Financial Hardship Assistance

Student Emergency Fund provides financial assistance to Boise State University students who are in danger of withdrawing during a semester due to unanticipated, temporary financial hardships resulting from emergency or crisis situations (e.g., accident, illness, death of a family member, etc.). Funds will be awarded as grants to help alleviate short-term financial needs.

• Grant awards do not exceed $500
• Grant may be awarded ONCE during a student’s academic career
• Grant does not have to be repaid

Am I eligible?

In order to be eligible for the Student Emergency Fund, students must:

• Be experiencing an unexpected financial hardship resulting from an emergency or crisis situation.
• Be enrolled in at least six credits and in attendance during the semester in which funds are being requested.
• Be a degree-seeking student in good academic standing with minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or show evidence of recent satisfactory progress.
• Have exhausted all other possible financial resources before applying for student emergency funds, such as student loans, personal financial accounts, borrowing money from others, government resources and community resources.
• Be able to provide sufficient documentation of financial need (like your lease, unpaid utility bills, etc.).

What qualifies as an emergency or crisis situation?

Situations include, but are not limited to, accidents, medical or dental emergencies, natural disasters, travel emergencies and change in employment due to unanticipated events.

What expenses are eligible and ineligible?

Eligible expenses may include:

• Medical/dental
• Housing/rent/utilities
• Books/school supplies
• Car/travel
• Child care

Ineligible expenses include:

• Tuition
• Student fees
• Legal fines/expenses
• Credit card or student loan payments

1. Complete the Application

Fill out the application using the Apply to the Student Emergency Fund button.

As part of your application, you must upload documentation showing the emergency expense you need help paying. Examples include:

• Copies or photos of unpaid bills (utilities, medical, childcare or insurance)
• Proof of housing costs (lease, a letter from your landlord, mortgage statement)
• Car repair estimates
• Estimates for unpaid emergency purchases or unpaid emergency travel expenses

Apply to the Student Emergency Fund 
If you receive an error upon clicking on the application link, please clear your cache and cookies or open the form in an incognito window. 

2. Watch Your Student Email

Within 3-5 business days, the Office of the Dean of Students will send an email to your student email account. We will either:

• Request additional or different documentation, if needed, or
• Notify you of our decision and provide next steps. Please note: All completed applications are reviewed by the Office of the Dean of Students. Funding decisions and award amounts are based on eligibility, documentation of financial need, and the availability of funds.

3. Complete the Follow-Up Survey (Approvals Only)

If your application is approved and funds are disbursed, you will receive a required follow-up survey by email within 60 days of receiving your payment.

Need Help?

Contact (208) 426-1527 or deanofstudents@boisestate.edu with questions or schedule an appointment by using the emergency fund booking page.

We are thankful to be a part of a generous community that supports this fund! Click the following button to access our donation page.
Give to the Student Emergency Fund

The Steven Nelson Memorial Fund provides scholarship awards to students who are experiencing a financial hardship related to coming out (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, queer) during their time at Boise State. Designed to help students move forward in their lives and academic careers, grant awards (of up to $1500) will be dispersed in two payments over the course of two consecutive semesters. This fund is an endowed scholarship made possible by generous donors.

Am I eligible?

In order to be eligible to receive a Steven Nelson Memorial Fund scholarship, you must meet the following criteria:

• If coming out during your time as a Boise State student has created a financial hardship that threatens your ability to be academically successful and you can provide a letter of support written by a trusted family or community member that verifies these circumstances.
• You are currently enrolled in and attending at least six financial aid eligible credits (must be attending summer classes to be considered for grant during the summer).
• Must be a degree-seeking student in good academic standing with minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or show evidence of recent satisfactory progress.

What are some examples of qualifying circumstances?

Examples of qualifying circumstances related to your gender identity and/or sexual orientation include:

• Loss of job
• Homelessness/eviction by landlord
• Familial disownment
• Unexpected rescinding of resources necessary to be successful in school (such as your car/transportation was taken away, your credit/debit cards were frozen, your family members used to pay your rent but refuse to after coming out)

1. Complete the Application

Fill out the application using the Apply to the Steven Nelson Memorial Fund button.
Apply to the Steven Nelson Memorial Fund
NOTE: If you receive an error upon clicking on the application link, please clear your cache and cookies or open the form in an incognito window. 

Schedule an appointment to discuss your situation by using the online booking link on the application’s submission page or by calling (208) 426-1527. Meetings may be completed in person, over the phone or video call.

3. Watch Your Student Email

Within 3 business days from your scheduled appointment, the Office of the Dean of Students will send an email to your student email account. We will notify you of our decision and provide next steps.

Important Information

• If you currently receive financial aid, this award may count toward your financial aid package and could affect your remaining eligibility within your Cost of Attendance.
• All completed applications are reviewed by the Office of the Dean of Students. Funding decisions and award amounts are based on eligibility, documentation of financial need, and the availability of funds.