ASI Student Emergency Fund (SEF)

The ASI Student Emergency Fund provides compassionate assistance to students who encounter unforeseen financial emergencies or catastrophic events that disrupt their progress towards a degree. Funded by Associated Students Inc. and private donations, the ASI Student Emergency Fund (SEF) is a collaboration between Cougar Care Network, University Advancement, and ASI. 

These funds are not intended to be used for routine expenses nor as a consistent supplement to a student’s education funding sources. All requests must be urgent in nature. Funds will not be awarded to the same student more than once during an academic year.

Review the ASI Student Emergency Fund Policy

Due to COVID-19, please note that the current SEF Policy is currently under review for approval by the ASI Board of Directors.

Review the COVID-19 Policy

Application Update

What's changed?

SEF appliations will now be submitted through Maxient, not Adobe Sign.

The guidelines are the same, however applicants will now be required to meet with a member of the CSUSM Cougar Care Network (CCN) virtually before their application will be processed. This can be a phone call, zoom, skype, etc. Applicants will also need to submit back-up documentation for their request and should include what they can/feel comfortable with in their application.

Why are there changes? 

The SEF team is trying to make sure that we are connecting students with the resources they need in addition to SEF. Additionally, after benchmarking with other campuses, most require backup documentation. ASI wants to ensure that we are good finacial stewards student fees and want to confirm that applications are meeting the SEF guidelines. The CCN can help students brainstorm ideas for what can be used as backup documentation students do not know what to submit.

How to Apply

Submit Your Application for Student Emergency Funds Here 

FAQ

• When should I apply?

  ASI Student Emergency Funds are available to currently enrolled CSUSM students who encounter an unexpected catastrophic event or one-time emergency in which your basic needs and/or ability to function as a student are impacted. Qualifying examples include but are not limited to:
  

  • Homelessness
  • Hunger
  • Accident
  • Natural disaster
  • Fire
  • Severe Illness
  • Etc

• What can SEF cover?

  ASI’s Student Emergency Fund generally covers:

  • Food, Toiletries & Medications
  • Costs related to emergency medical cases
  • Supplementing financial costs from loss of employment and wages due to closures
  • Essential utilities (water, gas, wifi/hotspot, etc.)

  Expenses generally NOT covered, include but are not limited to:

  • Parking tickets and other fines.
  • Costs for for entertainment, recreation, or other non-essential expenses
  • Future costs and expenses 

• I applied- when will I hear back?

  After application is received it will be reviewed by the Student Emergency Team during business hours and a member of the CSUSM Cougar Care Network that sits on the ASI Students Emergency Fund Team will reach out to you via email. 

  Applicants are required to meet with a member of the CSUSM Cougar Care Network (CCN) virtually before their application will be processed. This can be a phone call, zoom, skype, etc. Applicants will also need to submit back-up documentation for their request and should include what they can/feel comfortable with in their application. The CCN member can help students brainstorm ideas for what can be used as backup documentation students do not know what to submit.

  Following this meeting, you will receive notice (via email) of the team decision within 5-7 business days. Award amount is $350, if approved.
  
  Please note: Due to the high volume of applications, approval/denial notification and award to student may take longer than normal.

• Who is eligible?

  Currently enrolled in current semester CSUSM students and are in programs that pay the ASI fee.

  You may  not be eligible if..

  • this is a continuing situation that you have already received ASI Student Emergency Funding for
  • you have already received SEF this academic year
  • you are in one of the following programs and not paying the ASI fee:
    RN-to-BSN
    BA Sociology, Accelerated
    BS Wildfire Science
    MA Educational Administration
    MA Reading, Language, and Literacy
    MS Cybersecurity
    Master of Public Health- This program is offered in two modalities. Students strictly in the online modality would not be eligible but all other students would be eligible.
    Certificate Programs
    Speech Language Pathology Preparation
    Applied Behavior Analysis

Resources

Looking for additional resources during this COVID_19 Transition Time? Visit these links:

• CSUSM Students
• Virtual Support Services
• Off-Campus Resources

Questions?

We're working remote, so please email sef@csusm.edu.

Donors

The situation around the COVID-19 outbreak is evolving every day, and CSUSM is taking additional proactive measures to protect our CSUSM community, on and off campus.  Many students are struggling to cover costs related to travel or housing, access to technology, health and wellness and other unbudgeted expenses.

Sixty percent of students at Cal State San Marcos receive financial assistance and over thirty-five percent of active financial aid applicants have income levels well below the federal poverty line. It is unfortunate that many students find the term "starving student" to be a reality. 

We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of concern for our students from the community and the desire to help, even as you contend in your own lives with the challenges of the COVID-19 public health crisis. Thank you now and always for being a supporter for our Cougar students.

Donate Here