UH Foundation helping students affected by Trump funding freezes, executive orders

University of Hawaiʻi Foundation is working to raise private donations to support graduate students whose funding was interrupted because of recent federal executive orders.

Recent federal executive orders directly and indirectly impacted universities throughout the United States, causing major consequences, including at University of Hawai‘i.

In an effort to provide direct relief to overcome these financial obstacles and urged by Hensel, the Graduate Student Success Fund was launched by the foundation, enabling graduate students to continue their education and work.

Some graduate students at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo lost their research funding and educational stipends as a result of stop work orders and freezes on federal grant funds.

“For these students, this sudden financial instability is likely to impose hardship and make the continued pursuit of higher education — let alone meeting immediate needs — very challenging,” said University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel. “These graduate students are our scientists, doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, engineers, educators and leaders of tomorrow.”

Hensel added that it is critical to ensure these students — the next generation of talent — are able to complete their graduate work and courses because they are desperately needed for Hawai‘i’s workforce.

“Given the recent news on funding freezes and internal communications about significant cuts coming to the [National Science Foundation], I and other fellows in the program feel uncertain about future funding from the fellowship,” said Michael Fernandez, a first-year University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa botany program doctoral student. “This is especially concerning for me, as the [National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program] is currently my primary and sole source of funding for my graduate studies.”

University of Hawaiʻi Foundation CEO Tim Dolan knows how much Hawai’i cares about the university and its students.

“Through gifts of all sizes, our neighbors, alumni, business leaders and friends can make a direct and positive impact by supporting our graduate students during this time of unpredictable funding,” said Dolan.

Visit the foundation’s website to donate today and learn more about the Graduate Student Success Fund.

“With your gift to the Graduate Student Success Fund, you will provide direct relief to help students overcome the obstacles they face, continue their education and do the important work our community and world need,” says the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation donation website. “You can also support undergraduate students who may be impacted by the federal funding freeze by making a gift to the Student Success Fund.”