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Emergency Funds
Unanticipated circumstances can prevent students from continuing their education and achieving academic success. UB has unique resources to connect students to emergency funding.
On this page:
What are Emergency Funds?
Student emergency funds at the University at Buffalo seek to award grants to eligible students who are experiencing an unforeseen hardship that could impact their ability to remain enrolled in school. Temporary financial assistance is available for immediate and current emergency situations. Examples of qualifying emergency situations include:
- Death in the family
- Victim of a crime or accident
- Loss of property or income
The student emergency funds are designated to offset short-term financial need and are not intended to replace or supplement financial aid or scholarship. All situations are unique and will be evaluated carefully and confidentially.
Response Time
Response time may vary depending on which option you choose. The Dean of Students Office will respond to all completed applications within 3-5 business days.
Eligible Expenses
Grants can be used for a variety of expenses that are necessary to support a student’s well-being. Examples of eligible expenses include:
- Off-Campus Rent
- Utilities
- Transportation
- Food
- Medical care
- Child care
Ineligible Expenses
Examples of ineligible expenses include Student Account charges (tuition, University fees, meal plan, residence hall rent, etc.) parking tickets or credit card debt.
Emergency Fund Options
Each fund has a unique application and set of criteria. Students should review emergency fund options and may apply to one fund that best meets their need.
Some academic units have applications for students studying within their programs. If your primary degree program is within one of the below-listed areas, utilize your school-specific resource:
- School of Dental Medicine Student Emergency Fund
- Graduate School of Education Student Emergency/Hardship Fund
- School of Law Emergency Student Assistance Fund
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Murray J. Ettinger Student Emergency Fund
- School of Nursing Julia Buscaglia Student Support Fund
- School of Social Work Students Helping Students Fund
Emergency funds are also available for students studying at UB with a valid F-1 or J-1 student visa:
Students who do not meet the criteria for one of the above-referenced applications may consider the Student Life Emergency Fund. Portions of the Student Life Emergency Fund are designated for students studying within the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Architecture and Planning, the School of Management, the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the School of Public Health and Health Professions, and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
The Student Life Emergency Fund is also partially supported by the UB Fund for Student Life, the Random Acts of Kindness endowment and by generous individual donors and private foundations.
Support Emergency Funds
Your contribution can help a student in need persist towards graduation. Donate Today
2025 Tax Information
Some students who received emergency funds during 2025 should anticipate receiving a tax form from University at Buffalo Foundation, Inc.
- Students who are U.S. citizens and received funds in an amount over $600 will receive a 1099 tax form that was mailed on January 28, 2026.
- Students who are non-resident aliens will receive a 1042 tax form that is to be mailed by March 16, 2026.
Additional Resources
If you have experienced a change in income due to special circumstances, you may be eligible for a federal financial aid adjustment. A financial aid advisor can review your FAFSA through a process called a professional judgment review. This process could potentially adjust the amount of federal aid you receive. You can request a professional judgment review at any time during the academic year.
Some situations are not uncommon, and may not require the use of an emergency gift fund if you are proactive and able to plan accordingly.
Paycheck Gaps
When you start a job, on or off campus, it is common for your first paycheck to be delayed. Make sure you speak with your supervisor early on to familiarize yourself with the payroll schedule.
Delayed Financial Aid
Student financial aid, including benefits for veterans, is applied to your student account on a unique, individual basis and not always at the beginning of the semester. Work with your advisor in Financial Aid or Veteran Services to anticipate when your aid will be received.
SUNY offers UB students the opportunity to use Smart Track® resources that cover the spectrum of personal financial literacy, from budgeting, responsible credit card use and avoiding identify theft to the basics of banking, borrowing and working through college.
Consistent access to nutritious food is a necessary part of being a successful, healthy student. Should you experience an unanticipated hardship, we can help connect you to groceries.
Blue Table, UB's food pantry, links students with a variety of food options and personal care products when they are in need.
UB coordinates a free professional clothing boutique, HIRED, which is dedicated to providing students and recent graduates with apparel, accessories, and personal care items that will help them achieve their career development goals. HIRED's inventory, is supplied through generous donations by community members, and has a wide array of high-quality, contemporary items. Students may try on as many items as they wish and take home one complete outfit per semester.
Short-term on campus mental health support
Student Life
University at Buffalo
120 Richmond Quadrangle, North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14261
Phone: 716-645-2720; Fax: 716-645-2175
University at Buffalo
1st Floor Michael Hall, South Campus
Buffalo, NY 14214
Primary, non-emergency medical care
Student Life
University at Buffalo
4350 Maple Rd
Amherst, NY 14226
Phone: 716-829-3316; Fax: 716-829-2564
Preventative health and wellness education
Student Life
University at Buffalo
114 Student Union, North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260
Phone: 716-645-2837; Fax: 716-645-6234
Additional Resources
Need to talk?
Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 support via text message. We're here for everything: anxiety, depression, suicide, and more. Text: Got5U to 741741
You work hard to earn scholarships and the scholarship portal makes it easy to find them. A general application opens in early October and remains open through the spring semester. Once you complete it, you can return regularly to view new opportunities the system has matched with your academic record and responses.
On-campus emergencies and crime prevention, 24/7
Bissell Hall, North Campus
Phone: 716-645-2227; Emergencies: 716-645-2222
Additional Resources
Need Help?
Student Life
University at Buffalo
315 Student Union, North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260
Phone: 716-645-2982; Fax: 716-645-2260