Student Emergency Fund
The Student Emergency Fund is named after Elaine Manglitz, a former Vice President of Student Affairs at Clayton State University who committed to ensuring resources are available to help students overcome barriers to their academic journey. The purpose of the student emergency fund is to provide short-term assistance and support to enrolled students experiencing financial challenges due to personal hardships.
In addition to the Student Emergency Fund, the Clayton State University provides extensive basic needs support programs:
The Elaine Manglitz Student Emergency Fund is available through generous donations from alumni, the community, faculty/staff, and other support entities.
Interested in Donating? Donate to the Student Emergency Fund
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be currently enrolled at Clayton State University during the semester they seek financial assistance.
- Applicant must demonstrate emergency support is directly tied to their ability to remain in college
- Applicant must have a financial need/hardship that potentially inhibits or threatens their ability to successfully begin/complete the upcoming/current semester.
- Other possible financial resources must have been considered and exhausted.
- Financial aid package (including student loans)
- Payment Plans for bills and student account
- Applicants must provide sufficient documentation of financial need or situation.
- Applicants must be enrolled in at least six credit hours in a degree-seeking program during a fall or spring semester in which funds are requested (3 credit hours minimum for summer term).
- Must be in good academic and social standing with the University
- Must not have a Clayton State University administrative hold on student record
Application Process
- Compete the Student Emergency Fund Application with supporting documentation
- Examples of supporting documentation: Quotes, Estimates, receipts, news articles, incident report
- Once we receive your request Care Services will contact you directly to gather additional information.
- Award amounts vary and are only awarded once per year. The Student Emergency Fund is typically reviewed between 3-5 business days.
- Awards will be disbursed via check.
Amount
The Student Emergency Fund can be awarded as a grant (no repayment) or loan (repayment) with a maximum award of $500.
The Student Emergency Fund CAN be used to cover:
- Off-campus housing rent
- Essential items that have been destroyed due to an unexpected circumstance (e.g., fire, flood)
- Utilities
- Daycare or emergency child care for dependents
- Food or groceries that the Laker Care Pantry cannot support
- Safety needs
- One-time Medical expense
- Emergency travel
- Car Repair/Transportation cost
- Books
- Safety needs
The Student Emergency Fund CAN NOT be used to cover:
- On-campus housing application and fees
- Tuition or university fees (Course enrollment fee, departmental fees, meal plans, housing)
- Parking tickets or fines
- Personal loans, credit card payments
- Application or testing fees for academics (e.g., GRE)
How the Student Emergency Fund Process Works
Step 1: Application Submission
Students begin by submitting a Student Emergency Fund application. Once your application is received, the Student Care & Support Team carefully begins the review process.
Step 2: Initial Review
During the initial review, the Student Care & Support Team looks at a few key items to better understand your situation and determine next steps:
- Eligibility criteria, including:
- Whether the request aligns with expenses that may be covered by the Student Emergency Fund
- Current student enrollment
- Good standing status with the institution
- Requested amount, to ensure it falls within the maximum funding limit of the fund
- Other possible support options, to see if additional campus resources may be able to assist alongside or instead of emergency funding
After the initial review, you will receive an email from the Student Care & Support Team CSUCares@clayton.edu regarding the status of your application.
Step 3: Secondary Review & Outreach
If your application moves forward to the second stage:
- A Student Care & Support Team member is assigned to your application
- The assigned team member will reach out to you directly via email
What to Expect During Outreach
Depending on your request, the team member may:
- Invite you to meet (virtually or in person)
- Ask follow-up questions to better understand your circumstances
- Talk with you about campus and community resources that may provide additional support
These conversations are meant to be supportive and collaborative, with the goal of identifying the best options available to you.
Step 4: Decision
After outreach and any requested meeting(s), a decision is made regarding your application. You will be notified of the outcome by email.
While the Student Care & Support Team does its best to complete this process within one week, application volume has increased over the past year. Most review and funding decisions are completed within 7–14 business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While we understand that financial stress can be overwhelming, funding is not guaranteed simply because an application is submitted. All requests are reviewed carefully and must meet the established criteria for the Student Emergency Fund.
The Student Care & Support Team serves as the custodians of the Elaine Manglitz Student Emergency Fund and is responsible for ensuring the fund is administered thoughtfully and in alignment with its guidelines.
The Student Emergency Fund is designed to assist students facing unexpected, short-term financial challenges that may impact their ability to remain enrolled. Not all expenses are eligible, but each request is reviewed individually.
Supporting documentation helps the Student Care & Support Team better understand your request and may allow the review process to move forward more smoothly. Examples of helpful documentation include, but are not limited to:
- Bills or invoices
- Past-due notices or eviction notices
- Utility shut-off notices
- Medical or prescription-related expenses
- Repair estimates
- Screenshots or statements showing balances due
Students are encouraged to submit documentation that best reflects their situation.
Our goal is to connect students with the most appropriate and sustainable support available. In some situations, other campus or community resources may be able to help meet your needs more effectively, either on their own or in combination with emergency funding.
Due to an increase in applications, review and funding decisions typically take 7–14 business days from the time your application is received.
The Student Emergency Fund is a donation-based fund, made possible through the generosity of donors who want to support students during times of need. Funding availability and award amounts depend on current fund balances.
All official communication is sent via email from CSUCares@clayton.edu. Please be sure to check your email regularly for updates or requests for additional information.
Questions about the Student Emergency Fund and other student basic need support programs can be directed to:
Student Care & Support
CSUCares@clayton.edu
(678) 466-5445