SXU Mission Fund: Quick Guide for Students

Summary of Eligibility and Documentation

The SXU Mission Fund helps support currently enrolled SXU students experiencing an emergency or unexpected financial hardship that may affect their ability to stay enrolled.

Who May Apply?

You may apply if you are:

currently enrolled at SXU, and;
Experiencing a sudden or unanticipated financial hardship;
Requesting help for an expense connected to your ability to continue as a student.

Submitting an application does not guarantee approval.

What types of expenses may be considered?

Examples of expenses that may be eligible include:

SXU tuition, room, and board fees due to a financial emergency or loss of income.
Medications or emergency medical care not covered by insurance.
Replacement of essential belongings or temporary housing due to fire, theft, or natural disaster.
Travel related to death or serious illness in the immediate family.
Safety-related needs such as changing locks, changing a phone, or short-term emergency shelter.
Transportation needs affecting the ability to get to/from SXU, including emergency car repair or public transportation support.
Remporary support costs for dangerous situations.
Critical student-success services, such as diagnostic testing related to accessibility resources.
Emergency dependent-related expenses, such as emergency childcare.

These examples are not exhaustive.

What is usually not eligible?

Examples of expenses that are generally not eligible include:

Tuition, room, and board not related to an emergency.
Parking tickets or citations.
Entertainment or recreation costs.
Non-emergency travel or study-abroad costs.
Regularly anticipated or fixed expenses.

These examples are not exhaustive.

How much can I request?

Funding is generally capped at $1,000, unless unusual circumstances justify more at the committee's discretion.

What information will I need to provide?

You should be prepared to provide:

Description of your emergency.
What the funds would be used for.
Amount you are requesting.
How this situation affects your ability to remain enrolled at SXU.
What other efforts you have made to get help.

What documentation is required?

All requests require some form of supporting documentation, and some requests may require more than one type.

Examples may include:

Invoices
Receipts
Physician or healthcare provider letters
Hospital admission documents
Police reports
Obituaries
Legal documents
Restraining orders
Airline ticket receipts
Repair estimates
Other documents appropriate to your situation

Your documentation should match the emergency or expense you describe.

What happens after I apply?

Your application will be reviewed by the Mission Fund Committee.
You may be invited to a brief meeting with the Student Relations Specialist.
The committee may approve full funding, approve partial funding, request more information, or deny the request.
Students may submit only one application per expense.

Important Note About Privacy

Information shared in your application is handled privately within the review process and in accordance with University policy and FERPA. In limited situations, committee reviewers may consult appropriate SXU personnel to review financial implications or address safety concerns.

Important note about Financial Aid

If you or your family have experienced a loss of income, you should also complete the SXU Financial Aid Need-Based Appeal Form.

Questions?

If you are unsure whether your request qualifies, or what documentation to provide, contact the Office%20of%20the%20Dean%20of%20Students or the designated Student Relations Specialist before submitting.

What is Not Covered: FAQ

It is completely understandable that when you are facing a financial crisis, every bill feels like an emergency. The SXU Mission Fund is designed as a "safety net" to catch students during sudden, unforeseen crises that threaten their ability to stay enrolled. Because the fund is limited, we must prioritize immediate survival and academic needs over costs that are predictable or part of a standard lifestyle.

Here is a guide to what is not covered and why, along with resources to help you manage those specific needs.

We know these services are important for your daily life and mental well-being. However, the Mission Fund is reserved for unanticipated hardships. Regularly anticipated, fixed expenses are part of a standard monthly budget. Using the fund for these would quickly exhaust the resources meant for students facing total loss of housing or medical emergencies.

Where to go instead: If you are struggling with basic utilities, please contact the Office of the Dean of Students for a list of local community assistance programs or visit SXU's Office of Financial Aid to discuss budget management and potential aid adjustments.

The fund covers emergency transportation needs, such as repairs resulting from a car accident that suddenly prevents you from attending class. Routine maintenance -- like oil changes, tires, or registration -- is considered a predictable cost of owning a vehicle and is universally excluded from emergency grants.

Where to go instead: If your car is your only way to get to SXU and it is unsafe to drive, speak with the Student Relations Specialist. They may be able to provide public transportation vouchers to help you get to campus while you save for routine repairs.

Fines, citations, and legal penalties are explicitly excluded. These are considered avoidable costs rather than unforeseen emergencies like a fire or natural disaster.

Where to go instead: Contact SXU's Office of Student Accounts to discuss a payment plan for outstanding University fines to ensure they do not prevent you from registering for classes.

We care deeply about your mental health, but the Mission Fund cannot be used for entertainment, recreation, or non-emergency travel. To remain fair to all students, the committee must focus on "critical success" needs, such as diagnostic testing for accessibility or emergency shelter.

Where to go instead: Please reach out to the SXU Counseling Center. They offer free, confidential support and wellness resources to help you manage the stress of being a student.

Standard tuition, room, and board are not eligible unless the need is caused by a documented financial emergency or sudden loss of income.

Where to go instead: If your family has experienced a significant change in income, you should fill out a Financial Aid Need-Based Appeal Form. This allows the Office of Financial Aid staff to look at your entire package for long-term support, which is more effective than a one-time emergency grant.