International Student Summer Relief Grant

Providing support for international students facing extenuating circumstances impacting their ability to remain in campus housing during the non-traditional summer period.

New for Summer 2026, the International Student Summer Relief Grant has been established to provide crucial support for international students facing extenuating barriers preventing them from being able to safely return home and also continue their Ithaca College journey. This grant is designed to provide students additional funding to supplement a portion of the full cost to remain in campus housing during the non-traditional summer term in May-August.

Students selected will receive up to $1,000 which will go to supporting the cost to live in on-campus housing during this period.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General Information

This is a limited grant program funded through the Student Emergency Relief Fund (SERF) in partnership with President Cornish. It provides a $1,000 award credited directly to the student account to assist with summer housing costs for international students who are unable to travel home this summer.

Approved students receive up to $1,000 credited directly to their student account. It is not issued as a check and cannot be withdrawn as cash. The grant will appear on your account as "Intl Stu Summer Relief Grant." The amount awarded will reflect the duration of your approved stay — students who require housing for only part of the summer may receive a prorated amount of up to $1,000.

No. 

You do not need to live on campus for the full summer to be eligible. The amount awarded will reflect the length of your approved stay, and students requiring housing for only part of the summer may receive a prorated award of up to $1,000. Please be as accurate as possible when indicating your requested dates on the application, as this will inform the amount of your award.

No. 

The full cost of summer housing at Ithaca College is approximately $4,200 for the summer. The up to $1,000 grant is a meaningful financial contribution toward those costs, but does not cover them in full. You will remain responsible for any remaining balance.

No. 

This grant is specifically for Ithaca College summer housing charges on your student account. It cannot be applied to off-campus subletting, flights, or other living expenses.

If you have a separate emergency need — such as assistance with travel costs or other urgent expenses — you may be eligible to apply through the Student Emergency Relief Fund (SERF) general application process. SERF applications must be submitted by Monday, May 18. 2026 at 1:00 pm and follow a separate review process. Find information on the SERF webpage: https://www.ithaca.edu/student-affairs-and-campus-life/student-emergency-relief-fund

Funding is available for up to 10 students. If the number of eligible applicants exceeds 10, awards will be made based on demonstrated need and severity of circumstances, with priority given to students who face the greatest barriers to travel and have no viable alternative housing.

No. 

This grant is specific to Summer 2026 and is not a standing benefit. Students may only receive it once.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must be an international student who:

  • Was enrolled at Ithaca College in Spring 2026 and is returning to IC in Fall 2026
  • Is unable to safely or affordably travel home this summer due to travel bans, active armed conflict, visa constraints, or significant financial hardship
  • Does not have access to alternative housing that covers the full summer period

No. 

This grant is available to currently enrolled students who are returning to Ithaca College in Fall 2026. Students graduating in May 2026 are not eligible for this grant.

If you have an emergency financial need, you may still be eligible to apply through the SERF general application process before the end of the fiscal year. Find information on the SERF webpage: https://www.ithaca.edu/student-affairs-and-campus-life/student-emergency-relief-fund

No. 

Students who are on a Leave of Absence in Spring 2026 or who will be on a Leave of Absence in Fall 2026 are not eligible for this grant.

You must be planning to live in Ithaca College on-campus housing this summer for the grant to be applied to your account. The grant is credited directly to your IC student account for summer housing charges and cannot be used for off-campus housing.

Yes. 

Students with partial housing coverage are still eligible to apply. Your application will be reviewed in the context of your remaining gap. Please describe the dates your housing is covered and the period for which you need support in your application narrative.

Application Process

The application opens Monday, April 27, 2026 and closes May 31, 2026 — or sooner if funds are fully allocated, whichever comes first. We encourage you to apply as early as possible.

All applications are reviewed by three offices: the International Student and Scholar Services Office, Student Financial Services, and the Dean of Students Office. Each office reviews a different dimension of your application — travel and safety context, financial need, and overall circumstances respectively. The Dean of Students makes the final determination.

Applications are reviewed weekly. Decisions are communicated to your IC email address each Monday. Please allow up to one week from the date you submit your application to receive a decision.

Decisions are final. However, if your circumstances change after you receive a decision — for example, a new travel restriction is added or your situation becomes more urgent — you are welcome to contact the Dean of Students Office, by emailing: studentaffairs.edu directly to share that update before the application closes.

Financial and Tax Questions

This grant is funded through the Student Emergency Relief Fund (SERF) and may be subject to U.S. tax reporting requirements for international students. Therefore, the grant may be taxed, and you may receive a tax document from IC reflecting this award.

If approved, you will initially see summer housing charges on your student account. The up to $1,000 grant credit will be applied to your account upon approval and will be reflected prior to the end of summer.

Yes. 

If you have an emergency financial need that falls outside the scope of this grant — such as travel costs, off-campus housing, or other urgent expenses — you may be eligible to apply through the Student Emergency Relief Fund (SERF) general application process. SERF applications follow a separate process and must be submitted before the end of the fiscal year. Find information on the SERF webpage: https://www.ithaca.edu/student-affairs-and-campus-life/student-emergency-relief-fund

We also encourage you to connect with Student Financial Services to explore any other support options that may be available to you.