Students facing unexpected financial emergencies now have another source of support on campus through the UIS United Faculty’s (UPI Local 4100) Faculty and Students Together Fund (FAST Fund), a program designed to help students cover urgent expenses so they can continue their education.

The FAST Fund provides small emergency grants of up to $300 to help students facing financial hardships. The grants can be used for essential needs such as food, transportation, car repairs, medical bills, job loss, or past-due tuition. Unlike loans, the grants do not need to be repaid.

“The union believes that our collective values should manifest in helping our students in ways that extend beyond the classroom, and that compassion for them is a path toward social justice,” said Dathan Powell, UIS Associate Professor of Theater and president of the UIS United Faculty tenure-track faculty union.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, meaning students can apply whenever an unexpected expense arises. Organizers say the goal of the program is to remove financial barriers that might otherwise prevent students from continuing their education.

According to a statement released by UIS United Faculty on February 6, 2026, funding for the FAST Fund comes from several sources, including grants from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the nonprofit organization, Believe in Students. Donations from faculty, staff and union members provide additional support. All donations are collected and managed by the University Professionals of Illinois (UPI) office in Chicago and are distributed locally to support students at UIS.

“Students should pay careful attention to filling in specific details on the application form, to make it clear to the committee what their needs are and how the funds will help them. They must also have a letter of support from a faculty member or advisor to have their application eligible for review. Finally, the grants can only be made to students who are currently enrolled at UIS,” Powell said.

According to UIS United Faculty, the FAST Fund represents the values of compassion, solidarity, and social justice within the university community. By contributing to the fund, faculty and staff aim to support students facing financial hardship and ensure that unexpected costs do not derail their academic goals.

UIS United Faculty encourages students experiencing financial emergencies to apply for assistance through the FAST Fund. Community members who wish to support the program can also donate online through the program’s PayPal linkby selecting “UIS-F” from the dropdown menu.

Organizers say they hope the fund will continue to grow and serve as a resource for students facing unexpected challenges. Instructions for how to apply can be found on the UPI Local 4100 website at this link.