Dean of Students

Emergency Financial Assistance

Emergency Financial Assistance

St. Cloud State University has two emergency financial assistance programs to help support students with unexpected financial hardships. Students are asked to apply for the Student Emergency Assistance Program before applying for the Student Emergency Fund.

Student Emergency Assistance

The Student Emergency Assistance Program provides all currently enrolled students (domestic or international) who are unexpected and unforeseen financial challenge.

The funds for this emergency assistance program came from an allocation in the 2023 Minnesota legislative session to allow Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to offer direct emergency grants to students each year of the biennium. The funds are designated to help students with unexpected financial challenges and cannot be awarded for tuition and fees. The maximum award amount is $750, and funds are awarded based on the eligibility of the applicant’s specific need, supporting documentation, and availability of funds.

Application Process for the Student Emergency Assistance Program

  1. Create an account through the BEAM platform to access the application. Complete the application through BEAM and upload any relevant documentation (medical bill, vehicle repair estimate, loss of employment notice, etc.) to support the request.
  2. Application is reviewed to determine if the emergency meets the program's criteria. A communication will be sent to the applicant's email notifying them of the decision. Decisions will be based on eligibility of the applicant’s specific need, supporting documentation, and availability of funds.
  3. Approved students can log back into their BEAM account to access the funds.
How to apply:

Student Emergency Fund

The University Foundation has created an Emergency Fund to assist all current degree-seeking students (domestic or international) experiencing an unexpected financial hardship resulting from an emergency. One request per student may be granted from this fund and funds do not need to be repaid. Funds are provided only when funding is available and are generally awarded between $25 and $500.

Expenses may include but are not limited to unexpected medical costs (medications and other costs related to medical care), safety needs (e.g. changing locks), replacement of essential personal belongings due to fire, theft or natural disaster, and/or relocation expenses, and travel costs related to death or illness in immediate family.

Expenses may NOT include tuition and fees, parking tickets or other fines, non-essential utilities (i.e. cable television), and household or furniture costs not related to damage or theft.

Application process for the St. Cloud State Student Financial Emergency Fund:

  1. Student completes the application on HuskiesConnect (link below) and uploads required documentation: (letter(s)/information supporting emergency and what caused it, and invoice to be paid). If you have questions about the types of documentation that can be considered, please e-mail deanofstudents@stcloudstate.edu
  2. A committee comprised of appropriate St. Cloud State employees will review the application materials, make a decision, and communicate through university email with the applicant. Decisions will be based on eligibility of the applicant’s specific need, supporting documentation, and availability of funds.
  3. Payments are made directly to vendors and outside parties (not to individual students). Complete information to facilitate a third party payment should be submitted with the application.
  4. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

 How to apply:

  • Log into HuskiesConnect
  • Enter StarID and password
  • Select "Forms" under the drop down (three bars) on the upper left side of the screen
  • Locate and click the Student Emergency Fund application form (can either search for it or scroll through to find it)
  • Questions, contact deanofstudents@stcloudstate.edu