NYU International Student Needs Financial Help!

Update 2/15/2022


Thank you to everyone for their generous contributions to this campaign to support an international student at NYU with their tuition dues.

First, some good news: Per an agreement with the bursar’s office, the student has been making monthly payments of $750 to NYU for the last eight months from these funds and their personal income. These payments have brought the outstanding balance down to $18,566. Thank you for all your help in making this happen!

The student is also anticipating receiving a student loan for $12,000 which should come through by June 2022. This means that the balance outstanding will be around $6,000! 

What we need as a FINAL PUSH: We need to raise enough funds to cover this $6,000 balance, and make sure that the student can meet the monthly $750 payments to NYU until the loan comes through. Please contribute what you can so that we can meet these goals quickly and efficiently!

Please help us spread the word and raise the remaining funds for the student. Solidarity forever!

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This fundraising campaign is set up by members of GSOC-UAW 2110 to support an international student and current GSOC member who wishes to stay anonymous. Currently, they are 2 credits away from completing their Master's program at the NYU Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS). However, due to a pandemic-related public health crisis in India, their home country, they have been facing extreme financial distress. These exceptional circumstances have made it difficult for the student to meet  their tuition expenses at NYU. The university, in turn, has made the student's situation even more precarious by blocking registration and adding penalties to the outstanding charges. We welcome donations from GSOC members, other units in our local, friends, and supporters!

The student joined NYU in 2019 and has successfully completed all requirements for their program as of Spring 2021. A colossal economic crisis in India  (the student's home country), resulting from an unprecedented second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic , has left the student and their family in dire financial straits. In addition to economic difficulties, the student's family members have also suffered from the coronavirus. The student is thus in the midst of both a financial and personal emergency,  and has therefore found themselves unable to meet part of their exorbitant tuition expenses at NYU.  They are also two credits shy of completing their program at NYU, which they will need to register for during the 2021 Summer term. Registration for this term closes on July 7th. The current outstanding amount on the student's account is $26,323.64, with an additional $5,000 charges expected for summer registration. The anticipated total bill for the student is expected to be around $31,323.64.

In spite of the student's stellar academic record NYU and continued commitment to meeting all program requirements, NYU refuses to allow the student to register for the last two credits they need in order to graduate. NYU has also imposed additional charges on the student as a penalty for not being able to meet the university's high tuition. Since they have not been allowed to register, they are at serious risk of losing their degree and their immigrant status in  the U.S. They also will not be able to convert their current summer Curricular Practical Training (CPT) into a post-graduation Optional Practical Training (OPT), effectively cutting them off from further earnings to support themselves. The student's account continues to accumulate late fees, and NYU has refused to allow the student to register unless they bring their balance down to $1,000. The university has also made no effort to offer the student financial aid or a payment plan. 

The student, a caring and vital member of the NYU graduate student community, along with their family, has managed to save $5,000 to contribute to their tuition bill. We have set up this GoFundMe on behalf of the student in order to cover the remaining charges on their account, and help them graduate from NYU in a timely manner.

Our union's constitution reads: "It shall be the duty of each member to render aid and assistance to brother or sister members in cases of illness, death or distress." Now is the time to come together and support a member! Please give what you can — however big or small. We need these funds quickly so they can register for their last remaining summer course, maintain their legal status, and have a chance to build a career in their field.  Let us demonstrate our core principles by coming together to support a fellow student and worker!