Emergency Grant Student Questions

Eligibility

• Q: Who qualifies for an emergency grant?

  A: The Emergency Grant is open to local and out-of-state; domestic (non-international) students, including both DACA and undocumented, including both undergraduates and master’s students who are facing emergencies which are impeding their ability to continue forward in their degree program. Eligible students must be at least halfway through their program as determined by their Student Coach.

• Q: What types of expenses does the emergency grant cover?

  A: The emergency grant can cover a number of expenses and situations a student is facing. Examples include:

  • Reimbursement for a transportation card to travel to and from school and/or medical appointments.
  • Documented theft of course textbooks and/or other essential academic items.
  • Loss of academic tools from fire or theft.
  • Dislocation from home due to domestic violence or natural disasters.
  • Temporary job loss.
  • Sudden loss of childcare to cover academic periods.
  • Unexpected medical and/or dental expenses.
  • Car repairs.
• Q: What types of expenses are not covered by the emergency grant?

  A: The types of expenses that are not covered by the emergency grant include but are not limited to:

  • Legal expenses (for divorce or child custody cases, civil or criminal cases, etc.).
  • Credit card bills.
  • Late fees, service fees, and fines on the student’s account.
  • Previous debts or past due balances owed to the University or other colleges/universities.
  • Damage/repair fees due to campus housing.
• Q: I am a renewal scholarship program student; am I eligible for this grant?

  A: If you meet the eligibility guidelines to apply and the situation warrants financial assistance, then, yes, renewable scholarship students currently on scholarship can be awarded emergency grants

• Q: Can international students apply for this grant?

  A: At this time, international students do not qualify. If this policy changes, we will communicate this.

• Q: Do I need to be a full-time, degree-seeking student?

  A: In order to be eligible to apply for an emergency grant, you must be a degree-seeking student. However, full-time enrollment may not be required. This is based on how many terms you have left to complete, courses needed, and when those courses are offered. In some cases, full-time enrollment will be required, but for most, it will not.

• Q: Is the emergency grant available to graduate students?

  A: Yes, at this time, the Emergency Grant is open to local, domestic students including graduate students at the Master’s level. Ph.D. candidates are not eligible to apply.

• Q: Is there a minimum total number of credits I need to have completed or a minimum GPA I need to have to qualify for the grant?

  A: A specific amount of credit hours already obtained is not required. You must be at least halfway through to completion of your program as determined by your Student Coach to qualify. There is not a specific minimum GPA; however, you must maintain and be meeting SAP (Standards of Academic Progress) to qualify. This will vary by program and career level.

Applying for the Funds

• Q: How do I apply for an emergency grant?

  A: A student interested in applying for an emergency grant will first need to contact his or her assigned Student Coach. The Student Coach will discuss your current emergency situation with you to determine if you are eligible to submit an application for an emergency grant. From there, additional instructions will be provided.

• Q: I was told I am eligible to apply for an emergency grant. What does the application consist of?

  A: The application is an online form available on the Bellevue University CommunityForce scholarship application portal. It consists of sections of questions pertaining to personal/demographic data, academic information and financial information (including a personal statement by you, the student, to clearly define the emergency situation you are currently facing and how it is preventing you from continuing in school). A section for attachments is available for uploading supporting or additional documentation. Students applying will need to sign the application, as well. No references/recommendations are needed.

• Q: Is there someone I can contact if I need assistance filling out the application?

  A: If you aren’t sure of what is being asked or requested on the application, you may reach out to [email protected] for assistance.

  If you need assistance in writing your personal statement, you are encouraged to contact the Bellevue University Writing Center at: [email protected] or 1.402.557.5449 The Writing Center’s Office is located on the Bellevue University Main Campus in Room #439 of the Freeman/Lozier Library Learning Commons. Writing Center services are available both in-person and online.

• Q: Is this grant available on a first-come, first-served basis?

  A: Yes. Once the funds are exhausted, additional requests will not be considered until we have secured more funding.

• Q: What are the application deadlines for the grant?

  A: There are no specific application deadlines. The application is open as long as funding is available.

• Q: How many times can I apply for and receive an emergency grant?

  A: There is not a set limit regarding how many times a student can apply. Subsequent applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. No guarantees of awards will be made for approved submissions.

Receiving the Grant Money

• Q: How soon can I expect to find out if I have received an emergency grant?

  A: From the time of application submission, the review process can take between seven to 10 business days for a decision, unless an urgent decision is warranted. If an urgent decision is warranted, you will receive the decision within 24-48 hours. However, if the application is received after normal business hours, on the weekend, or during a holiday, the process will pick up the following business day which may delay the decision.

• Q: If I am approved for the grant, how will the grant money reach me?

  A: If it is for expenses on your student account, the Scholarships & Grants Office will submit the award to the Financial Aid Office via the current scholarship awarding process. Financial Aid will process and list the award within your student financial aid for the specific term and it will disburse to the account following the standard disbursement policy.

  If the funds are for expenses outside of Bellevue University, an internal form will be submitted by the Scholarships & Grants Office to the Financial Aid Office to process. The Financial Aid Office will process and post the grant within 48 hours. In the event the Emergency Grant award needs to be expedited under the 48-hour time period, the Financial Aid Office will be asked to expedite processing. Student Accounts will then issue a refund directly to the student. Normal award processing takes three days from refund to posting date. Checks normally take five to seven business days to arrive through postal mail. If needed sooner, Student Accounts will request a refund check through financial accounts payable as a same-day post. Accounts Payable will disburse a check within 24 hours. Local or regional checks can be available the same day if needed, and regional checks can be expedited using FedEx.

• Q: Are the funds received from the emergency grant considered taxable income?

  A: Possibly. Depending on the expense(s) the grant is used for, it may be considered taxable income. Please be sure to speak to your tax accountant or tax lawyer for more information about the impacts on your taxes.

• Q: Do I have to pay the Emergency Grant back?

  A: No, the emergency grant will not have to be paid back to the University as long as you meet all conditions of the grant, which is specific to each student’s situation.

• Q: What is the likelihood my situation will be approved for funding?

  A: There are many factors that are weighed to determine if your situation will be approved for receiving an emergency grant. First, there must be funds available in the account to award. Secondly, you must meet the qualifications to apply. Once qualified, the quality of information provided in the application and any supplemental documentation will hold significant weight. Additionally, a student’s degree progression (how close you are to degree completion/conferral), SAP status (Standards of Academic Progress), and financial situation will all be considered.