Virginia Commonwealth Emergency Assistance Fund

March 10, 2025 / Our Nighthawks

The Virginia Commonwealth Emergency Assistance Fund was created by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to support students facing unexpected financial challenges that could disrupt their academic journey. This fund provides up to $2,000 per incident for enrolled students with financial need, helping them stay on track to complete their degree.

It’s important to note that this fund is different from the Student Success Fund, as it is only available to students who are eligible for Virginia Student Financial Assistance, which includes students who qualify for in-state tuition.

Key Details:

  • Application limit: Students can apply for this assistance once per academic year.
  • Use of funds: The funds cannot be used for tuition or fees, but can assist with unexpected emergencies.

Eligibility Criteria:
To apply for the Virginia Commonwealth Emergency Assistance Fund, students must meet the following requirements:

  1. Unexpected financial emergency: The student must have faced an emergency (e.g., medical issue, car breakdown, etc.) that threatens their enrollment or academic progress.
  2. Supporting documentation: Students must provide clear documentation to justify the amount of assistance they are requesting.
  3. Job loss: If the emergency is due to job loss, students are encouraged to submit an income appeal to NOVA’s Financial Aid Office before applying for emergency assistance.
  4. Enrollment status: Students must be enrolled in at least one eligible credit at the time of application.
  5. Satisfactory academic progress (SAP): The student must be meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards or have an approved SAP appeal.
  6. Financial aid application: Students must have completed the financial aid process at NOVA, including submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) application, along with any required documents.
  7. Eligibility for Virginia student financial assistance: Students must have completed high school or the equivalent and be eligible for Virginia student financial assistance, which includes being eligible for in-state tuition.
  8. Financial need: Applicants must demonstrate financial need.
  9. Acceptance of grants & scholarships: All offered grants and scholarships must be accepted by the student.

How to Apply:
If students meet the eligibility criteria, they can submit the application for the Virginia Commonwealth Emergency Assistance Fund online.

If Students Don’t Meet the Eligibility Requirements:
If students are not eligible for this fund, they can still reach out to the Financial Aid Office or to the Office of Financial Stability and Advocacy to explore other resources and assistance programs that may be available to them.

—Clint Young, financial aid officer, Financial Aid & Support Services