Student Emergency Fund

Thanks to the ongoing generosity since 2020, The SMU Student Emergency Fund (SEF) is able to provide financial assistance to students who are affected by catastrophic or emergency situations.

The SEF Committee (“Committee”) includes representatives from the Offices of Student Advocacy and Support, Student Financial Services, Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Enrollment Services, and other appropriate campus partners. The Committee serves as part of SMU’s broader student support network. The Committee collaborates with offices across the University to connect students with resources for both immediate assistance and longer-term options that promote student success and retention.

The Student Emergency Fund is intended to provide one-time financial assistance that fully or substantially addresses a student's immediate emergency need. Funding is available to support expenses directly impacting the student and is not intended to cover the financial needs of family members or other dependents.

If you are a current student at SMU and would like to apply for SEF, please review the information below carefully before applying to ensure you are eligible, meet the requirements, and are ready to submit a complete application.

  • If you meet eligibility and requirements of SEF, you must first connect with a staff member by completing a Caring Community Connections referral.
  • If you do not meet eligibility and requirements of SEF, please still contact Student Advocacy and Support so that we can work together to determine how to best support you. You may contact a staff member by completing a Caring Community Connections referral.
     

Eligibility

SEF is available to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate degree- or credential-seeking students who experience an unexpected, unforeseen, or unavoidable emergency that creates a short-term financial hardship. Examples may include illness, accidents, emergency travel, theft, fire or property damage, temporary housing needs, or other situations that, if left unaddressed, could prevent a student from remaining enrolled and progressing toward graduation.

Before applying for SEF assistance, a student should first exhaust all other available resources, including financial aid/loan options, payment plans, personal resources, and support from family or friends. The SEF funds are intended to address immediate emergency needs; approval of an application is not intended to replace or supplement existing financial aid or serve as a debt-relief program. Approved awards do not need to be repaid.

Requirements

  • Currently enrolled undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are eligible to apply
    • Applicants must complete at least one semester at SMU before becoming eligible
    • Applicants must be enrolled during the semester that SEF is requested
  • Applicants must be in good financial standing
    • As defined by SMU, students are meeting the university’s financial responsibilities (no delinquent balances and no defaulted loans) 
    • Applicants must not have any outstanding debts/past due balances with the university
  • Applicants must first meet with a Student Advocacy and Support staff member by completing and submitting a Caring Community Connections (CCC) form or by emailing deanofstudents@smu.edu
  • Applicants must demonstrate that they have reviewed and exhausted all other financial options (financial aid, payment plans, loans, family support, insurance, etc.)
  • FAFSA/TAFSA should be complete and on file, when applicable
  • Applicants must provide sufficient documentation as determined and requested by the Committee
  • Applicants must agree to consider accessing other available community resources, social services, and solutions such as food pantries or low-cost grocery stores
  • The maximum amount available per student is a one-time disbursement of $1000
  • Please note that staff members who are employed by SMU full-time are not eligible for the SEF

Examples of Covered Expenses

The Student Emergency Fund is designed for expenses including but not limited to:

  • Books and other essential academic expenses
  • Prescriptions and other costs related to emergency medical care
  • Short-term rent and/or utilities (such as electricity and water)
  • Travel costs associated with the death or illness of a family member
  • Temporary housing needs
  • Replacement of essential personal belongings following an emergency
  • Urgent costs where no payment plan is available
  • Safety-related expenses
  • Sudden loss of income affecting basic needs

Examples of Expenses not covered

  • Tuition or fees charged to the SMU Student Account
  • Costs for other individuals that are not for the student (e.g. a family member’s medical bill)
  • Tuition, fees, insurance, Greek Life payments, or study abroad fees
  • Non-essential or discretionary spending (entertainment, cable or streaming services, recreation, unnecessary subscriptions, non-emergency travel)
  • Situations tied to long-term financial planning issues (e.g., Preventable fines and fees including parking tickets or past due credit card bills, fixed expenses that could have been planned for)
  • Missed timing of stipends or paychecks due to miscommunication (e.g., when payment dates had already been discussed with the issuing party)
  • Replacement of non-essential technology (e.g., Air pods (or other wireless earbuds that are not necessary), smart watches, a more expensive laptop than needed, upgrade of technology that is non-essential)
  • Routine veterinary bills and pet expenses. Some exceptions may apply for medical service animals
  • Child support payments

Application Process

The application should be completed in full, and students must provide documentation to support the request. Documentation may include but is not limited to documentation of the crisis (as applicable), bills or invoices for payments to be made (as applicable). Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The Committee will review a student’s request, and the student will be notified of the decision and any required next steps within 5-7 business days. 

Please note that due to university business processes required to distribute funds to students through this unique process, SEF applications are not reviewed or processed/paid when SMU is closed for holidays, breaks, or weekends. Deadlines for payments and/or bank holidays may affect funding timelines.

Conditions

  • Award amounts will vary based on request
  • Rent assistance can only be paid directly to the entity or individual that appears on the W9
  • The award amount is based on the individual student’s personal needs; Exceptions may be made for some dependent care.
  • Funds cannot be used for expenses incurred from situations other than an emergency
  • Debt payments such as credit card payments or bankruptcies will not be considered for monetary assistance
  • Funding cannot be used for tuition and fees

The Student Emergency Fund would not be made possible without the generous support of the SMU community’s donations. If you are interested in giving to this fund, please contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 214-768-4564 or by email at deanofstudents@smu.edu.