Student Emergency Fund

The Student Emergency Fund assists Worcester State University students by providing limited emergency financial support when they need assistance with unexpected, unforeseen, and unavoidable emergency circumstances that jeopardize their ability to successfully continue in school.

This funding is not intended to reimburse for expenses that have already been paid, or to replace or supplement existing financial aid. Decisions regarding amount and disbursement of funds are made on a case-by-case basis. Awards are not considered loans and do not require repayment. Some funds may be considered income and are therefore subject to federal taxes.

Possible expenses covered by the Emergency Fund

Examples of expenses considered for funding include but are not limited to:

• Wifi needed for online classes
• Food/basic necessities
• Books or other school related expenses
• Safety related needs, i.e., changing a lock on vehicle or home
• Loss of housing due to natural disaster, fire, etc.

Expenses not covered

Examples include but are not limited to:

• Tuition, fees, health insurance, study abroad costs
• Non-essential utilities, household or furniture costs not related to damage or theft
• Parking tickets
• Non-emergency travel or non-essential expenses

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for consideration, a student must:

• Have a financial hardship resulting from an emergency, accident or other unplanned event
• Be currently enrolled as a matriculated student at Worcester State University
• Be enrolled in classes in the semester when the funds would be used
• Be a student in good academic standing at Worcester State University
• Be able to demonstrate a financial need with supporting documentation (when requested)
• Establish that other possible resources have been considered and are either unavailable or sufficient
• In rare circumstances, the aforementioned eligibility guidelines can be waived upon the recommendation of the Dean of Students or their designee