Bison Aid Fund

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