Student Emergency Funds

HURRICANE HELENE- If you are seeking support related to Hurricane Helene, please go to this website first https://studentaid.unc.edu/disaster-recovery/. If there are ongoing and continuing needs beyond what this resource can support, students can then apply for the Student Emergency Fund. 

Student emergency funds assist Carolina students by providing financial support when they need assistance with unexpected, unforeseen, and unavoidable emergency expenses surrounding situations such as accidents, illness, death of a family member, fire damage or need for temporary housing. Currently enrolled students may apply for funds when they have exhausted all other resources (payment plans, additional student aid, assistance from family/friends, other personal resources). This funding is not intended to reimburse for expenses that have already been paid, to serve as a debt diversion program, or to replace or supplement existing financial aid. If funds are granted, they do not have to be repaid.

Possible Expenses Covered by the Emergency Fund

This list offers just some examples of possible expenses covered by the Student Emergency Fund. If the reason you are seeking funds is not listed below, that does not mean it won't be considered. You are strongly encouraged to submit a request for funds so that we can fully evaluate your situation and determine how we can help.

• Medications and other costs related to emergency medical care
• Books and other essential academic expenses
• Safety needs (i.e. changing a lock)
• Replacement of essential personal belongings or temporary housing needs, due to fire, theft, or natural disaster
• Travel costs related to a death or illness in the immediate family

Expenses Not Covered

This list offers some examples of expenses that would not be covered by the Student Emergency Fund but is not exhaustive:

• Tuition, fees, health insurance, and study abroad costs.
• Non-essential utilities (i.e. cable), household, or furniture costs not related to damage or theft.
• Regularly anticipated fixed expenses (i.e. rent).
• Parking tickets.
• Costs for entertainment, recreation, non-emergency travel or other non-essential expenses.
• Other anticipated expenses.

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants must have an immediate or time sensitive financial hardship resulting from an emergency, accident, or other unexpected critical incident or circumstance.
• The expense must be unexpected, unforeseen, and the urgent nature unavoidable.
• Applicants must be currently enrolled students.
• All other resources, including emergency loans through Scholarships and Student Aid must have been considered and are insufficient, unavailable, or not available in a timely manner.
• Applicants must complete all questions in full and submit supporting documentation.
• Have not previously received emergency funds from the Dean of Students Office for similar circumstances. 

Application Process

Students who are in need of emergency financial assistance may submit an application and supporting documentation to the Dean of Students office. The Dean of Students office works with the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid (OSSA) to review applications and determine eligibility. Information submitted in the SEF will be shared with OSSA for the purpose of determining SEF eligibility. Applicants are often required to meet with a staff member in the Dean of Students office to discuss their application. If you are currently receiving financial aid, please be aware that receiving funding from these emergency funds may affect your future aid packages and funds received will be reported on the 1098T as a scholarship for tax purposes.  For information on the application please contact our office at 919-966-4042.

Giving

The number of students who can be served by the Student Emergency Fund is subject to the availability of funds. The fund must be sustained by continual contributions from alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends of the University.