University of Vermont
Office of the President

 

To: University of Vermont Faculty, Staff and Students
From: Daniel Mark Fogel, President
Date: September 2, 2005
RE: Hurricane Katrina

We are all staggered and shocked by the incomprehensible tragedy and challenging situation that is emerging in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the surrounding states as a result of Hurricane Katrina. All of us are looking for ways to respond appropriately to the suffering and pain that people are experiencing. Many wonderful and caring suggestions have been put forth.

It is essential that our efforts be coordinated and deliberate so that our desires and efforts to be supportive are not duplicative and do not add to the already confusing and difficult situation in that area. If you are interested in helping on an individual basis, we encourage you to offer your support through one of the agencies listed at the end of this e-mail.

UVM is already reaching out in ways appropriate to the University. We have contacted Michael Lomax, President of the United Negro College Fund, about ways to assist the faculty, staff and students at Dillard University and Xavier University in New Orleans. At commencement 2004, UVM awarded Dr. Lomax, who was then president of Dillard University, an honorary degree. Alumni of UVM were instrumental in the founding of Dillard University. I spoke with Dr. Lomax early yesterday afternoon and sent him our official offer of help later in the day.

We are also dealing with students seeking to transfer into the University from affected areas. Although the University is at record enrollment, we are making every effort to accommodate the needs of each student as best we can and are dealing with each case individually. We are especially committed to serving the needs of Vermont residents whose educational plans have been disrupted. We are asking that all inquiries received by University faculty and staff from students displaced by the hurricane and seeking to enroll at UVM as degree students be directed to Associate Director of Admissions Sally Hobart. Sally can be reached at 656-4645 or by e-mail at Sarah.Hobart@uvm.edu. Students wishing to come to UVM for temporary study as "visiting students" can contact Beth Taylor-Nolan, Student Services Manager in Continuing Education at 656-4358 or by e-mail at Beth.Taylor-Nolan@uvm.edu.

All members of the University community are saddened and shocked by this horrific tragedy. We are appreciative of the many wonderful suggestions that have been shared. I have asked the Provost Office to coordinate our response. If you have additional ideas or suggestions, please forward them to Dr. Gary Derr (Gary.Derr@uvm.edu), Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant to the President and Provost.

Relief Organizations (as listed on the New York Times Website):

Charity Navigator: charitynavigator.org. Information on various charities and ways to donate to the relief effort.

Red Cross: 1-800-HELP-NOW or www.redcross.org

AmeriCares: americares.org

RoommateClick.com Site offering a service for the New Orleans homeless, free of charge.

Baton Rouge Area Foundation(BRAF): 877.387.6126 or www.braf.org

Episcopal Relief & Development: 1-800-334-7626 or www.er-d.org

Hillel Relief Efforts: www.hillel.org

United Methodist Committee on Relief: 1-800-554-8583 or gbgm-umc.org/umcor/emergency/hurricanes/2005

Salvation Army: 1-800-SAL-ARMY or www.salvationarmyusa.org

Catholic Charities: 1-800-919-9338 or www.catholiccharitiesusa.org

FEMA Charity tips: www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster: www.nvoad.org

Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: www.la-spca.org

America's Second Harvest: 1-800-344-8070 or www.secondharvest.org

Adventist Community Services: 1-800-381-7171 or www.adventist.communityservices.org

Christian Disaster Response: 1-941-956-5183 or 1-941-551-9554 or www.cdresponse.org/cdrhome.html

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee: 1-800-848-5818 or www.crwrc.org

Church World Service: 1-800-297-1516 or www.churchworldservice.org

Convoy of Hope: 1-417-823-8998 or www.convoyofhope.org

Lutheran Disaster Response: 1-800-638-3522 or www.elca.org/disaster

Mennonite Disaster Service: 1-717-859-2210 or www.mds.mennonite.net

Nazarene Disaster Response: 1-888-256-5886 or www.nazarenedisasterresponse.org

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: 1-800-872-3283 or www.pcusa.org/pda

Southern Baptist Convention - Disaster Relief: 1-800-462-8657, ext. 6440 or www.namb.net