Smeal Emergency Fund

For students facing an unexpected financial crisis that threatens their ability to stay in school this semester, the Smeal Emergency Fund provides one-time financial assistance up to $3,000 for eligible students experiencing genuine emergencies.

Apply Now

Complete the Emergency Funds Request form.

Questions

Please contact scholarships@smeal.psu.edu for additional information.

Eligibility

Qualification for funding requires:

1. Student must be a Smeal Undergraduate student.
2. Student is currently enrolled in the semester in which they are applying for the scholarship.
3. Funding requested is for an emergency caused by extenuating circumstances.
            a. The emergency must not have been caused by the student’s own negligence.
            b. The emergency must not have been caused by the student’s lack of planning.
            c. The emergency was beyond the student’s control (e.g. a natural disaster or a non-fault accident).
4. Student will be required to provide current legitimate proof or documentation of emergency.
**Please note: The approval process for emergency funding requests will be slowed if correct documentation is not submitted. Incomplete applications and submissions will automatically be denied.
5. Demonstrated and verifiable financial need.
6. Students using federal financial aid to pay for classes must have room in their financial aid budget (unmet need in their Cost of Attendance) and utilized already-awarded financial aid.

Qualifying Emergencies

• Medical emergencies or unexpected healthcare costs
• Family crisis requiring immediate travel
• Loss of housing due to circumstances beyond your control
• Natural disaster or non-fault accident
• Essential technology failure (laptop, etc.) preventing coursework completion