Student Emergency Relief Fund

Providing critical resources to students impacted by extenuating circumstances causing financial hardship.
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Update: Review of Applications for Spring 2026 Course Material to Begin Monday, January 12, 2026!

As we look forward to the conclusion of the Fall 2025 semester and the upcoming Spring 2026 semester, the Student Emergency Relief Fund is preparing to accept applications for financial support for course materials for the Spring 2026 semester! Students in need can apply for up to $300 in aid, available through two disbursement options:

  1. Course Material Vouchers : Use exclusively for textbooks and required materials through our preferred provider, Akademos, via IC's online bookstore
  2. Direct Deposit : For materials not available through Akademos or when vouchers cannot be used

Application Timeline:

  • Application requests for Spring 2026 course materials will begin to be monitored on Monday, January 5, 2026.
  • Official application review will begin on Monday, January 12, 2026.
  • Funds are awarded to financially eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until course material funding has been exhausted. 

Important Reminders:

  • An itemized list of course materials is REQUIRED in order to be considered for review. If a list of course materials has not been posted, students are encouraged to contact their professor in early January to receive more information.
  • Please note that we receive a high volume of requests during the weeks leading up to the start of the spring semester. Please allow 3-5 business days for our team to review your application and distribute a funding decision. All applicants, whether they are ultimately awarded funding or not, will receive a response. We appreciate your patience during this busy period.

Since its establishment in 2020, the Student Emergency Relief Fund has provided critical financial support to students facing hardship due to extenuating circumstances causing unforeseen and unanticipated expenses. Financial support is granted via an application and review process overseen by the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Life.

Students experiencing a financial emergency are encouraged to complete the Student Emergency Relief Form to be considered for funding support. In order for an application to be considered, students are required to provide an itemized list of expenses when completing the form. Please be as specific as possible to help our review committee best understand your circumstances. 

Due to the high volume of funding requests, Ithaca College is unable to guarantee that all requests for funding can be granted.

Uses for Student Emergency Relief Funding

Typical uses for financial assistance provided by the Student Emergency Relief Fund includes:

  • Emergency Travel 
    Unplanned travel due to a crisis such as a family death, medical emergency, or displacement.
  • Medical Expenses 
    Urgent, out-of-pocket medical costs not covered by insurance, including prescriptions or emergency care.
  • Textbooks and Course Materials 
    Required academic materials that a student cannot afford.
  • Urgent Moving Costs 
    Costs associated with an emergency relocation, such as eviction, unsafe living conditions, or domestic violence.
  • Food Insecurity Not Resolvable Through Campus Resources 
    When a student is unable to access sufficient food and campus food pantries or programs are not adequate or available.
  • Necessary Technology Repair or Replacement 
    Emergency repair or replacement of essential academic technology (e.g., laptop, tablet) due to damage, theft, or malfunction.

Course Material Support

Students who need financial support in order to be able to purchase their required course materials can apply for up to $300 of aid via the Student Emergency Relief Fund. Course material financial support is granted in two forms:

  • Course material voucher: a unique coupon code that can only be used to purchase textbooks and other required materials via our preferred provider, Akademos (via IC's online bookstore).

  • Direct deposit: a cash award that can be used to purchase materials not available through Akademos.

An itemized list of materials (with their prices) is REQUIRED in order to be considered. If your required materials are not yet posted, please reach out to your professors for this information. If you don't have your entire list of course materials, but you have materials totaling $300, please submit your list as soon as possible as vouchers are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Priority is given to students who have not already been awarded vouchers during the previous semester.

**Please indicate which materials cannot be purchased using the online bookstore.** 

Course Material Loan Program

Students seeking additional assistance with access to textbooks are encouraged to explore more about our Course Material Loan Program. This program, supported by a BOLD Magic Grant distributed by the Helen Gurley Brown Foundation, is intended to help all IC students have access to textbooks, and to create a sustainable way for students and faculty to donate course materials for future student access.

All IC students are invited to go to the IC Library circulation desk and ask to borrow one or more textbooks for your courses. Books will be loaned out in two-hour intervals. 

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

Please include the following details for each item:

  • Textbooks: Cost, title, author, and whether it’s available through IC’s Online Bookstore Akademos. 
    Example: $80 — Principles of Chemistry by R. LaMott, Chemistry and Human Experience, available through Akademos.

  • Other Course Materials: Cost, item name/description, and the course it’s needed for. 
    Example: $25 — Photography paper from Blick, for Intro to Photography, not available through Akademos. Purchasing through Amazon.

  • If you’re requesting only course materials available through Akademos, select “Course Material Vouchers.”

  • If you’re requesting funding for materials not available through the bookstore or for other types of expenses, select “Emergency Relief Funds.”

  • If your request includes both types, select “Both.”

Vouchers are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Since students typically receive syllabi at the start of the semester, requests should be made within the first two weeks of the class session. In spring, priority is also given to students who did not receive vouchers in the fall semester.

Yes, documentation is required for all applications. 
Accepted documentation includes copies or screenshots of bills, receipts, or cost estimates related to your request.

No. Vouchers are intended for use at checkout. If you’ve already paid for your textbooks, you cannot be reimbursed. 
Please apply for vouchers first and wait for a decision before making any purchases.

These are unexpected costs that couldn’t have been planned for. 
Examples of ineligible planned expenses include car payments, tuition, rent, room and board, and utilities—unless there’s an exceptional emergency circumstance.

An emergency is a significant change in circumstances or an unexpected serious event that affects your finances or ability to work.

Yes. If you need funding for technology repair or replacement (e.g., a laptop), please contact IT at Ithaca College to obtain a cost estimate to include with your application.

Emergency Relief funding is available to students with high financial need, determined by FAFSA data such as:

  • Student Aid Index (SAI)

  • Pell Grant eligibility

  • Work Study eligibility

Please contact studentaffairs@ithaca.edu attn: Marsha Johnson, Dean of Students.