Graduate and Professional Student Emergency Fund

The Graduate and Professional Student Emergency Fund (GPSEF) assists graduate and professional students with unexpected, one-time emergency expenses enabling them to continue making academic progress despite an unanticipated financial hardship. This fund is not intended to cover recurring expenses, rather to provide support to students who, due to an emergency situation, are faced with unexpected expenses. The GPSEF is made possible by a fixed allocation. Hence, support from the GPSEF will be issued to eligible students as long as there are funds available.

Students seeking assistance with childcare-related emergency expenses should consult:

• School-based child daycare subsidy programs
• WashU Child Daycare Subsidy Program for PhD students
• Buchheit Graduate Student Family Support Fund

Eligibility

This fund is open to all full-time graduate and professional students enrolled in a degree program at WashU. Students must be making satisfactory academic progress as determined by their program to be eligible.

A student is eligible to receive up $1,500 in emergency funds from GPSEF per academic year. If a student’s application is denied, they are eligible to apply again. Students may apply more than once to the emergency fund if they have more than one applicable emergency situation, up to a total of $1,500 in an academic year. Students must be able to demonstrate that they cannot reasonably resolve their immediate financial needs through loans, aid programs, or other personal resources.

If you have questions regarding your eligibility, please contact gradcenter@wustl.edu.

Funding

Examples of Situations That May Warrant Funding:

• Unanticipated, emergency medical, dental or mental health services for the student
• Major accidents or unforeseen emergency circumstances such as fire and natural disasters
• Expenses related to the death of an immediate family member

Non-Eligible Expenses:

Routine living expenses such as rent, groceries, standard car maintenance/repairs, childcare, utilities, taxes, insurance, medical expenses related to ongoing conditions, elective procedures, or routine care, pet-related expenses, standard travel costs and fees, legal fees or court costs, and standard computer/laptop replacement are generally not covered by this fund. Expenses incurred by someone other than the student are not covered. Expenses incurred solely due to voluntary or involuntary loss of employment are not covered by this fund. 

These emergency funds are not designed to cover standard expenses included in the budgeted cost of attendance for the academic year, including tuition, fees, research, course materials, or conference travel. Funds are not available to support expenses related to post-graduation employment (e.g., licensure fees, OPT fees, exam preparation, interview costs, etc.)

Costs incurred during a previous academic year, prior to active enrollment, or while a student was on leave are not eligible.

Funding Amount

The Graduate and Professional Student Emergency Fund can reimburse expenses for approved requests up to $1,500. Expenses must be incurred within the current academic year.

For students who qualify for need-based financial aid, receipt of this award may impact the original loan amount. Please contact your school’s Financial Aid Office prior to submitting your application for help evaluating your individual circumstance and possible impact to your financial aid.

Applying for Funding

Application Process

Students are encouraged to speak to their faculty advisors and/or Director of Graduate/Professional Study. These individuals may be able to help identify other sources of financial assistance, university resources, and/or provide useful advice.

Students apply online to the GPSEF. The application includes the following:

• Brief statement describing the emergency situation and unforeseen expense due to an emergency, and how the GPSEF could help you resolve the emergency.
• The time the expense was (or will be) incurred.
• Proof of expense(s) (itemized/detailed receipt, invoice, etc. that corroborates funding request), in a single PDF file.
• The amount of emergency funding requested including: a list of current expenses, how the funds will be used, and your financial situation including sources of income and other available funding.
  • If the expense has already been incurred, please provide documentation* of costs.
  • If the expense has not yet been incurred, please provide documentation* of anticipated expenses.
• Attestation on the application form:

I understand that the Graduate and Professional Student Emergency Fund is an emergency award available to graduate and professional students. I certify that to the best of my knowledge, the information on this application and the documentation are correct and complete. I have no other resources to cover this emergency expense. If this request is for medical/dental support, I permit the Graduate Center to work with the Habif/Student Health Services to ensure that health insurance has been applied to my case. I also permit my School’s financial aid office to release information about my financial support to review my eligibility for assistance. Any monies received via the Graduate and Professional Student Emergency Fund may be considered taxable income and I accept that responsibility. I understand that falsification or misrepresentation of information on this application and documentation will result in disciplinary action against me.

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We understand that it may be difficult in some situations to obtain documentation, but because the Graduate and Professional Student Emergency Fund is a fund restricted to emergencies, applicants must verify expenses to qualify.

*Please provide the appropriate documentation for your situation:

• All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
• It must be a single, PDF document. It can include multiple receipts/invoices/documents, but must be one document.
• Emergency medical treatment or medication: insurance claims, letter from medical provider; documentation must provide details on treatment received.
• Emergency travel: Ticket receipts and final ticket stubs. If you apply for funding before departure, you must provide the final ticket stub within two weeks of your return date. 
• Fire, destruction, or natural disaster: A copy of a police report. If you have renter’s insurance, provide documentation showing your deductible. 
• Replacement of stolen essential items: A copy of a police report, telephone confirmation from the police department, and a receipt for the replacement product (note: essential items may include basic household goods, laptops, or equipment necessary for academic progress). 
• Documents/receipts/invoices must:
  • Provide details that back up the funding request. Show the total amount and confirmation of payment. Include the vendor or payee name information.

Review and Timeline

Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis once the completed application is submitted online.

Once your completed application has been received, decisions are made and based on availability of GPSEF funds. Decisions may be made in consultation with an applicant’s school. You will be notified of your application’s status and be informed of the next steps. Please be aware that funding generally can take 7-10 business days to process after funding notification.