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Bison Aid Fund

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Recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all of our students and for many students, the pandemic has exacerbated existing challenges and even created new ones, the Bison Aid Fund has been established through the generosity of alumni, friends of the University, and both the Student Body Government and Graduate Student Association.

The goal of the Bison Aid fund is to provide currently enrolled Gallaudet University students with limited supplemental emergency financial assistance to meet immediate, essential expenses because of hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is expected that the student needing financial assistance will have first exhausted their immediate support network (i.e., family, friends) prior to requesting financial assistance.

Any financial assistance given is not considered a loan and does not require repayment, although it might be subject to tax and may need to be reported in your financial aid award.

Requests for financial assistance are being considered primarily for COVID-19 related expenses for our current students and while the University continues remote-learning.  We will continue to accept requests for financial assistance until the fund runs out or when the University returns to face to face learning, whichever occurs first.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for financial assistance, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Currently enrolled as a degree-seeking full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student or as an English Language Institute student at Gallaudet University; and
  • Experiencing unexpected financial hardship resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Considerations in Granting Financial Assistance

  • For the most part, students may receive financial assistance via this application; while not guaranteed to be approved, each request will be considered on a case by case basis.
  • Financial assistance is usually limited to under $750.00 per student and most financial assistance awarded is under $400.00; however, the amount of financial assistance will vary depending on the nature of the request, the individual circumstances, and the actual needs of the student.
  • If your request is approved, the funds will be disbursed by direct deposit only.
  • The list below is not exhaustive and other needs may be eligible to receive financial assistance and additional documentation may be requested to verify the nature of the request (e.g. utility shut-off notice if payment is not received).

Examples of Expenses that may be considered by the Bison Aid Fund

  • Assistance with storage of personal property until the University returns to face to face learning;
  • Safety-related needs, such as paying for a change of locks or temporary shelter to escape violence;
  • Overdue essential utility bills (e.g. electricity, gas, water) reaching a turn-off notice;
  • Temporary assistance with food insecurity;
  • Unexpected prescription and other costs related to medical or mental health care not covered by insurance; and/or
  • Unplanned or additional childcare costs that are necessary to complete classwork or other unexpected expenses related to transportation, food, or lodging needed to support the care, hospitalization, or passing of an immediate family member stricken by COVID-19.
  • Associated costs/fees other than tuition

Examples of Expenses Not Covered by the Bison Aid Fund:

  • Continuous fixed expenses (e.g. rent);
  • Non-essential personal bills and expenses, such as credit card debts;
  • Parking tickets, library fines, or other expenses mistakenly incurred and/or preventable expenses;
  • Replacement for lost or stolen items;
  • Cost of entertainment, recreation, or non-emergency travel;
  • Tuition, Room/Board, or Books & Supplies

Bison Aid Fund | Request Form

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