Emergency Financial Aid
Emergency aid is available for students who experience an unexpected crisis or hardship resulting in financial need. Students may apply for emergency funding through the Dean of Students (DOS) Office to cover unanticipated expenses and financial emergencies that are not part of the normal cost of attending Bucknell. 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.
Emergency aid is administered by the offices of the dean of students and financial aid. Emergency funding differs from other financial aid, as it is designed to offset short-term financial needs due to temporary hardships.
Please note that in order to qualify for emergency aid, U.S. citizens and permanent residents must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the current academic year, and the application must be on file with Bucknell’s Office of Financial Aid.
Eligibility
Students seeking emergency aid must apply via the Emergency Financial Aid Application form. Applications will be reviewed by a committee representing the offices of the dean of students and financial aid. If aid is granted, this committee will also determine the appropriate level of funding and contact the applicant. Applicants must meet the following conditions to be eligible for aid:
- Applicants must be currently enrolled, degree-seeking undergraduates at Bucknell.
- Applicants should be in good standing or show evidence of recent satisfactory progress at the University during the term in which the emergency funds would be applied.
- Applicants must have a financial hardship resulting from an emergency, accident or other unplanned event.
- Applicants must have exhausted all other financial resources, including federal student loans to the fullest extent, if eligible. U.S. citizens and permanent residents must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the current academic year, and the application must be on file with Bucknell’s Office of Financial Aid.
- Generally, a maximum of one award per year per student will be provided, if eligible.
Examples of Eligible Hardships
Emergency funding differs from financial aid, as it is designed to offset short-term financial needs due to temporary hardships.
Examples of situations that may qualify for emergency funding include:
- Medical expenses associated with accidents or illness
- Emergency travel due to the death of a family member
- Replacement of personal items or temporary housing needs due to fire, natural disaster or other unforeseen circumstances
- Emergency medical treatment/medication when the student has no ability to pay and the costs cannot be covered by insurance
Emergency aid cannot cover:
- Any costs that are already covered in a need-based aid package (standard cost of attendance includes tuition and fees, standard room and board allowance, allowances for books and miscellaneous expenses)
- Tuition, fees, health insurance and study abroad costs
- Non-essential utilities (e.g. cable)
- Household or furniture costs not related to damage or theft
- Parking tickets and other fines
- Outstanding debt (to the University or otherwise)
- Legal fees and court costs
- Costs for entertainment, recreation, non-emergency travel or other nonessential expenses
- Expenses that could reasonably be anticipated or that result from financial mismanagement/lack of financial planning
If a student’s request cannot be funded by the Dean of Students Office, DOS staff will work with the student to determine if there are other options available. DOS will also consult with other campus resources such as International Student and Scholar Services, Global Education, and the student’s school/college to determine eligibility for funding from that unit.
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.
Application Process
Students may begin the application process by submitting the Emergency Financial Aid Application form (Step 1 below). If you have questions about aid or wish to explore other resources prior to submitting this application, please contact the Dean of Students Office by phone 570-577-1601 or deanofstudents@bucknell.edu. If you have questions about your eligibility for emergency aid or how receiving emergency aid could affect your student loan eligibility, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 570-577-1331 or finaid@bucknell.edu.
Additional Considerations for Student Loan Borrowers
If you are approved for emergency aid, the emergency aid will be counted in your financial aid package as Estimated Financial Assistance (EFA) within the Cost of Attendance. The presence of this monetary assistance will not reduce your eligibility for any federal, state or institutional grants, but it may impact your loan eligibility. This is because a student’s total aid from all sources, including EFA, cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance per federal regulations. If you have questions about how emergency aid could affect your student loan eligibility, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 570-577-1331 or finaid@bucknell.edu.