With the COVID-19 coronavirus having caused drastic changes to the lives of students at the University of Indianapolis, The Reflector has put together a list of resources that are available to students during this time. The resources include financial, mental health, software, textbooks and more.
Make sure to bookmark this page, as this list will be continuously updated as we learn about more resources that are available for students.
Last updated on April 24 at 1:45 p.m.
General Resources
City of Indianapolis: For those who are still in Indianapolis, the city has created a COVID-19 resource hub on its website, Indy.gov. The resources include food support, utility support, worker support and more. The resources website can be accessed at https://www.indy.gov/topic/covid.
Comcast: Comcast has expanded its Internet Essentials program for low-income Americans by offering new customers 60 days of free service, which is normally available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95 a month, according to a Comcast press release. In addition, Comcast has increased the internet speeds from 15/2 Mbps to 25/3 Mbps for the service.
Comcast has also made its Xfinity Wifi hotspots free for anyone who needs them, including non-Xfinity internet subscribers. The hotspots are located in businesses and outdoor locations across the U.S., according to a Comcast press release. The company has also paused its data plan for 60 days and will not be charging late fees or disconnecting customers as long as customers contact the company and let them know that they cannot pay their bills during this time.
Financial Support
UIndy’s Student Emergency Relief Fund: Students who are facing financial hardship and are in need of assistance due to COVID-19 can ask the university for assistance through the Student Emergency Relief Fund. The fund is designed to provide monetary assistance to currently enrolled students to help cover critical needs and unforeseen financial challenges, according to UIndy.
To apply for assistance, all students need to do is fill out a request form through the university. If anyone has any questions or concerns, they are encouraged to contact Vice President for Student and Campus Affairs and Dean of Students Kory Vitangeli at kvitangeli@uindy.edu.
Mental Health
UIndy’s Counseling Center: The Counseling Center is open and is currently doing virtual appointments/phone consultations for students, according to Vice President for Student and Campus Affairs and Dean of Students Kory Vitangeli. All students need to do is call the center at (317) 788-5015 to set an appointment.
Physical Health
IU Health Virtual Clinic: Indiana University Health is offering free virtual screenings for COVID-19 and other illnesses through its telemedicine app, IU Health Virtual Visit. The screenings are free for Indiana residents, according to an IU Health Press Release. The virtual clinic is staffed 24/7 with physicians, advance practice providers and registered nurses from IU Health and users can use the app regardless of their age. To learn more about how to access the virtual clinics, go to https://iuhealth.org/news-hub/iu-health-virtual-clinic-offers-free-coronavirus-screening.
UIndy’s Health and Wellness Center: The Health and Wellness Center is open and is doing virtual appointments and phone consultations, according to Vitangeli. The center can be contacted at (317) 788-3437.
Remote Learning
Academic Success Center: The Academic Success Center has added an online learning resources tab to its myUIndy page to help students during this time. The page includes a “Getting Ready for Online Learning” guide, an “Online Learning Strategies” guide and weekly schedules that students can use. The resources page also includes links to online tutoring from both the university and external sources such as Khan Academy. The ASC’s resources page can be accessed by following this link and clicking on the Online Learning Resources banner near the top of the page.
Software
Adobe: Adobe is providing free access to its Creative Cloud platform while UIndy’s computer labs are closed. The access will be available until May 31, according to UIndy IT. For more information on how to access Creative Cloud from your own devices, check out UIndy IT’s guide here.
Textbooks
UIndy’s Follett bookstore and RedShelf: UIndy’s Follett Bookstore is offering free shipping for textbook returns.
In addition, Follett’s digital textbook service, RedShelf, is offering up to 7 free e-textbooks for students through May 25. On the website, students need to create an account and login with their UIndy email address. Students can search for e-textbooks by title or the book’s ISBN number and place them in a virtual bookshelf to use for the rest of the semester. The website can be accessed at https://studentresponse.redshelf.com/.
Cengage Unlimited: Cengage Unlimited is offering a free trial for students. Students have to login or create an account to start the trial. According to Vice President for Student and Campus Affairs and Dean of Students Kory Vitangeli, students should have full access to Cengage Unlimited for 14 days. At the end of those 14 days, students will have to click Start Trial again to have access for another 14 days, as long as UIndy’s instruction is affected by COVID-19, according to Vitangeli. Students can search for e-textbooks by ISBN. The website can be accessed at http://login.cengage.com/.
VitalSource Bookshelf: Students can access free e-textbooks through VitalSource Bookshelf by either creating or logging into their account with Vitalsource, as long as they use their UIndy email address. After this, students can search for e-textbooks on the website. The website can be accessed at http://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/.
For our latest coverage of the COVID-19 coronavirus’ impact on the University of Indianapolis, go to http://reflector.uindy.edu/tag/covid-19/.
