Emergency Grant Fund
HGSU-UAW Emergency Grant Fund Summary and FAQs
The contract between Harvard University and the Harvard Graduate Student Union (HGSU-UAW) establishes a fund of $150,000 to provide student workers with funds to meet temporary hardship due to a significant emergency event. Unlike the other funds, this fund is available to both hourly and salaried student workers.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and a decision on each application will be made within 72 hours. However, reimbursement processing may take some time.
Student workers may submit their applications for both semesters below.
From the Finance and Benefits Committee
The Emergency Grant fund is limited in size. HGSU has targeted it towards those with the most need, for whom the emergency will impose a significant hardship. The Benefits Committee expects that applicants will have made a good faith effort to exhaust all personal and financial resources prior to applying. Any applicant with a question about this policy is encouraged to contact a member of the Benefits Committee. Additionally, as this is the only fund for which all hourly workers are eligible, and as most hourly workers do not have access to a school-provided emergency fund, hourly workers are especially encouraged to apply.
The Benefits Committee shall endeavor to fund requests for similar types of expenditures at the same level, subject to the availability of funds. Demographic data such as race and gender may be collected, but shall not be used except for informational purposes. No applicant may receive more than $1500 in total from the Fund.
Eligibility and Coverage
To be eligible to receive funds from the Fund, a person must
- be a student enrolled in Harvard University degree program
- be employed as a Research Assistant (but not an undergraduate Research Assistant), Teaching Fellow, Instructional Fellow, Pedagogical Fellow, or Course Assistant for at least one academic term;
- not be eligible to receive compensation for the expense from the Health Reimbursement Fund, the Dental Fund or the International Student Workers Assistance Fund; and
Eligibility can be complicated, so we created this guide to help you figure out which expenses are eligible at which deadline. You may need to go through this cheat sheet a few times to account for all the periods in which you may have been working.
Any and all expenses incurred in dealing with a significant personal or familial emergency event will be considered for reimbursement. Examples of emergencies we have provided reimbursement for in the past include: reimbursement for worker who sent money to their family in distress due to war or natural disaster, medical expenses that can’t be covered by the Healthcare Fund, travel costs incurred to visit family for sick family members, funerals, etc., reimbursement of costs due to an emergent need to move apartments. We do not help with emergencies related to work at Harvard, including tuition or health fee payments.
Applications will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis without regard to demographic information or income. Due to the limited size of the fund, no applicant may receive more than $1500 in total from the Fund.
Each school has its own policies, and student workers are encouraged to contact their schools directly for the most up-to-date information.
Application Questions
The Benefits Committee will contact you with a decision and reimbursement amount within 72 hours of your application.
The Benefits Committee will work with you to collect documentation after a decision has been made.
Reimbursements must be processed through Harvard’s payroll office, since the fund money is controlled by the university. Reimbursements may take up to eight weeks to be processed, depending on when they were submitted. If delayed reimbursement poses a significant financial burden, contact the Benefits Committee to explore your options.
Fund Rules - In Plain English
Section
Emergency
Scope
Costs resulting from unexpected events that pose a financial burden to the student worker
Eligibility
Appointed to an eligible position in the bargaining unit in the semester covered by application—all salaried and hourly workers eligible
Application Timeline
Rolling deadline; committee seeks to provide a decision within 72 hours of submission (subject to further inquiries)
Benefit Structure
Pool
Determination of Benefit Amounts
Are there fixed costs/grants?
No
Are there variable costs?
Yes—some of the most common expenses include (but are not limited to) last-minute travel, medical care (that is not eligible in other funds), and administrative fees brought about by personal emergencies
When does household income affect reimbursement?
N/A
Maximum annual payout
$1,500
Typical documentation
Receipts
Applications
SmarterSelect, always open
January Review; Fund Governance
Minor changes made by vote of FBC; major changes are subject to HGSU membership vote
Full Rules
For full (legalese) version of the rules, please go here.
