GLU’s mutual aid campaign is part of our broader effort to improve the working conditions of grads at UR. Our own experiences and conversations with colleagues have made it clear that material improvements are needed NOW. As such, we want to help meet these needs even as we continue to fight for our union vote.

This initiative facilitates mutual aid between grads, allowing us to help one another directly in a moment of incredible precarity for both low-wage and higher education workers across the country. We encourage all our colleagues (anyone pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Rochester) experiencing financial or material forms of hardship to apply for assistance as needed — while understanding that the help we’re able to offer may be partial. 

Some eligible uses of our hardship fund include emergency expenses (healthcare gaps, eviction risk, sudden expenses such as bereavement costs or family emergencies) as well as struggles to meet basic needs (such as food, housing, transportation, and clothing). You’ll find more details on the kinds of assistance we’re able to provide in the application here. 

Even if your needs don’t quite fit the above description, we encourage you to apply. We will review all applications and do our best to meet grads’ needs:

In the interest of transparency, we will provide a full report on the needs met through the mutual aid initiative at the end of the semester.  No personal information will be shared.