Student Emergency Fund

Examples of emergencies to be considered include, but are not limited to:

• Emergency medical expenses, prescription eyeglasses, or essential dental work
• Travel expenses due to serious illness or death in the immediate family
• Overdue utility bills reaching a turn-off notice
• Homelessness or sudden loss of housing
• Loss of childcare
• Safety needs, including the needs of victims of domestic violence
• Unexpected and/or other essential academic expenses
• Replacement of essential personal belongings due to fire or natural disaster

• Tuition, fees, books, health insurance, and study abroad costs
• Non-essential personal bills
• Parking tickets, library fines, or other expenses mistakenly incurred

Any Lake Forest College student may apply for emergency funds. Each applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Demonstrate financial hardship
• Experience an emergency, accident, illness, or other unforeseen event among the “covered” examples above
• Be currently enrolled as a full-time or part-time, degree-seeking student.
• All other resources, including loans through Financial Aid, 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 as the situation allows.

Students in need of emergency financial assistance are encouraged to meet with a member of the Student Affairs staff, who can assist you in completing the brief application. You may also submit the application on your own.

Completed applications are reviewed by members of the staff of the Dean of Students Office. A staff member will respond to emergency application submissions within 72 hours of receipt.

Generally, the maximum emergency aid allocation to a student will be $1,000. Most requests range from $300–$500 depending on the situation. Payment is often made to vendors or another third party (e.g., landlord, medical provider, airline) and not to the student. Payment will be distributed as soon as possible but will depend upon many factors, including whether that vendor is available to the College accounts payable system. In limited cases, payment may be made directly to the student. Documentation such as an invoice, bill, or receipt is required.

The Emergency Fund is not a substitute for financial aid. Students who are seeking funding will be required to utilize all offered financial aid resources before being awarded emergency aid.