Student Emergency Assistance Fund
The Student Emergency Assistance Fund seeks to assist Pitt-Bradford students by providing financial support intended to meet immediate essential needs due to financial hardship. This fund will make available critical resources for immediate needs such as housing, food security, and other allowable expenses.
Students can apply for emergency assistance when other traditional methods of funding have been exhausted. This fund is not meant to replace existing financial aid, and does not need to be repaid. Students can apply for a maximum of $600 from the student emergency fund per academic year.
All requests are kept as confidential as possible. No details are shared with a third party unless the student explicitly gives permission and only when there is a legitimate need. Details are shared amongst administering university offices in order to process funding requests
Expenses Covered by the Emergency Fund
Examples of emergencies to be considered include, but are not limited to:
- Emergency medical expenses
- Food security
- Homelessness, sudden loss of housing, or imminent eviction
- Essential utility bills reaching a turn-off notice (e.g. electric, gas, water)
- Unexpected travel and/or transportation expenses
- Academic supplies and technology repair or support
Expenses Not Covered by the Emergency Fund
Examples of expenses not covered include, but are not limited to:
- Tuition, fees, health insurance, and study abroad costs
- Non-essential personal bills such as: current utility, credit card, cable, cell phone, etc.
- Parking tickets, library fines, or other expenses mistakenly incurred
- Costs of entertainment, recreation, or non-essential travel
- Legal counsel and fees
- No more than $600 per year may be requested
Eligibility Requirements
Each applicant must meet the following criteria:
- Demonstrate financial hardship
- Experience an emergency, accident, illness, or other unforeseen event among the “covered” examples above
- Be currently enrolled as a full-time or part-time, degree-seeking student
Applicants must complete all questions on the application in full and submit justification and supporting documentation as the situation allows. Examples of supporting documentation include but are not limited to:
- Documentation showing loss of employment or significant reduction of wages
- Eviction notice
- Utility bills indicating shut-off notice
- Medical bills
Students with non-emergent financial hardships that do not qualify for the Student Emergency Assistance Fund, including student account balances, are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid office directly to discuss their situation and talk about possible aid options.
Application Process
Students in need of emergency financial assistance are encouraged to submit an online application. Applicants must answer all questions and submit supporting documentation as requested. Questions may be directed to the Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs.
Completed applications are carefully reviewed by representatives from the offices of Student Affairs and the Financial Aid to ensure all other financial aid resources are maximized first. A representative from Student Affairs will respond to application submissions within 72 hours of receipt. A representative from Student Affairs will contact Enrollment Services to post the approved amount. Payment will be distributed as soon as possible consistent with University policies and procedures.
Students should set up direct deposit in PittPAY
How Do I Sign Up for Direct Deposit?
Log into MyPitt.
Click: Student Services.
Click: PittPAY.
Click: Direct Deposit.
Enter your checking account information.
Students should be aware that emergency funding may impact financial aid and may create a taxable event that could require reporting to the IRS by the recipient.
Giving to the Emergency Fund
The number of students benefiting from the Emergency Assistance Fund is limited to the availability of funds. Seeded by funding from alumni and donors, the fund is sustained by contributions from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of the University.
To contribute, please visit the Student Emergency Assistance Fund Giving Form.
Donors may give:
Online at: upbalumni.org/helppanthers
By phone at: 814-362-5145
By mail: Office of Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement
Attn: Student Emergency Assistance Fund
300 Campus Drive
Bradford, PA 16701