Case Management

The Mountaineer Emergency Fund assists App State students who encounter an unforeseen financial emergency that places a student in significant financial hardship that would prevent them from continuing their App State education. 

This funding is not intended to replace or supplement existing financial aid. Students who have exhausted all other resources may apply for funds. This is not a loan and does not have to be repaid. Applicants are not entitled to approval for funding. 

Funds distributed will generally not exceed $500. The number of students who can be served by the Mountaineer Emergency Fund is subject to the availability of funds. 

Applications without sufficient information to assist with making an informed decision will be denied.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

1. Be a currently enrolled, full-time, on-campus App State student for the current semester.
2. Have a financial hardship resulting from an emergency, accident, or other unplanned event that potentially inhibits or threatens their ability to successfully complete the current semester.
3. Demonstrate their current financial need with supporting documentation.
4. Demonstrate that all other resources, including Student Financial Aid, have been considered and are either insufficient, unavailable, or not available in a timely manner.

Types of expenses covered include, but are not limited to:

• Books (not covered by the Book Rental Fee), computers, and other essential academic expenses
• Transportation costs related to the death or illness of a family member
• Emergency housing expenses (due to natural disaster or survivor of a crime)
• Assistance with utilities and food
• Childcare expenses
• Personal prescriptions
• Costs related to mental health care

Types of expenses not covered include, but are not limited to:

• Tuition and fees
• Medical and dental related costs/bills
• Non-essential utilities (e.g. cable), household, or furniture costs
• Expenses or overdue bills in excess of two months
• Quitting job for non-emergency and/or termination from job
• Parking permits, parking tickets, court or lawyer fees, and other fines
• Costs for entertainment, recreation, or non-emergency travel 
• Personal debts including student loan debt (including previous debts to the University)
• Routine or everyday expenses that should be prepared for
• Emergency housing expenses due to choosing to leave 

SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTATION

• Loss of Job: An official letter from the employer confirming termination or separation of employment, and a copy of the outstanding bill incurred due to the job loss. The letter must include the employer's phone number in the event additional verification is needed. The bill must include the student’s name and address.
• Food: A written statement explaining why the Mountaineer Food Hub or Mountaineer Meal Share Program is not meeting the student’s needs or a letter from the employer demonstrating a change in employment status (laid off, furloughed, loss of work hours, etc.). Written documentation of why the student is food insecure and why App State/Community resources are not meeting needs (Hunger & Health Coalition, local food banks, food stamps). A letter of support must also be provided from a coach, mentor, teacher, family member, etc., that explains why food resources are needed.
• Loss of Income: Letter from current/former employer explaining employee’s status (as laid off, furloughed, loss of work hours, etc.) and pay stub history showing previous and current earnings. The letter must include the employer's phone number in the event additional verification is needed. The student must provide documentation of how the loss of income has impacted their financial status (i.e. bills that cannot be paid, with documented bills attached to the application). Termination from a job does not qualify under loss of job.
• Loss of Items: Police report indicating what items were stolen/damaged and the estimated costs of replacement items.
• Prescriptions: Bill/quote from a pharmacy, showing the student’s name on the paperwork, time, date, and the prescription cost.
• Car Repairs: Documentation demonstrating that the car is inoperable or unsafe to drive, and the cost of repairs. Bill/quote from the repair shop, showing the student’s name on the paperwork, time and date of service, and the repair cost. Images of a car accident cannot be verified and should not be submitted.
• Death of an Immediate Family Member: In the unfortunate circumstance that a student experiences the passing of an immediate family member, the student must provide an obituary, memorial service pamphlet, or other documentation that includes the date of the family member’s passing, date of funeral/memorial service, the city and state the services were held, and the relationship between the student and the family member.

IMPORTANT TAX CONSIDERATIONS

Mountaineer Emergency funds cannot be classified as a tax-free scholarship and may cause a potential tax liability for the student recipient or other individual who may claim the student recipient as a dependent based on the Internal Revenue Service instruction. Appalachian State University does not provide tax advice. Please visit IRS Publication 970 or consult your tax preparer to understand how this award may impact your individual income taxes.

RECEIVING FUNDS

We have seen a high volume of requests for assistance, and are working to fundraise for and process them as quickly as possible. Once your request has been submitted, the Office of the Dean of Students will review the submitted information. Requests will be processed as quickly as possible, and an email notification will be sent to you regarding your application eligibility and status.  Students are eligible for a one-time funding award of up to $500. 

DIRECT DEPOSIT & DISBURSEMENT TIMING

If you are approved, the quickest way to receive your funding is to sign up for direct deposit in the Touchnet Billing and Payment Center using the instructions here. If direct deposit is not completed, you will receive a check via US Postal Service. Be sure to confirm your "refund address" inside the Appalnet Portal. If a check goes to an outdated address, it can take multiple weeks to have a check reissued.

Please know that funds are not transferred to your account immediately and can take 7-10 business days to process once approved. If you are approved, funds may appear to decrease your current outstanding bill with App State. This is a temporary accounting effect of processing your grant funds through Student Accounts, and the funding will be refunded directly to you in the next refund cycle in 7-10 business days. 

Mountaineer Emergency Fund Application

Interested in donating directly to the Mountaineer Emergency Fund? We appreciate any support provided to our students.