W2R recognizes that money is sometimes the thing that keeps you from your education. We want to help keep you in school even if life is making unexpected financial demands of you.

W2R students in need can apply for one-time mini grants to cover an unexpected cost. Grants are up to $400 and students must apply with a justification for the request. Once approved by our advisory committee, grants are delivered quickly and there is no need to pay the money back. Students can apply for a mini grant up to three times while at CSU (although we really hope you won’t need it).

Emergency funds are granted for a variety of needs, including but not limited to: housing, personal supplies, car/transportation expenses.

Food expenses are not granted due to the fact that CSU and Larimer County offer several other options for food needs, including an on-campus food pantry and a program in which non-residential students can eat in the dining hall (Rams Against Hunger). Also, the Office of Financial Aid can work with you about adjusting your aid package to include stipends for computers and/or childcare needs.

If you have questions, please email w2r_info@mail.colostate.edu.

Please note: At this time, emergency funds are available to CSU Wolves to Rams students only.

Who is Ernest L. Chavez?

Ernest L. Chavez is Professor of Psychology and past Department Chair at Colorado State University. He was the original Principal Investigator for the NIH/NIGMS-funded Bridges to the Baccalaureate grant (now known as Wolves to Rams) with Front Range Community College and he now serves as the co-Principal Investigator on the NSF-funded Colorado Alliance for Minority Participation grant. Additionally, he served for three years as Director of the CSU STEM Center.

Dr. Chavez’s research has focused on issues related to Latino children and adolescents, in particular drug use and education. More recently he has focused on the inclusion of underrepresented students in STEM majors. Dr. Chavez was an original member of the NIDA Hispanic Task Force and has reviewed grants for NIDA, NIAAA and NIMH. Currently, Dr. Chavez works with graduate students on their research and helps them to publish.

Dr. Chavez has four children and eight grandchildren who live in Boston, Virginia, and Colorado.