The goal of the Minerva University Student Emergency Assistance Fund is to provide financial support for Minerva University students with unanticipated and insurmountable expenses related to emergency situations that may result in students facing financial hardship.

The fund was officially launched in August 2021 with lead gifts from President Teri Cannon and Provost Vicki Chandler. As of October 1, 2021, twenty-two alumni, faculty, staff, and members of the President’s Cabinet have contributed more than $28,000 to support students through this fund.

The Minerva University Student Emergency Assistance Fund is a joint effort led by the Office of the President in collaboration with the Office of Advancement, President’s Cabinet, Minerva’s Alumni Council, and Associated Students of Minerva (ASM).

Setting priorities for emergency assistance is informed by input from current students through ASM and alumni through the Alumni Council. The scope and quantity of emergency funding grants will increase as philanthropic support for the fund grows. Examples of emergencies presently identified as priorities for funding include:

• Travel for serious illness or death in the immediate family (e.g. parents or siblings)
• Changes in family circumstances that disallow participation in Minerva-related opportunities without additional support
• A documented technological failure such as broken computers
• A documented theft of essential academic or personal belongings
• Required medical treatment that is not covered by insurance

To protect the confidentiality of students in need of assistance, grants from the discretionary fund are administered at the direction of the Dean of Students in collaboration with the President and Provost.

The fund is eligible to degree-seeking undergraduate students experiencing an unexpected circumstance that has led to an unmet financial need. Students can find more information about applying for emergency funding in the Community Portal.