Colleges and universities across the United States and around the world are scrambling to keep their students, faculty and staff healthy, safe and educated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Numerous questions have arisen such as: If we close the dining halls where will students eat? If we cancel on-campus employment, how will students make ends meet? If we send students home, where will those without homes go? If we move to online classes, how will students without computers or internet access engage?
Here are resources that have been made available by The University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the state of Arkansas:
Healthcare- Many students are uninsured.
- They need to know that if they are eligible for Medicaid, they can get coverage to get screened and treated.
- To find out if you’re eligible, go the Medicare.gov eligibility tool.
- For students who are not eligible for Medicaid or undocumented, they can go to a health center.
- Health Services announced that they are now offering TeleMed services via telephone and a HIPAA-compliant video app.
- Call 501-569-3188 if you have any questions or want to schedule a TeleMed visit.
- The office of Health Services is still open, but they are conducting telephone triage before any in-clinic appointments are scheduled. The office is not accepting walk-ins or seeing patients with symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath.
- Health Services is open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m.
- Office Phone Number: 501-569-3188
- Located at 28-1 S. University Ave. DSC 102
Food- Many students are facing food insecurity and need access to affordable food.
- As of April 9, the food pantry will be transitioning to pick-up appointments only. All orders and appointments must be scheduled by filling out the pantry request form at www.ualr.edu/foodpantry
- Arkansas has the following resources set up
- The Arkansas Food Bank: 501-565-8121
- Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance: 501-399-9999 or email info@arhungeralliance.org
- DHS is expediting applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for people who have lost their income due to COVID-19 (coronavirus). Apply for SNAP on access.arkansas.gov.
Emergency Aid- Students will face unexpected expenses.
- Emergency financial assistance has been made available by the UA Little Rock Care Team. To be eligible you must be currently enrolled and provide supporting documentation. Students can submit a request through BOSS, Student Services tab, and select “Request Student Support”
- If you have lost your job because of the COVID-19, you can file a claim online at https://www.ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov/.
Housing- Some students living on-campus may have nowhere else to go.
- As of April 6, UA Little Rock closed its residential facilities for safety precautions. Students without alternative housing options may request an exception with the Office of Campus Living.
- If you are worried that you soon won’t have a place to live, you can contact the Little Rock Field Office of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development at 501-918-5700 or email: AR_Webmanager@hud.gov.
UA Little Rock and the state of Arkansas have put together the above resources to bring relief to those in need.
Courtney Hines, a student of UA Little Rock, spoke about her difficulties during this pandemic.
“The food bank and emergency aid provided by UA Little Rock have been an extremely helpful resource during these trying times,” she said.
These resources have taken some stress off Hines.
“I understand that many other classmates and their family members are anxious too, we don’t have to fix their problems,” she said. “It’s enough to let them know they’re not alone and that there are resources to help.”
