At times, students may experience unanticipated situations or face difficult circumstances that interfere with their financial well-being and academic success. This website serves as a resource for students and families about available campus and community resources.
Financial and Tuition Assistance
Resources
Employment and Off Campus
Resources
Emergency Funds
Limited financial support is available to students for emergencies, special programs, test prep, supplies, unexpected travel, or events. These funds do not have to be repaid, with the hopes that one day the student will be in a position to pay this forward.
Making a Request for Emergency Funds
Currently, enrolled students who are experiencing unexpected financial difficulty that is impacting their ability to thrive at Willamette, and have exhausted all other resources are eligible to apply for emergency funds. Demand may exceed available funding, and in some cases these monies will not cover the entire cost of an event or emergency.
Requests for funding can be submitted on the Student Emergency Fund Request Form:
Student Emergency Fund Request
Factors reviewed when considering awards:
- Whether a student is eligible for financial aid that has not been utilized
- Whether a student has previously received support from these funds
- Documentation of the hardship/circumstances
- Extenuating or specific circumstances
These funds are not a replacement for financial aid, and are intended to cover incidental and unexpected expenses that a student demonstrates they are financially unable to meet. Additionally, requesting and/or receiving emergency funds will not affect a student’s annual financial aid award.
Examples of the types of assistance students may request
(Requests for emergency assistance are not limited to those on this list):
- Urgent medical expenses or urgent dental expenses not covered by insurance
- Replacement of essential personal items or temporary housing needs due to natural disaster or theft
- Unexpected course supplies
- Transportation needs
- Test prep courses (GRE, LSAT, MCAT, etc.)
- Student activities that require a cost to participate
Expenses Not Covered by the Emergency Fund
- Tuition, fees, or study abroad costs
- In most instances, fixed expenses such as utilities, rent, credit card, cable, or cell phone bills
- Parking tickets, library fines, or similarly preventable expenses
There are a few instances where a student would not get funds:
- The need must be an emergency. An emergency is defined as a crisis situation that comes up unexpectedly.
- If the student still has loans available from Financial Aid that has not been utilized, funding may be denied.
- If funds have been provided before they may not be eligible.
The goal is to help students be successful academically and to help mitigate factors that are interfering with their well-being; either by providing basic needs, or resources to obtain those basic needs. If the funds are not related to this goal, the funds may not be disbursed.
Students are encouraged to contact Financial Aid to review their aid package prior to seeking emergency funding. When life circumstances have changed that impact a student’s financial circumstances (ie., a financial support entity has had a change in income, student, natural disaster, medical challenge) financial packages may be reworked to address the circumstances. Contact Financial Aid for more information.
Requests for funds are considered within 5 days of submission. Students applying for emergency funds will be asked to schedule a conversation with a university administrator to answer questions and to assist the student in longer-term planning.
Accessing Approved Funds
Approved funds will be directly deposited into the student’s account and can be accessed as follows: To set up direct deposit for refunds and reimbursements through Self-Service:
- Go to WU Portal and log in with your Willamette username and password.
- Click on Colleague Self-Service.
- From the Welcome page click Banking Information.
- Click +Add an Account on the right-hand corner.
- Slide the Activate button to the right to turn it on & click Next.
- On the next page enter Routing Number, Bank Account Number, Re-enter Bank Account Number, select Account Type(Checking or Savings).
- At the bottom of the page check the box, I Agree to the terms and conditions.
- Click Submit
Questions about direct deposit can be answered by the Accounting Office at (503) 370-6091 or at accounting@willamette.edu.
Emergency Housing Assistance
o If a student is in a crisis situation and in need of short-term housing assistance they can contact the Office of Residence Life and Housing at housing@willamette.edu, to set up a meeting to discuss available temporary on-campus housing options. In addition, the Office of Student Affairs can work with students to assist in exploring longer-term housing strategies. Email student-affairs-office@willamette.edu for more information.
Financial Management
Scholarship and Aid Information
Educational Resources
Note: The links to third-party financial resources are provided as a convenience for informational purposes only. No Willamette University staff members endorse or approve any of the products, services, or opinions of the entities or individuals associated with these links. Willamette University bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of any external site associated with the links provided or any subsequent links.
Basic Needs Community Resources
