Beginning on August 5, 2026, the Student Emergency Relief Fund (SERF) will begin reviewing applications for financial support for emergency situations (up to $500) and for course materials (up to $300) for the Fall 2026 semester. Students may apply for either or both types of funding.
Student Emergency Relief Fund
Providing critical resources to students impacted by extenuating circumstances causing financial hardship.
How to Give
All gifts are tax deductible & directly support our students. Type "Student Emergency Relief Fund" in the comment box.
Apply Today
Applications are currently closed for Summer 2026 and will re-open on August 5, 2026.
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. - 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
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- If you’re requesting for course materials, including textbooks or other costs related to required class materials, select “Course Material Support.”
- If you’re requesting funding related to an emergency need, select “Emergency Relief Funds.”
- If your request includes both types, select “Both.”
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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.
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Documentation is REQUIRED for all applications whenever possible. Applications submitted without documentation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and applicants may be asked to resubmit their application with further documentation.
Accepted documentation includes copies or screenshots of bills, receipts, or cost estimates related to your request.
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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.
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Yes. If possible, please submit repair cost estimate, note any attempts at workarounds, and include any documentation you can regarding the cost of replacement or repair.
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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
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Please contact studentaffairs@ithaca.edu attn: Marsha Johnson, Dean of Students.