Emergency Assistance
The SIUE Student Emergency Assistance fund is available to provide one-time financial assistance to enrolled, degree-seeking students who are unable to meet immediate, essential expenses because of a temporary hardship related to an emergency, such as an accident, illness, natural disaster, recent job loss, or other unforeseen circumstances. The funding does not have to be repaid.
Eligibility
To qualify for assistance from the SIUE Student Basic Needs Assistance Fund, students must meet the following criteria:
- Enrollment: Must be currently enrolled at least half-time in a degree-seeking program at SIUE during the term funds are applied for and awarded
- Basic Needs Insecurity: Must demonstrate barriers to accessing basic student needs (e.g., limited course materials, off-campus housing/shelter, on-campus room and board (only McKinney-Vento and/or Youth in Care identified students are eligible), utilities, transportation, death-related expenses, medical/health)
- Provide detailed documentation to explain financial need.
Considerations for Denial
- Incomplete application
- Not enrolled at least half-time in a degree-seeking program at SIUE
- No barriers to accessing basic student needs identified
- Assistance requested for an ineligible expense
Types of Expenses Covered
The fund addresses specific basic needs related expenses directly impacting a student's ability to maintain stability and well-being. Examples of eligible expenses may include:
- Limited Course Materials
- Items needed for coursework that are not included in the SIUE textbook rental program
- Course materials could include goggles, lab manuals, lab coats, and similar.
- Off-Campus Housing/Shelter
- Preventing possible eviction from current housing.
- Rent assistance in extreme cases where the student is legitimately unable to make payments.
- Assistance in the event of housing displacement due to disasters
- Utilities
- To prevent utilities from being disconnected during an emergency (phone bills are not considered a utility).
- Transportation
- Aid for costly repairs only when the car is necessary for employment.
- Bus passes for transportation needs.
- Aid does not include car payments, insurance premiums, taxes, or routine maintenance and repair charges.
- Deaths
- Travel expenses related to the death of an immediate family member (spouse, parent, child, legal guardian, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, etc.).
- Medical
- Assistance for recent medical emergencies not reimbursable by insurance or where insurance coverage does not apply.
- Routine preventive health expenses are eligible.
- Other
- Expenses pending approval with a detailed explanation and supporting documentation.
- McKinney-Vento and Youth in Care identified students may be eligible for emergency funding to support on-campus housing and meal plan expenses
Types of Expenses NOT Covered
Expenses that are not related to a temporary hardship due to an unforeseen emergency are not covered by the fund. Typical expenses that are not covered include but are not limited to:
- Tuition and fees
- Study abroad costs
- Non-essential utilities
- Parking tickets
To apply for emergency assistance, please submit the SIUE Student Emergency Assistance Application.
