Student Relief Fund

The Student Relief Fund, a vital resource at Ferris State University, provides limited emergency financial assistance to enrolled students facing unforeseen emergencies and struggling to meet immediate and essential expenses. This fund is not just a safety net but a testament to our commitment to your success and to helping you, our students, stay on track with your educational goals.

At Ferris State University, we take pride in our strong support system, which is always ready to assist students in need. Remember, Bulldogs, we have your back!

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Student Relief Fund Eligibility

Relief funds are reserved for students who cannot cover essential expenses due to temporary or unforeseen financial hardship. To qualify for relief funds, an applicant must:

• Be enrolled with the university at the time of the application submission,
• Have a 2.0 cumulative GPA and be in good academic and financial aid standing,
• Provide a brief description of emergency needs, and
• Have not received Student Relief Funding within one (1) calendar year prior to the time of applicant submission.

Expenses That May Be Considered

• Essential utilities
• Car repairs or emergency transportation (excluding vehicle purchases)
• School-related expenses
• Replacement of essential belongings due to theft or loss by fire, flood, or natural disaster
• Travel expenses to return home after a sudden family death or emergency.

Expenses That Will Not Be Considered

• Expenses due to student overspending
• Outstanding debt to the university or otherwise (e.g., credit card, past due fees)
• Parking Tickets or other fines
• Normal and anticipated academic expenses (tuition, fees, health insurance, and study abroad cost).
• Non-essential utilities, household, or furniture costs not related to damage or theft
• Cost for entertainment, recreation, or non-emergency travel

Student Relief Fund Review and Award Process

Applications will be reviewed by the Associate Dean of Students in partnership with the Dean of Students, Financial Aid, and Student Financial Services.

Application submission does not guarantee that each bulldog will be accommodated. Our Financial Aid and Student Financial Services team will review each applicant's submission to determine eligibility based on whether scholarships and grants are available to cover the student's unexpected expenses. In

addition, the financial team will ensure that all other resources, including Student Financial Aid, have been exhausted before relief funding is offered.

Not all applicants will receive an award. Awards depend on available funding and details determined during the application review process.

If approved, a student will receive funding only once per calendar year. Individual awards will be capped at $500. Should the applicant have extenuating circumstances that require a higher amount of funding, they must indicate the amount in detail in the application. Please note that we will make every effort to accommodate your request; however, our priority is to assist as many bulldogs as possible based on available funding.

Applicant Documentation

Applicants must provide as much documentation as possible to support their funding request. If the applicant received relief funding before the current request, those details must be provided in the application.

Examples of supporting documentation

• Documentation supporting hardship (e.g., receipt, bill, invoice, etc.)
• Travel details supporting emergency assistance for transpiration.
• If the applicant does not have access or is in a specific situation where documentation may be difficult to obtain, We ask that you provide these details in the application description.

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Contact Information

For more information about the Student Relief Fund, contact: