Student Emergency Relief Fund
The Student Emergency Relief Fund was established to help students who have experienced a recent catastrophic or unforeseen and unavoidable emergency that resulted in financial hardship. This could include an unexpected medical emergency, loss of a job or reduction in hours, or a family emergency resulting in unexpected expenses.
The Student Emergency Relief Fund is not a substitute for financial aid and is not intended to assist with anticipated and routine expenses like car repairs, rent, or other bills except when the student has experienced a catastrophic emergency leading to the inability to pay these bills.
The fund is not intended to remedy a student's situation completely, but rather to help provide immediate relief to help mitigate circumstances in hopes of helping them get back on their feet. Every situation is different. Each request will be reviewed by a committee whose members have been selected by from the Division of Academic & Student Affairs.
Eligibility Requirements
Students requesting Emergency Funds must meet the following:
- Matriculated in a degree-seeking program at UNF
- Currently enrolled in at least 6 credits
- Experienced a recent (within 120 calendar days) emergency leading to financial hardship.
- Eligible to receive federal financial aid, – (i.e., in Good SAP standing)
- In good standing with the Student Conduct Office
- Exhausted all other possible financial aid resources including student loans
- Eligible to receive additional funding from the University as determined by the Financial Aid Office
Recognized Emergency Situations
- Possible eviction from current housing
- Disconnection of utilities (Phone bills are not considered a utility.)
- Travel expenses surrounding the death of immediate family member (spouse, parent, grandparent, child, legal guardian, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother, sister.)
- Recent medical emergency for charges not reimbursable by insurance or where insurance coverage does not apply.
- Replacement of belongings lost in a fire or natural disaster
- Safety-related needs (e.g., lock change, emergency shelter, etc.)
- Sudden and unanticipated loss of income
- Temporary shelter for a student in a dangerous situation due to acts of violence or victimization
- Replacement of essential belongings, due to fire, or theft
- Other emergency resulting in loss, pending approval, a detailed explanation must be provided.
Required Documentation
For Emergency Relief Fund Requests to be considered, documentation is required.
- Documentation must explain emergency that led to financial hardship.
- Documentation must be dated to show that and emergency occurred either during the semester for which funding is requested or immediately prior to the semester.
- If the request is to replace a specific item or pay a specific item or pay a specific expense, documentation in the form of an invoice or estimate for that expense must also be included.
When documenting loss of income due to reduction of hours or termination, the documentation should include:
- Two (2) or three (3) recent pay stubs demonstrating what your normal weekly pay had been prior to a decrease in hours or pay and two (2) or three (3) pay stubs demonstrating a decline in pay/hours.
- A letter or email from your previous employer or internship provider explaining the circumstances that led to the loss of hours or termination. It should be on letterhead, dated and signed.
When documenting financial hardship caused by other reasons:
- Documentation of the emergency that caused the financial hardship to possibly include police reports, insurance claims, letters from a medical provider or other professional, victim advocate reports, or other similar documentation.
- Documentation of demonstrated financial struggle including insurance claims, bills, or receipts.
Apply for Assistance
Students must be registered for 6 or more credits for the semester for which funds are requested.
Applications will be reviewed weekly beginning the second week of the semester for which funds are requested.
Application must be submitted no later than 10 days prior to the start of final exams to be considered.
Student Emergency Relief Fund Request Form
Additional Documentation Upload Form
Please note: Student Emergency Relief Funding is applied to your student account. The funding will be applied to any outstanding balance on your account to reduce this aspect of your financial hardship. Any remaining funds will be refunded to you.
Expenses not covered by the Student Emergency Relief Fund include:
- Expenses mistakenly incurred, preventable expenses or those due to negligence or poor planning or poor financial management
- Fines and court fees, penalties, traffic tickets, legal fees, or jail bonds
- Car repairs bills resulting from normal maintenance
- Routine preventative health expenses or elective procedures
- Normal and anticipated academic expenses already covered through financial aid (tuition, housing, fees, health insurance, and books)
Reasons a request may be denied include:
- The basic eligibility criteria were not met
- The applicant is not in good satisfactory academic progress standing
- The student is not in good standing with the Student Conduct Office
- The situation did not meet the criteria as a current emergency causing financial hardship,
- Documentation was not submitted
- The student has not exhausted all other resources including loans through the Financial Aid Office
- The student’s financial aid package fully covers cost of attendance, and the applicant is not currently eligible to receive additional funding from the University.