Student Affairs Student Emergency Fund

Who is eligible for the Student Emergency Fund?

The assistance will be available to actively enrolled degree-seeking students at Amherst College.

What are the source of the funding?

Amherst College will be the funding source for eligible students through the generous donations of friends of the College and various other sources.

Who reviews the requests and determines the funding?

Applications will be reviewed weekly (usually on Friday) by a committee consisting of representative(s) from the Office of Student Affairs (Class and Access Resource Center, Office of Immigration Services), Office of Financial Aid, and the Meiklejohn Fellows Program.

What is the application/approval process?

Students must complete the Student Emergency Fund application form (linked below) for consideration and respond to any follow-up inquiries from emergencyfund@amherst.edu as needed to finalize the requested need.

Emails will be sent to applicants within 1-3 days of of the committee meeting to share the outcome. Approved requests will then be processed through Finexio, the College’s student payment processor. Payments will be received via email - students will receive an email to their assigned Amherst email address from support@checkbook.io with options & instructions for depositing the payment. Payments can be accepted via ACH Direct Deposit, printed for mobile deposit or request a paper check by mail. 

The timeline for receipt of payment is typically 5-7 business days following the committee meeting to allow for system processing, College approvals and issuance by Finexio. 

Can I make multiple requests?

Yes, students may make multiple requests for distinct emergencies. However, due to the limited nature of the fund, students will be limited to $1,000 annual maximum in emergency funds across all requests.

What is the range of Student Emergency Funds given?

The annual limit per student will be $1,000. Funding amounts can range and will be capped based on specific categories. Requests should be for demonstrated needs that are typically unanticipated and non-recurring. The application categories may change over time depending on current circumstances and general need. Payments received for partial amounts may be due to a capped item or items that are deemed ineligible.

• The cap for laptop repair or replacement will be $800.
• The cap for an iPad or tablet will be $400.
• The cap for a cell phone will be $600.

Is documentation required?

Documentation of emergency expenses is required beginning with the fall of 2023. Documentation can include receipts, invoices, or provider estimates. Funds cannot be issued until reasonable cost for the emergency expense can be provided.  Upon initial review, further documentation may be requested. Submitting an incomplete application may lead to a delay in the review of a student’s request.

Can I use these funds to purchase a computer?

To support the purchase of an education-related computer, we can refer students to a student loan designated for this purpose through Financial Aid or students can request permission from an external scholarship provider to use toward their funds for this purpose.

Can I use these emergency funds to pay for existing or past due balances?

No, funds will not be granted for the purpose of resolving any existing or past due balance. Students should be mindful and make separate arrangements to resolve any outstanding balances on their student account to avoid future consequences, including academic withdrawal. Funds received may be taxable and will be the financial responsibility of the recipient.

Can an unapproved request be reconsidered?

Students who receive an email that their request cannot be granted, but the request meets an eligible criteria and is unanticipated and non-recurring, may reply with additional information to be reconsidered by the committee at their next regularly scheduled meeting.

Who can I contact with questions?

Students can send questions or comments to emergencyfund@amherst.edu. Students should expect to receive outcome notifications from emergencyfund@amherst.edu as well.