Emergency Fund
Graduate Student Emergency Fund
The Emergency Fund provides limited financial assistance to graduate students experiencing an unexpected, unavoidable, and urgent financial emergency that may significantly affect their ability to continue their studies or meet essential needs.
The fund is intended for substantial and exceptional financial hardship. It is not intended to cover routine or anticipated expenses or to reimburse the full cost of an emergency.
Eligibility
Students must be actively enrolled and in good academic standing. The emergency must have occurred within the past 12 months and involve an expense incurred by the student.
Requests should ordinarily involve at least $1,000 in documented, unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses. Requests below $1,000 may be considered in exceptional circumstances.
Examples of expenses that may qualify include:
- Onerous and unexpected medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance
- Bereavement travel or necessary travel related to an urgent family matter
- Other unforeseen and unavoidable emergencies that create substantial financial hardship
Expenses Generally Not Eligible
The Emergency Fund generally does not cover:
- Routine or anticipated living expenses
- Routine medical or dental care
- Elective or cosmetic procedures
- Glasses or contact lenses
- Car or bicycle maintenance, repairs, or replacement
- Legal expenses
- Recurring or ongoing expenses
- Expenses incurred by a spouse, partner, child, or other family member
Documentation and Review
Students must provide documentation of the expense. For medical and dental requests, documentation must show that applicable insurance has been processed. Detailed medical information is not required.
Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Reviewers will consider the nature and urgency of the emergency, financial hardship, previous Emergency Fund assistance, other available resources, and the availability of funds
Award Amounts
The Emergency Fund is intended to help offset a portion of an eligible expense, not reimburse the full cost. Award amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis, and students should expect to remain responsible for a portion of the expense.
Once approved, awards are generally processed through the student's next available payroll, and applicable taxes may apply.
Students who do not qualify for Emergency funding or need additional assistance may apply for an Emergency Loan through the Graduate Studies Office.