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Saginaw Valley State University

Student Affairs

The SVSU Student Emergency Fund

Saginaw Valley State University Foundation

The SVSU Student Emergency Fund provides financial assistance to students for unexpected emergency expenses surrounding situations such as accidents, serious illness, death of a family member, fire damage, need for temporary housing, or other circumstances of an urgent, short-term nature. Students may apply for assistance from this fund only when all other resources have been exhausted (i.e., financial aid, student loans, insurance coverage, etc.). Most awards will not exceed $500. The SVSU Student Emergency Fund is supported by the university budget and private donations.

Student Eligibility Requirements:

  • Currently enrolled as a student at Saginaw Valley State University
  • Financial hardship due to an emergency, accident, or other unexpected critical incidents
  • Documentation of the need for assistance must be provided (i.e., police reports, medical records, receipts, written estimates, invoices, etc.)
  • All other resources, including emergency loans through the Office of Scholarships and Student Financial Aid, must have been considered and are insufficient, unavailable, or not available in a timely manner

Application Process:

Students will submit an SVSU Student Emergency Fund Application detailing their emergency need for aid along with supporting documentation. Applicants may be required to meet with one or more SVSU staff members and/or provide additional documentation upon request in association with their application. While aid from the fund does not have to be repaid, recipients should be aware it may impact future need-based financial aid packages.

Expenses Eligible for Coverage by the Emergency Fund:

  • Medications and other medical expenses not covered by insurance or other forms of assistance
  • Safety needs (i.e., changing a lock)
  • Replacement of essential personal belongings due to fire, theft, or natural disaster
  • Travel costs related to a death or illness in the immediate family
  • Temporary housing or food costs to offset emergency homelessness/hunger crises
  • Gas or minor automotive repairs for a student's sole means of transportation
  • Other short-term expenses as approved by the selection committee

Expenses Not Eligible for Coverage by the Emergency Fund:

  • Tuition, fees, study abroad expenses
  • Health or other insurance premiums
  • Non-essential utilities (i.e., cable, internet)
  • Household or furniture costs not related to damage or theft
  • Parking tickets or other expenses related to infractions of university policies, civil or criminal law
  • Costs for entertainment, recreation, non-emergency travel or other non-essential expenses