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Student Emergency Fund

The Student Emergency Fund is designed to assist students who encounter an unexpected, short-term financial hardship that may jeopardize their ability to successfully continue their education. This funding is not intended to replace or supplement existing financial aid. Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis using the following guidelines. 

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for consideration, a student must:

  • Have a financial hardship resulting from an emergency or unanticipated expense. An emergency is defined as a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation that creates an acute financial need requiring immediate action.  
  • Be a matriculated student at Springfield College. Undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least nine credits and graduate students in at least six credits in the term the emergency funds are being requested for.
  • Be able to demonstrate financial hardship due to an emergency situation or unanticipated expense.
  • Provide proof of the current emergency. Only emergencies from the current application year will be considered.

Expenses Covered

Examples of expenses that are considered emergency or unanticipated include but are not limited to:

  • Replacement of essential personal belongings
  • Temporary housing and/or utility expenses due to homelessness or sudden loss of housing
  • Transportation, food, or lodging as a result of unexpected emergency
  • Emergency medical expenses not covered by insurance or other means

Examples of expenses that do not qualify for emergency funds include but are not limited to:

  • Academic cost of attendance (tuition, fees, housing and meal plan/food (on or off-campus), books and educational materials, health insurance, study abroad costs)
  • Non-emergency travel, recreation, or entertainment
  • Parking tickets, fines, or legal fees
  • Entertainment, recreation, and non-essential expenses

Students may submit the Student Emergency Fund Application if they are experiencing financial hardships. Consideration for funding will be based on the urgency of the situation, the student’s financial options, the level of hardship, and whether other resources/support available to the student have been utilized.