Program Description

Emergency funding will be available to students who experience unexpected financial situations and meet the eligibility criteria outlined below. Students are asked to identify the level of funding needed.

The emergency funding application is a process for emergencies and unexpected hardships. Funding is not meant to provide long-term or full tuition relief.  This funding is a last resort for students who need it most and should NOT be considered part of a student’s financial planning for the future.  Priority consideration will be given to students whose continued enrollment may be at risk because of unexpected and unforeseen events or expenses.

HAVE QUESTIONS?  Before you apply, check out the student emergency assistance fund FAQs.

Available CARES Act Funding Information

Total funding to VUIM: $505,592.00

Total Student Portion:$217,805.00

Date funding first distribution received by VUIM: 1/13/2021 (Student portion – $39,718.00)

Date funding second distribution received by VUIM: 2/3/2021 (Student portion – $39,718.00)

Date funding third distribution received by VUIM: 5/25/2021 (Student portion – $138,369 – will be split evenly into two application periods, July 2021 and October 2021)

Total Portion available for emergency student funding: $217,805.00

Total Awarded to Date (12/31/2021): $217,805.00

Application Process

2020 1st Application period: January 13th – March 31st (funds exhausted on March 15th, 2021) – Application period closed.

2021 2nd Application period: April 5th – April 30th (or until funds have been exhausted) – Application period closed.

2021 3rd Application period: July 6th – July 31st (or until funds have been exhausted) – Application period is closed.

2021 4th Application period: October 1 – October 31, 2021 (or until funds have been exhausted) – Application period is closed.

You must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program at the time you apply for emergency assistance.

To qualify for funding consideration through this emergency application process, students must meet the following criteria:

Eligibility Criteria for Emergency Funding

• Enrolled in at least 6 credit hours during the upcoming term in a degree-seeking program; and
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.00; and
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as outlined in University policy; and
• Experienced unexpected financial hardship resulting from the COVID-19 emergency; and
• Provide documentation to support the request as may be required by the University.

Examples of applicant’s expenses incurred that will be considered through the student emergency assistance funding process:

• Emergency medical expenses not covered by insurance
• Technology/equipment needed to ensure continuity of online learning
• Emergency travel expenses
• Homelessness or sudden loss of housing
• Overdue utility bills
• Loss of childcare
• Health insurance premiums
• Replacement of stolen equipment essential to student’s coursework
• Other financial needs arising from individual and/or special circumstances to be determined on a case-by-case basis

Examples of applicant’s expenses incurred that will NOT be considered through the student emergency assistance funding process:

• Expenses incurred prior to August 17, 2020
• Anticipated expenses
• Reimbursement for tuition and fee payments already made by the student
• Expenses belonging to family members
• Student loan expenses and payments
• Credit card expenses and payments
• Study abroad costs
• Legal fines or expenses
• Non-essential personal bills
• Funds for the replacement of lost or stolen items (unless the stolen item is essential to VUIM coursework)

Additional Items to Note

• Students are only eligible to receive funding through this process one time during the application period in which funding is released.
• Students with an EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) below $5,700 will be given priority
• If a student who has received emergency funding withdraws during the term in which funding was received, the student must return the award, and a balance in the amount of the award the student received through the emergency funding process will be posted on the student’s account if appropriate.
• Students who received emergency funding during the first application period may be eligible to apply in future funding periods if applicable; however, previous awards can be considered by the review committee when making decisions.
• Students can be granted assistance through the emergency funding process up to a maximum of 4 times during their graduate enrollment.
• Funds awarded do not need to be repaid unless the applicant withdraws from enrollment; however, awards may be subject to federal taxes.
• Based on the funding source, awards may be disbursed to a student either via check or by student account credit. The University will determine the method of fund delivery
• There is no guarantee that funding will be available for any given term, and the University may discontinue student emergency assistance funding at any time. The number of students who can be served and the number of awards is subject to the availability of funds.
• For more information about the process or the status of your application, please contact [email protected].

Application

Complete and submit the online application. Applications will be reviewed by a committee composed of University Leadership staff. Decisions will be communicated to students via their VUIM email within fourteen (14) days of submission.

All application decisions are final.