STUDENT EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUND
The SEAF assists UNCP students by providing financial support when they need assistance with unexpected emergency expenses surrounding situations such as accidents, illness, death of an immediate family member, fire damage, need for temporary housing or other disasters.
Students may apply for funds when they have exhausted all other resources. This funding is not intended to replace or supplement existing financial aid and does not have to be repaid. Fund awards generally do not exceed $500.
Donations and grants are the sole source of funding for the Student Emergency Assistance Fund. We appreciate the generosity of the donors who make this fund possible.
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What is/is not covered by the emergency fund?
This is an excert from POL 11.20.01, the Student Emergency Assistance Fund Policy.
EXPENSES COVERED BY THE EMERGENCY FUND
Below is a non-exhaustive list of expenses covered by the emergency fund:
- Medications and other costs related to medical care
- Books and other essential academic expenses
- Safety needs (i.e. changing a lock)
- Replacement of essential personal belongings due to fire, theft, or natural disaster
- Travel costs related to a death or illness in the immediate family
EXPENSES NOT COVERED BY THE EMERGENCY FUND
- Recurring expenses not related to an emergency
- Tuition, fees, health insurance, and study abroad costs
- Recurring or non-essential utilities (i.e. cable), household expenses, or furniture costs not related to an emergency situation
- Parking tickets
- Costs for entertainment, recreation, non-emergency travel or other non-essential expenses
If your financial hardship surrounds concerns not covered by the emergency fund, check out more information about the CARES Act below to see if you qualify.
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Are you eligible for the emergency fund?
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Applicants must have a financial hardship resulting from an emergency, accident, or other unexpected critical incident.
- Applicants must be currently enrolled students.
- All other resources, including emergency loans through Financial Aid must have been considered and are insufficient, unavailable, or not available in a timely manner.
- Applicants must complete all questions in full and submit supporting documentation.
CARES ACT FUND
UNC Pembroke was awarded $3,137,355 million designated for direct, student emergency assistance. This funding is available to assist students with COVID-related expenses such as balances, technology needs, food insecurity, housing needs, course materials, transportation, medical needs, childcare expenses, and mental health resources.
The CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional needs, such as students who receive Pell Grants, in awarding emergency assistance funding to students. UNC Pembroke awarded all current students who have a valid FAFSA on file and are Pell recipients or Pell-eligible. These awards were processed without any action needed by the student. If you were not one of these students, you could still receive assistance if you are a current student at UNC Pembroke and have a COVID-related need.
To receive funding, eligible students MUST submit an application indicating they have a need. This application is available online when logging into your BraveWeb account. Click on Online Forms Home and the application is the first link—Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021.
Please keep in mind that students must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Students must meet these conditions for consideration for assistance under the CRRSAA.
For questions related to student aid from the CARES Act Emergency Relief Aid, please contact the UNCP Office of Financial Aid at 910.521.6255 or fa@uncp.edu.
Visit BraveWeb to apply Learn more about the CARES Act Fund
MENTAL HEALTH STUDENT GRANT
Mental Health Student grants are awarded to students for off-campus mental health care that they cannot afford. The limit is $1,000 per academic year. The parameters for applying for this funding is as follows:
- Must be enrolled as a student during the semester support is sought
- Referral sources must be licensed/certified in North Carolina or the state in which the services are rendered
- A quote for services or itemized receipts needs to be provided
- The request must be for assistance in paying for specialized/holistic mental health care
- If you are under 18, parental consent is required
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Permissible Use of Funding
- Insurance deductibles and copays
- Session fees
- Types of providers – counselor, psychologist, social worker, medical provider, massage therapist, nutritionist, holistic life coaching, subtle yoga instructor
- Funds will not cover missed appointment fees, late fees, fees for services not deemed as related to mental health needs, or for someone other than the student applying for funding
- Needs may be backdated to May 24, 2021
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Application and Review Process
APPLICATION PROCESS
- The application must be completed online by the student that will receive the funding
- The application will ask for the type of service, the rationale for the request, and the provider or pharmacy name
- A student has a limit of $1,000 per academic year that can be received through the microgrant
- Students may continue to apply for needs until the full amount is met
- The parental consent form should be completed if the student is under 18
- It is expected that anyone applying for funds is doing so honestly. Anyone found to be making a fraudulent claim will be subject to the provisions and procedures of the Student Code of Conduct.
REVIEW PROCESS
- All decisions will be made as quickly as possible within 30 business days, not including holidays/university closures
- Students will be notified by phone of application approval
- Final funding decisions will be made by the Director of Counseling & Psychological Services
- All applications will be kept confidential
- If the applicant is approved for funding, it will be distributed directly to the student as soon as possible
- Submission does not guarantee funding