Division of Student Affairs - Emergency Fund

Overview
The Dean of Students office within the Division of Student Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University manages the VCU Student Emergency Fund.

Designed to provide one-time financial assistance with unexpected emergency expenses, the goal of the VCU Student Emergency Fund is to prevent one emergency or unexpected expense from derailing a student’s progress toward a degree. Priority will be given to students whose tenure at the university may be at risk due to an emergency situation.

The fund is designated to offset a short-term financial need and is not intended to replace or supplement financial aid. Long-term needs can be addressed by meeting with the Office of Student Advocacy or Financial Aid to discuss available resources. Please note funds may count as income, may be subject to federal and/or state taxes and may affect your financial aid package.

The funds do not need to be repaid. We do encourage students, when they are able, to pay the deed forward.

Who is Eligible
Students must meet the following criteria to be eligible for funds through the VCU Student Emergency Fund:

• The student is a currently enrolled, full-time, degree-seeking student who is attending courses at VCU during the semester/session when the emergency funds would be awarded, with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• The student has experienced a recent financial hardship resulting from an unexpected, unforeseen and urgent emergency incident. The financial need must be likely to have a direct and foreseeable impact on the student’s academic success at the university.
• The student has demonstrated a good faith effort to pursue and utilize other funding options, resources, and eligible programs (e.g. insurance, free or low-cost services readily available, roommates, relatives).
• The student must fully complete the VCU Student Emergency Fund application and provide all supporting documentation of the financial hardship. Additional documentation may be required upon review of the application.

Examples of What is Covered
The following indicate examples of what may be covered through the VCU Student Emergency Fund. This list is neither exhaustive nor a promise that the following situations guarantee financial support as funds are limited and each need is reviewed on a case by case basis.

• Replacement of academic supplies (books, technology, etc. not included in tuition and fees)
• Replacement of essential personal belongings or emergency housing needs, due to an incident
• Medications and other costs related to emergency medical care
• Safety needs (i.e., changing a lock)
• Emergency childcare costs
• Other allowable expenses will be considered on a case by case basis

Examples of What is Not Considered

• Tuition
• Regularly anticipated fixed, recurring expenses (i.e., rent, utilities, etc.)
• Parking permits or tickets.
• Penalties, fines, tickets, alcohol and drug related offenses, legal counsel/fees/ penalties, jail bonds, or other expenses mistakenly incurred or preventable expenses.
• Non-essential utilities (i.e. cable), household or furniture costs not related to damage or theft
• Costs for entertainment, recreation, non-emergency travel or other non-essential expenses
• Other anticipated expenses

All submissions MUST include a detailed explanation of your extenuating circumstances. This is required before any request can be considered for approval. You must include official documentation of the emergency circumstance and official documentation of the expenses you are requesting funds for as outlined in your statement of explanation. Submissions with no documentation will be automatically denied.
Examples:

• Rent: Lease agreement and a rent payment history (both including the name of the student on the paperwork)
• Utilities: Current utility statements and a utility payment history (both including the name of the student on the paperwork)
• Food: Written documentation of why the student is food insecure and why community resources are not meeting needs (Ram Pantry, local food banks, food stamps).
• Loss of Income: Letter from employer explaining employees’ status (as laid off, furloughed, loss of work hours, etc.) and pay stub history showing previous and current earnings. The student must provide documentation of how the loss of income has impacted their financial status (i.e. bills that are unable to be paid, with documented bills attached to the application).
• Loss of Items: Police report indicating what items were stolen/damaged and when and documentation of costs of replacement items
• Prescriptions: Bill/quote from pharmacy showing student’s name on paperwork along with prescription cost

Additional Details
Funds are typically limited to $500.00.
The method of disbursement for approved applications will be determined on a case by case basis. Students may be required to meet with a member of the Dean of Students office to discuss their application.
Students may be required to submit information indicating how the funds have assisted them.

Point of Contact
Office of Student Advocacy
Division of Student Affairs
907 Floyd Ave.
dsaemergency@vcu.edu