Support
- The VCU community is contributing to the battle against COVID-19 in a myriad of ways
- University of Dayton campus turns basketball arena into COVID-19 testing site
- Oakland University partners with more than 40 community organizations to deliver food to those in need
- College of Staten Island, CUNY Office of Sustainable Community Planning has developed a COVID-19 resource dashboard, providing critical data for New York City and Staten Island
- Rutgers-Camden SGA President creates t-shirt to support COVID-19 relief effort
- ‘Wishes from Wagner’ spreading hope across Staten Island
- University of Chicago Awards $400,000 in Emergency COVID-19 Bridge Grants to 79 South Side Nonprofits
- Marquette provides community support through COVID-19 pandemic
- University of Pittsburgh faculty and staff can volunteer eight hours per week for service (paid)
- University of Michigan Dearborn researching stressors and joys of people 60+ during the pandemic
- University of Missouri St. Louis developed “STL Response,” a website with pertinent local information to help the city stay informed with reliable information
- Pittsburgh’s tech and nonprofit communities come together to get laptops to students in need
Business & Corporate Community
- Temple University ‘FunScienceDemo’ videos are providing engaging science videos to students at home
- University of Maryland, Baltimore utilizing local caterers to keep front-line workers fed
- University of Chicago announces programs to support South Side during COVID-19 crisis
- Coronavirus Philadelphia: more help on way for small businesses thanks to new program made possible by Penn
- Rutgers Law School Research Center examines insurance crisis caused by COVID-19 pandemic
Healthcare & Research
- College of Staten Island advances the democratization of data through transparency and accessibility
- DePaul organizes team to produce and distribute PPE throughout Chicago
- UMKC furthers local hospital’s COVID-19 testing capabilities
- Pitt med students step up to deliver life-sustaining medication
- UNO’s College of Information Science and Technology is creating a virtual toolbox for iSTEM activities, available free for all to use
- Cal State LA researchers use data visualization, AI in fight against COVID-19
- Rapid screening process for infectious diseases being created in Rutgers University–Camden research lab
- Temple University treats first patient in the US in Clinical Trial of Gimsilumab for Patients with COVID-19
- University of Pretoria Department of Statistics develops interactive app with real-time COVID-19 infection data
- Coronavirus testing kits to be developed using SFU-invented RNA imaging technology
- Towson University donates supplies in dire need to local hospitals
- Loyola University Chicago Medical School students are staffing hospital’s Coronavirus hotline
- Medical College of Wisconsin’s philanthropic arm announced $5 million in grants to support state response to virus
- IUPUI researchers developing real-time COVID-19 diagnostic tests
- Buffalo State donates supplies to local hospitals amid shortages
- An MSU Denver mechanical-engineering technology professor is testing a stopgap solution that brings together advanced manufacturing and snorkel gear