The Student Emergency Fund helps Northern Illinois University (NIU) students by providing immediate short-term financial support when unpredictable emergencies put their continued education at risk. The primary purpose of the fund is to improve student retention when unforeseen occurrences impact a student’s ability to stay in college and complete their educational goals.
The fund provides critical dollars that assist with needs such as housing insecurity, medical expenses, food, and utilities. The Student Emergency Fund was established during the pandemic and has helped over 3,600 students with immediate needs to persist at NIU in their pursuit of a college degree. This semester the Center for Student Assistance was awarded a grant that has allowed up help students with Wi-Fi assistance, books and supplies purchase, as well as transportation assistance for those traveling to NIU sponsored clinicals, internships, and student teaching opportunities. With these grants we've awarded 230 students more $78,000. In December 2024, we also supported 10 students cover the on-campus winter break housing cost of $200 providing stable housing for four weeks. Our hope is to continue to provide these types of grants each semester in some form and your support will help us achieve this goal.
"I want to sincerely thank you and the Center for Student Assistance for offering support with travel expenses for my teaching clinical this semester. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity. I truly appreciate your generosity.” – Spring 2025 Transportation Grant Recipient
“On behalf of student who are struggling, thank you so much!” – Spring 2025 Book Grant Recipient
“Thank you for everything you did” - 2024 Winter Break Housing Assistance Grant Recipient
"“I just wanted to thank you for this opportunity! It will help me greatly, and I really appreciate the assistance!!” – Spring 2025 Book Assistance Grant Recipient
"I would like to express how grateful I am for this amazing opportunity. Receiving this grant is going to help me greatly in covering the cost of travel to and from my capstone clinical. I truly appreciate your support." - Spring 2025 Transportation Grant Recipient
