Center for Student Well-Being

How can we help?

Resource navigators in the Center for Student Well-Being can help undergraduate and graduate students find resources on:

• Housing
• Food
• Medical care
• Counseling/mental health care, including substance abuse support
• Health insurance
• Transportation
• Emergency Funding
• Application for state or federal benefit programs, like SNAP, WIC or LEAP
• Childcare or care for a vulnerable adult
• Employment concerns (e.g., loss of income)
• Clothing
• Access to course technology
• Textbooks or other course materials (supported by The Friends of the UNC Libraries)
• Utility assistance
• Legal assistance
• Budgeting, managing debt and financial planning Connection to other off-campus and community resources
• Other emergency support 

If you're a student who needs help with any of the above, complete our Basic Needs Assistance Form to connect with a Resource Navigator.  Resource navigators work to understand student needs and tailor support plans to meet those needs. Navigators can help students connect with institutional, city, state and federal resources and programs.  There is no cost to speak with a navigator. After you submit the form, a resource navigator will contact you within two business days. They will provide support to help you remain focused on your academic and personal goals.

For urgent situations, please contact UNC Police at 1-970-351-2245 or call 911. 

Emergency Funding

Sometimes life happens. Unexpected medical bills arise. People lose jobs. Housing plans fall apart. Food access shrinks. Cars break down. Computers need repairs. UNC aims to support all students, even amid financial instability.  

The Student Emergency Support Fund helps undergraduate and graduate students who have experienced unforeseeable or catastrophic life events. Unforeseeable means that a reasonable person would not have anticipated the event and the related financial shortfall. The maximum award is generally $750. The Fund is made possible by the generosity of donors.

• How do I know if I'm eligible for emergency funding?

  To be eligible to be considered for funding, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Student is a graduate or undergraduate student who is either currently enrolled for classes at UNC or between semesters of class enrollment at UNC, with evidence of the student’s intention to re-enroll for the coming semester.
  • Student is experiencing a financial emergency, defined as a recent unforeseen financial shortfall that if, unaddressed, has the potential to result in housing or utility insecurity, food insecurity, inability to access health care, inability to care for dependents, inability to meet personal safety needs or inability to continue as a student at UNC.    
  • There is no evidence the student has other financial resources to meet the need at hand. For example, a student who recently received a significant financial aid refund might be reasonably expected to apply that refund toward a particular financial need.  

  Students must have experienced an unforeseeable or catastrophic life event in order to be eligible to receive an award from this Fund. Unforeseeable means that a reasonable person would not have anticipated the life event and the related financial shortfall. Students can request emergency support funds to cope with the following unforeseeable or catastrophic life events: 

  • Unforeseeable loss of employment 
  • Unexpected medical, dental or mental health expenses for the student or their dependent
  • Housing insecurity
  • Food insecurity
  • Death or serious illness of a loved one
  • Unexpected expenses related to safety issues (e.g., need to move to a new apartment for safety reasons)
  • Unexpected expenses related to car repairs or to other transportation problems
  • Financial loss associated with being the victim of a crime
  • Unexpected childcare expenses
  • Financial loss associated with a major accident
  • Loss due to fire, theft, or natural disaster
  • Unforeseeable decrease in funding from a source the student was relying on
  • Unexpected veterinary fees related to an emergency (note that the awarding of funds for this purpose may be subject to federal financial aid limitations)  

  • Note: Students enrolled in the Colorado School of Public Health at UNC are eligible to request and receive Emergency Support funding. Students enrolled at CU-Denver or CSU in the Colorado School of Public Health are not eligible for this funding--these students should explore emergency funding opportunities at CU-Denver and CSU.   
• How do I apply for emergency funding?

  Students requesting emergency support funding must complete the  online application.  

  Documentation is generally required with your application. Documentation can include emails, screenshots, images, photos, invoices, communications, bills or bill estimates, or other similar information to help the committee understand the emergency and how it has impacted you. 

  However, if it is not possible for you to submit documentation, you may still apply and your application will be considered--but you should be very clear in the application about the total amount of your financial shortfall and how exactly you would plan to use any support that the Committee awards.  In some cases a student may be required to meet with a staff member prior to funds disbursement. 

  The  Emergency Support Fund   is administered by a committee that meets weekly to review applications. If and when funds are exhausted, additional applications will not be reviewed. All decisions of the committee are final. Forms are reviewed most business days. During the academic year, it can take up to a week for initial decisions to be made on applications. If you need food, housing or other support more urgently, please contact csw@unco.edu or call 970-351-2796  during daytime working hours. After hours, contact UNC Police at 970-351-2245.    

  If you have questions, please contact us at csw@unco.edu.   

• What can the emergency funding be used for?

  Expenses that are eligible for emergency funding include, but are not limited to: 

  • Expenses related to medical, dental, or mental health emergencies for the student 
  • Emergency family medical or death expenses for those the student is financially responsible for  
  • Expenses for safety and health-related needs 
  • Housing expenses (rent or mortgage) 
  • Food expenses 
  • Utilities (e.g., electricity, gas, water, sewer, phone and internet bills) related to an emergency
  • Unexpected dependent care expenses 
  • Transportation or commuting expenses related to an emergency 
  • Veterinary fees related to an emergency (note that the awarding of funds for this purpose may be subject to federal financial aid limitations)  
  • Costs related to major accidents or loss due to fire, theft or natural disaster  
  • Replacement of books, supplies and technology due to an emergency 
  • Expenses associated with the loss of a loved one 

  • Textbooks (supported by The Friends of the UNC Libraries)

  Expenses that are generally not eligible for emergency funding include, but are not limited to: 

  • Tuition and fees at other institutions of higher education  
  • Student travel or conferences  (bereavement travel is the exception)
  • Legal fees (safety-related legal fees are the exception)
  • Non-essential utilities (e.g., streaming services)  
  • Costs of entertainment or recreation
  • Personal or non-emergency travel expenses  
  • Outstanding personal debt, including credit card debt 
  • Clubs and organization fees or dues 

If you need food, housing or other support more urgently, please contact csw@unco.edu or call 970-351-2796  during daytime working hours. After hours, contact UNC Police at 970-351-2245.   

If you have questions, please contact us at csw@unco.edu.