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SOURCES OF DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FOR STUDENTS 2009-2010

Funding for Emergencies and Special Programs

A limited amount of funding in the form of loans or grants is available to students in need for emergencies, special programs and some unanticipated events. These funds are limited, and in most cases will not cover the entire cost of an event or emergency.

Undergraduate students enrolled at Smith may apply for funding. Students who have graduated or who are on leave are not eligible for funding. These funds are discretionary and therefore flexible, but have restrictions as well. Some things that may qualify for emergency funding are air fare home for the death or severe illness of a member of the immediate family and emergency medical/dental care not covered by insurance, including prescription glasses. In addition, some emergency funds are available to apply toward the purchase of books or art supplies required for a student's courses. Other unanticipated events that might qualify for funding are travel related to a student's coursework (such as to attend a professional conference) or to a co-curricular activity.

Funding from the sources listed here is not available for travel to political rallies or demonstrations. No internship funding is available from these sources. Some adminsitrative offices have streamlined the application process for many of these funds. The Student Special Funding Application is a good beginning for students in need of assistance.  Keep in mind that this is an application for assistance, not a guarantee of funding.

View a detailed grid of available funding, sources and restrictions here.

Following is a list of administrative offices that hold discretionary funds, along with a brief description of some of the things they can and cannot assist with. Funds are awarded at the discretion of the office holding them, and questions should be directed to that office.  

Note:  Some academic departments also have funding to support students' attendance at professional conferences, and you should check with the department before submitting a Student Special Funding Application.

Also Note: The Office for International Study is the only office that will fund programs and travel outside the U.S. besides the Smith Student Aid Society, which also has some funds available to support educational opportunities outside the U.S.

TEXTBOOK ASSISTANCE

Smith expects all students to budget for books as part of their financial planning for college.  Students whose book costs exceed their budgeted allowance may apply for aid from several sources on campus.  Funds awarded are given in the form of book vouchers, redeemable only for books at the Grécourt Bookstore in the Campus Center. Smith College: Student Financial Services

Student Financial Services: Students receiving need-based financial aid whose books for the semester total a minimum of $420 may apply to Student Financial Services for assistance.  Maximum funding per student per year is $100.  Go to the SFS office, College Hall 106, for an application.

For all other book vouchers, students should apply first to the Smith Students' Aid Society.  Go to www.smith.edu/classdeans/funding.php and click on link to Smith Students' Aid Society Textbook Assistance. Students may receive SSAS book vouchers only once within an academic year and should not expect to be funded every year. 

If you are denied funding by SASS, your application will automatically be forwarded to the Dean of the College office for consideration for other sources of funding for books.

Ada Comstock Scholars Program

Erika Laquer, Dean of the Sophomore Class, First-Semester Juniors and Ada Comstock Scholars, College Hall 101
Emergency grants for Ada Comstock Scholars for medical/dental expenses and other unforeseen expenses.  Also small grants to attend conferences and other opportunities for professional development (see Dean Laquer for application).  Some funds available for Adas' book vouchers (see Textbook Assistance, above).

Chapel

Jennifer Walters, Dean of Religious Life, Chapel
Funds for student personal needs, travel for conferences, retreats, and special programs related to religion, ethics or community/public service.  Use Student Special Funding Application.

Class Deans

College Hall 101
Funding for family emergencies and occasionally for conferences and special studies projects (go to College Hall 101 for Rothchild Fund application form).  Also limited funding available for books (see Textbook Assistance, above).  Restrictions: Student must be receiving aid; funding is given only one.

For Seniors, the Tomlinson Fund is available for honors projects only.  See Dean Bruzelius for application.

Dean of the College

Susan Zachary, Executive Assistant, College Hall 203
Funding to attend conferences and for special studies work, use the Student Special Funding Application. Limited funding for individual students on financial aid to participate in social and co-curricular opportunities at Smith, emergency funding for medical needs, travel for urgent family matters (see Susan Zachary for application form for emergency funding) and books (see Textbook Assistance, Dean of the College, above).

Institutional Diversity

Jennifer Walters, Special Assistant to the President for Diversity and Equity, Chapel
Funds for student activities that help foster new and innovative ideas or programs related to nurturing a diverse campus community.  Priority will be given to proposals that involve collaboration between student groups. However, individual students may also apply for funds for projects or activities consistent with improving the campus climate for a diverse community. Individual students use the Student Special Funding Application and students groups use the Student Activities Request for Event Funding form available in the Campus Center office, Campus Center 106.

Office for International Students

Hrayr Tamzarian, Associate Dean of International Students, Clark Hall
Funding for international students for travel, academic expenses, eyeglasses. Individual or group expenses for trips, graduate school applications and testing expenses, Winter Recess housing, conferences. Also, personal and medical expenses while in the U.S.  Make an appointment with Dean Tamzarian.

Office for International Study

Neilson Neon Archway
Funding for January or summer projects that take place internationally, including study, research, service or unpaid internships.  Applications due October 15 for January projects and March 15 for summer projects. See www.smith.edu/studyabroad/grants.html for an application form and guidelines.

Office of Multicultural Affairs

L'Tanya Richmond, Clark Hall
Emergency support for medical/dental care, eyeglasses, medications, travel for urgent family matters.  Make appointment with Mrs. Richmond.

President's Office

Funds administered by the Dean of the College Office, College Hall 203
Funds for individual students to attend conferences.  Funds are intended to help students with the cost of attending academic conferences and symposia, particularly events where students are presenting papers, participating on panels, or otherwise taking an active part in the program.  Conferences of a non-academic nature, even though related to a student's academic interests, are not funded.  Funding is provided for an individual student only once during her time at Smith.  Use the Student Special Funding Application.
 

Smith Student Aid Society

Anne White, Chapel
Emergency grants for eye care expenses, emergency dental and medical costs.  Grants for academic enhancement such as summer or Interterm study (available through the Class Deans' Office); supplies for fine arts courses; field trips. Link to the online Smith Student Aid Society Funding form at www.smith.edu/classdeans.

Beyond Smith: Special funding program available to seniors in need of financial assistance with costs for interview clothing, travel costs for interviews, graduate school application fees, fine arts portfolio expenses.  The maximum grant is $200.  Link to the online Smith Student Aid Society Funding form at www.smith.edu/classdeans.

Emergency funding for textbooks: See "Textbook Assistance" above.  Link to the online Smith Student Aid Society Textbook Assistance form at www.smith.edu/classdeans.

 

Student Financial Services

College Hall 108
Funding for financial emergencies and books (see Textbook Assistance -  Student Financial Services, above). Restrictions: Only for students on aid, usually high-need students.  Go to College Hall 106 for information.

Student Affairs
Office

International
Students

Multicultural Affairs

Health Services

Student Handbook

Interterm

Faculty Teaching
Evaluations

Discretionary Funds

Grid of funding sources

 

 

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