NASFAA Mention: Emergency Student Aid Programs

"A chipped tooth, a new pair of glasses, an urgent flight home – some colleges offer students money for emergencies on top of the financial aid they already receive. Knowing that emergency aid exists, and how to ask for it, can save students hundreds of dollars or more in unforeseen costs. It can also prevent students from dropping out of college because of a relatively small but unexpected bill," according to Savingforcollege.com

"Many students experience a lot of financial fragility, effectively living paycheck to paycheck. They are unable to handle unanticipated bills. This can force them to work longer hours, which takes time away from academics and can cause them to drop out of college.

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Almost every college has some kind of emergency aid, said Jill Desjean, a policy analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).

She said that students should start by visiting their college’s financial aid office. Some colleges offer the money after a short conversation with a student. Others require students to complete an application that’s then reviewed by a committee. 'It can really vary from school to school,' she said.

Often, it’s the college that gives the aid, though some organizations can offer their own assistance, like the UNCF’s emergency grant program for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).

How is the emergency aid given?

The delivery of emergency aid depends on the college. Campuses offer emergency aid as loans, vouchers to spend on school supplies, bus passes, grants for students who meet certain academic qualifications or as grants without conditions if the student need is high. Others offer in-kind support, like groceries through food banks or partnerships with nearby farmers markets. Loans are the most popular type of emergency aid, according to the 2016 survey. Grants that don’t come with academic restrictions are the second most popular.

'There isn’t one clear definition of what emergency aid is,' Desjean said. 'It’s a judgment call.' Colleges will have policies and procedures in place for what they consider to be qualifying events."

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

 

Publication Date: 2/26/2019

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