Xavier Student Crisis Aid for Personal Emergencies
Purpose:
The XSCAPE fund will provide emergency financial assistance to students who experience unforeseen or unusual circumstances due to personal or family emergencies. Students can be awarded one-time grants that contribute to tuition, fees, room and board, or other needs such as medical emergencies, allowing them to alleviate or escape burdens that prevent them from concentrating on their education and keep them from completing their degrees.
XSCAPE assistance will come in the form of grants designed to help students remain in school when the completion of their college education is threatened by financial circumstances that are out of their control. Unforeseen circumstances may include, but are not limited to:
- a sudden health emergency
- unexpected loss of income
- death in the family, or other family emergency
- rent in arrears, and risk of eviction
- natural disaster
Assistance may be in the form of book vouchers, dining vouchers, tuition waivers, housing waivers/allowances, Rx prescription assistance, car note assistance, etc.
Program Administration:
The XSCAPE Fund Program is administered by the program committee. The point of origin for application will be the Office of Student Financial Aid. The office will review the applicant’s financial aid profile to make sure all aid has been applied for and used and all other resources have been exhausted. The XSCAPE fund committee is responsible for reviewing and evaluating the applications as well as administration of the awards. The committee will determine what percentage of the fund can be disbursed each semester depending on the fund’s balance.
Funding:
Primary funding for this program will be in the form of private donations as well as University funding. While every enrolled Xavier University student is eligible to apply for assistance, first priority will go to rising seniors and graduating seniors that if it were not for assistance, their progress toward degree completion would be interrupted. All other students will be evaluated on a first-come, first-serve basis based n availability of funds.
First priority will go to rising seniors and graduating seniors.
Criteria:
Students applying for emergency aid will be required to provide adequate documentation of the circumstances leading to their need for emergency funds. Student must also meet the following criteria:
- Students must have a valid FAFSA on file. The Fund is also available for Xavier students enrolled in degree programs who are non-US citizens and who are not eligible to file a FAFSA.
- Students must have accepted and exhausted all other financial options
- Students must be in good academic standing. Students are eligible if they have a cumulative Xavier GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Students may not have records of any disciplinary misconduct within the year of applying for the grant. Students must disclose any of their violations of the Student Code of Conduct as outlined in the Xavier University of Louisiana Student Handbook.
How to Apply:
That application can be found on the Forms and Resouces Page linked here.
Evaluation/Distribution of Aid:
The evaluation and distribution process may take a total of ten (10) business days. Students will be notified of the decision regarding their application by email. In certain circumstances, funds will be sent directly to a payee. Funds may also be credited to the student’s account or become available to pick up in Cashier’s office (Office of Fiscal Services). Awards will be determined based on the supporting documents submitted by the students and demonstration of financial need. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Students who receive assistance from the fund must wait one year before reapplying. The XSCAPE Fund is supported by financial contributions from generous donors. Students awarded XSCAPE funds are required to write a thank you letter. Students whose requests are denied by the committee may reapply the following semester. Committee decisions are final.