CONCORD, N.H. — As part of a continued effort to address obstacles for students and support the state’s future workforce, Granite Edvance has made a $100,000 contribution to the emergency grant programs at the three schools in the University System of New Hampshire. The funds will provide short-term financial support for non-academic emergency needs to undergraduate students at the University of New Hampshire, Keene State College and Plymouth State University. “Through our valued partnerships in higher education, we’ve learned that small, unexpected expenses can have devastating effects on some students’ plans,” said Granite Edvance President and CEO Christiana Thornton. “We want to be part of the solution for these students, helping them complete the degrees they’ve invested so much in and worked so hard for.”
The donation to the three schools in the University System of New Hampshire will bolster programs already in place at each of the schools, including food pantries and basic needs programs.
“Our students come from all backgrounds and walks of life, and the real-world problems many of them face don’t go away when they enroll in college,” said Catherine Provencher, USNH Chancellor. “Supports like this can assist with the financial challenges that crop up, to help students stay in school, focus on their studies and be successful in the future. The University System is very grateful to Granite Edvance for supporting our students’ goals and dreams.”
The financial obstacles that arise for students run the gamut. At Keene State College, emergency funds have recently helped purchase textbooks for a student who’d lost a job due to medical issues and a bus ticket home for a student who experienced a family emergency. At Plymouth State University and the University of New Hampshire, emergency funds have recently helped students purchase nutritious food, medicine, gas and insurance.
“Most of the students I encounter are acutely aware of every cent in their bank account, carefully planning every expense. Yet, an unexpected emergency can quickly unravel their hard-earned stability,” said Patty Mathison, basic needs coordinator and case manager at the University of New Hampshire – Durham. “I have seen firsthand how financial assistance can make a profound difference — not just in a student’s ability to continue their education, but also in their confidence and sense of possibility.”
A statewide nonprofit that helps students and their families plan and pay for college and career training, Granite Edvance helped launch an emergency aid fund for New Hampshire community college students last year, in partnership with the Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges. These funds have helped students with a variety of expenses, including housing, food and transportation.
Recent studies support both the need for such emergency funding and the positive impact. A 2024 nationwide survey by the Hope Center found that 3 in 5 college students are facing basic needs insecurity related to food and/or housing. A two-part report published in 2022 and 2023 by the Center for Higher Education Policy and Practice found that college students who received emergency grant funding during the pandemic were up to 15.5% more likely to remain enrolled than their peers.
Recognizing and responding to such realities is in keeping with Granite Edvance’s mission, Thornton said.
“We’re dedicated to supporting students of all ages and backgrounds on every step of their journeys — from planning and saving for their education, to securing financial aid, to addressing challenges that arise,” she said. “We’ve seen the difference a relatively small amount of assistance can make for community college students, and we’re excited to help even more students stay on track to achieve their dreams.”
