Resources for Students with a Sudden Emergency
The following guidance and resources are available to support students who may be experiencing a sudden emergency, accident, or unforeseen event that requires additional emergency monetary assistance in order to support their ability to stay enrolled and focused on their academic career. At UTRGV, we are committed to your success and want to help you overcome financial obstacles so you may continue your education.
What to Do First
In times of a sudden emergency, ask yourself some key questions:
- Is this a sudden emergency, or something previously known?
- Is this likely to be a long-term emergency, or is the emergency more temporary or immediate?
- What resources have I already sought out?
- What, specifically, will it take to get me through this sudden emergency?
If this is a sudden emergency, the best place to start is likely with the Financial Aid Office.
Significant changes in financial circumstances, either for you or your family, may help you qualify for a reconsideration of your financial package at UTRGV. A financial aid officer can review your situation and alert you to any available options.
Available options may include grants, scholarships, and new or additional loan opportunities, for example a short-term loan.
If your consultation with Financial Aid does not fully relieve your financial hardship, you may be eligible to apply for the Student Emergency Fund.
Student Emergency Fund
The purpose of the Student Emergency Fund is to provide limited, last resort, financial assistance to currently enrolled students. Award amounts may vary per student and are only awarded once per year to an eligible student. Decisions regarding disbursement of funds are made on a case-by-case basis. Awards do not require repayments. If you are currently enrolled and are experiencing a sudden emergency, accident, or unforeseen event that requires additional emergency monetary assistance in order to support your ability to stay enrolled and focused on your academic career, Learn more information about the Student Emergency Fund.
Additional Support Resources
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| Career Center | Assistance for students seeking to find job opportunities to help pay for their education. |
| Counseling Center | Free and confidential counseling services for students to address mental health concerns. |
| Health Services | A wide variety of health services including free office visits for general medical care. Note: Many services and procedures used to diagnose and treat illnesses may be subject to charges but these are much lower than those comparable services provided elsewhere. |
| Housing and Residence Life | Installment plans are available for students during Fall and Spring semesters. Temporary emergency housing is available for students on a case-by-case basis. |
| Food Pantry | Free food supplements to currently enrolled students who are impacted by financial problems/conditions and, subsequently, experiencing difficulty meeting their basic need of adequate nutrition. |
| Liaison for Former Foster Youth | The Foster Care Liaison works closely with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to identify new students and acquire any support documentation needed to facilitate student enrollment and payment. |