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CSSH Emergencies, Persistence, & Engagement Fund

The CSSH Emergencies, Persistence, & Engagement Fund is intended to ensure that all active CSSH undergraduate students can participate in experiential and classroom learning and co- and extra-curricular activities when encountering financial challenges. Funds are available to students experiencing immediate, unanticipated, one-time needs that exceed their resources. 

Eligibility: 

  • Students must be at the undergraduate level, coded as active in NU systems, on co-op, or enrolled in courses (can be abroad). Their home college must be CSSH. The vast majority of applications that have been approved are from students with demonstrated medium- or high-financial need. 
  • Students with low or no financial need are welcome to apply (if they meet other eligibility criteria), but are rarely approved for funding. 

Examples of What the Fund CAN Consider: 

  • Emergencies: 
    • Temporary loss of income 
    • Unexpected shortfalls in basic needs (food, shelter, clothing) 
    • Travel for family emergencies
  • Academic Support: 
    • Course materials 
    • Repair to devices essential for academic, coop, and/or co-curricular engagement 
  • Student Involvement: 
    • Costs (food, travel, equipment) associated with Northeastern University organized social- or student-group activities 

Examples of What the Fund CANNOT Consider: 

  • Recurring or daily expenses, such as rent, university housing, or meal plans, daily transportation 
  • University tuition and fees 
  • Medical insurance, prescription medication or continuing care 

Other Details:

  • Funding not approved if it adversely affects a student’s financial aid. 
  • Students may apply more than once for funding. A separate form should be submitted for each request.
  • Funding is not guaranteed and we may not be able to fully fund a request, as the fund has an annual limit.
  • In order to help as many students as possible, the committee may consider comparable items at a lower price point (for example, airline tickets to the same destination on a different airline that is less expensive).
  • Applicants may be referred to other or additional sources of help on campus. The college and fund committee’s goal is to connect students with all available resources to support their well-being and success. 

Application Process:

All students interested in funding are required to complete an application. Applications will be sensitively evaluated by the fund’s review committee. Decisions will be communicated no more than approximately 10 business days after the application is received. 

  • 1. Complete application, including required supplemental documentation.  
    • Please provide detailed supporting documents that will enable the fund committee to review your request. (Ex: receipt for travel expenses, screenshot of webpage with needed textbook). Please provide specific and sufficient documents, itemized as much as possible. Partial information, such as screenshots without identifiable sources or other necessary traceable information for the purchase will not be sufficient and will slow the review process.
  • 2. Automatic email to confirm student’s submission.  
  • 3. Possible correspondence by email with members of fund’s review committee to gather additional information that may be needed to fully evaluate fund request. 
  • 4. Fund Committee reviews request and comes to a final decision. 
  • 5. Decision message sent to student via their NU email account.  
  • 6. If request is approved, the student’s funding is distributed in one of the following ways: 
    • Direct payment or reimbursement through direct deposit or check
    • Direct purchase by fund committee

Sample Fund Request Scenarios:

Example: I am requesting grocery assistance for the final two weeks of the semester. My Work Study funds for the semester are depleted and I am no longer able to work additional hours at my on-campus job, leaving me with a shortfall in purchasing food and household supplies for these next two weeks. 
Documentation to Attach: Work Study hours notification  

Example: My laptop needs an unexpected repair, and I do not have personal or family funds available to cover the cost at this time. Without the repair, the laptop is not in sufficient working order to use in classes and for homework. 
Documentation to Attach: Quote from computer repair service (e.g. the Apple Store, Best Buy, etc.) 

Example: I am involved in [student organization] and we are traveling to New York for a conference to present our work. As a low-income student, I am not able to afford the additional costs of travel and the conference registration fee without assistance.  
Documentation to Attach: Flyer or website with conference information showing conference fee; travel quote (Amtrak, flight, cost per student for charter bus, etc.) 

Please note that these are just examples, provided to illustrate the information about circumstances, expense, and accompanying documentation that the Review Committee needs in order to consider requests. The Committee may request follow-up information or documentation as needed.