Revised: August 2023
The Graduate Student Emergency Fund Program is being administered by the Office of Student Care and Outreach (SCO). Click the following link sco.uga.edu to be directed to a SCO team member.
The intent of the Graduate Student Emergency Fund is to help alleviate unexpected financial hardships of degree seeking graduate students that would, otherwise, delay their ability to obtain their degree. The reason for the assistance must be due to an unforeseen, acute, and temporary circumstance beyond their control (i.e., unexpected job loss, medical emergency, etc.). The fund cannot be used to support a student before enrollment and registration or beyond graduation.
Due to certain federal guidelines, this program takes existing financial aid into consideration in determining any award. While attempts are made to support as many students as possible with emergency funding, it is not always possible to grant every request or to award the full amount requested.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
- Have temporary financial hardship resulting from an unforeseen, acute emergency situation.
- Full-time graduate student enrolled and registered at the time of the request or during fall and spring semesters if the request is made during a summer term in which the student is not registered. Full-time status is nine hours per semester during the academic year and six hours during the summer semester.
- Students who are eligible for federal financial aid and have not met Cost of Attendance (COA) as determined by the Office of Student Financial Aid.
- Be able to provide sufficient documentation of financial hardship with application (i.e., copy of utility bills, rent invoices, notices of job loss, etc.)
AWARD AMOUNT: Applicants may apply for up to $1,000 per request for a maximum of $2,000 per fiscal year. The reason for subsequent requests must be different from the previous request. The lifetime maximum students may receive is $3,000.
ELIGIBLE EXPENSES: Typical expenses that will be considered due to unforeseen circumstances include, but are not limited to:
- Replacement of essential personal belonging due to natural disaster, fire, theft, etc.;
- Travel costs related to a death or serious illness in the immediate family
- Personal safety needs (e.g. changing a lock);
- Books or other essential academic expenses;
- Medications or other health-related costs; and
- Rent, utilities, or other essential household expenses.
INELIGIBLE EXPENSES: Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to:
- Tuition and fees;
- Fees for conferences;
- Long-term medical expenses;
- New or replacement expense for a computer or cell phone
- Expenses caused by long-term unemployment or underemployment; and
- Expenses related to green cards, student visas, or similar immigration documents.
