LIfe Stipend Pilot Program
To enable students from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to participate in and complete the education offered by Holberton School New Haven, the Life Stipend Pilot Program provided financial awards to students with demonstrated need.
A $10,000 pilot launched in the winter of 2019-2020 was used for basic living expense stipends, including housing, transportation, and food.
With social distancing requirements, a second $10,000 pilot in 2020 focused on equipment stipends, with 9 Macbook Air laptops purchased for students unable to afford their own.
The impact of these two pilots is under review in the winter of 2021 to present the pilot’s impact to philanthropic sponsors for ongoing support of a stipend fund. (Program Requirements)
Equipment Life Stipend examples
In order to support himself, his partner, and two children, one student in Cohort 8 had to work a night shift for nearly 40 hours per week in addition to maintaining his daily Holberton course load.
As he was unable to afford a personal laptop, this student also had to be physically on-campus to complete all project work. His attempt to balance work, school, and family quickly lead to burn-out along with the potential of having to withdraw from the program.
Holberton staff was able to acquire a laptop for this student’s personal use, which allowed him to complete projects at work and home—and better balance his schedule and self-care. As result, he was able to maintain a passing grade and complete Foundations with the cohort he started with.
A student with a visual impairment was having trouble keeping pace with her cohort due to the fact that she did not have a personal laptop and being on-campus didn’t allow her to take the necessary breaks to rest her eyes. This resulted in fatigue and strain which lead to her having to transfer and repeat the first trimester twice.
Once Holberton staff was able to acquire a laptop for her, and the student was able to study at home and better balance / manage her personal needs, she began to thrive in the program. She is currently on track to complete the third and final trimester of Foundations with her current cohort.