Emergency Need Request

Examples of qualifying expenses include (but are not limited to):

• Childcare costs*
• Essential utilities (e.g., electric, gas, water)*
• Food insecurity
• Fuel or travel assistance to campus/academic commitments
• Housing expenses (e.g., rent, mortgage payment)*
• Emergency temporary lodging (if student is housing insecure or in an unsafe situation)*
• Medical expenses (e.g., vision and dental treatment, medication, prescriptions, when the student cannot pay, and costs not covered by insurance).*
• Textbooks and course materials
• Tuition and student fees
• Emergency vehicle repairs necessary for transportation to academic commitments may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Assistance will not exceed the applicable program award limits and may be denied if repair costs substantially exceed the vehicle’s value.*
• Other financial needs arising from individual and special circumstances are to be determined on a case-by-case basis

*denotes third-party payment requests.

Examples of non-qualifying expenses include (but are not limited to):

• Expenses due to a lack of financial planning or overspending
• Costs of entertainment, recreation, or non-emergency travel
• Credit card debt
• Past-due bills incurred before the student’s current enrollment period or those unrelated to the student’s current emergency circumstances.
• Non-essential utilities or memberships (e.g., cable, subscriptions)
• Routine vehicle maintenance
• Parking tickets

• Applicants must be currently enrolled students for the semester they make the request.
• Applicants must be making progress towards completion in currently enrolled courses. This may include attendance, assignments, and academic performance.
• Applicants must have an immediate and unexpected financial hardship that may prevent them from completing their academic goals.
• Applicants must complete an Emergency Need Request form. Forms are available on the College website and in the Office of the Dean of Students. The request must be accompanied by a detailed explanation of the emergency, necessary supporting documents, and/or other items requested by college staff.
• Bills or invoices should generally be in the student’s name.  Exceptions may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis when the student can demonstrate responsibility for the expense.
• All bills/invoices must be dated and current.
• Applicants may be required to meet with a member of the Student Persistence Review Committee.
• Tuition assistance requests may require review of financial aid eligibility, payment plans, and other available funding sources before assistance is considered.

Please note: While multiple requests within the same academic year will be accepted for review, students who submit requests for recurring support may not be eligible for funding and will be referred to other resources and community agencies that may be able to assist.

Summer 2026 Intersession Requests: Students requesting basic needs support for the Summer 2026 intersession must be enrolled in at least one course for Summer 2026 or have confirmed enrollment for Fall 2026 to be eligible for assistance.

Steps for requesting food cards, fuel cards, and Greene County Transit bus vouchers:

1. The student must submit an Emergency Need Form to request food cards, fuel cards, or Greene County Transit bus passes.
2. The request is reviewed by the Student Persistence Review Committee and, if approved, the student is instructed to pick up the card or tickets from the Office of the Dean of Students.

• • All communication will be processed through the C-GCC email; students should continuously check their email for updates to their request.
  • Please note that, depending on availability, food cards, fuel cards, or bus passes may need to be purchased and not be instantly available.

Steps for third-party payment requests:

Requests for third-party payments (all except tuition and course materials requests) received within the first weeks of term, before the semester Census date, will not be processed and paid until after the Census date.  The Fall 2026 Census Date for full-term courses is September 22, 2026.

1. The student must submit an Emergency Need Request form that includes a detailed explanation of the emergency need, any necessary supporting documents, and any other items required for review.
2. Once submitted, the request is reviewed by the Student Persistence Review Committee, which considers financial circumstances, student account information, academic progress, and all submitted materials.
   • The student is notified via C-GCC email if additional supporting documentation is required.
   • Please note that requests are reviewed weekly and can take 7-10 business days for an initial response.
3. Additional conversations and/or emails with a member of the Student Persistence Review Committee may be required to determine the outcome of the request.
4. If a request is approved for payment to a third-party vendor (landlord, mechanic, childcare, etc.), payment cannot be initiated or processed until the vendor has received a formal bill or invoice and a W-9.
5. Additionally, the Student Persistence Review Committee may refer students to campus resources when applicable – e.g., mental health counseling, academic tutoring & coaching, health services, Workforce NY, career & transfer services.

Please note: Throughout the review process, committee members will check with appropriate College offices, services, and faculty members to review financial circumstances (e.g., financial aid, certificate of residency, scholarship, etc.), student account information, and academic progress, all of which are factored into the decision-making process.

While multiple requests within the same academic year and/or semester will be accepted for review, students who submit requests for recurring support may not be eligible for this funding and will be referred to other resources and community agencies that may be able to assist.

• The maximum number of fuel cards is 2 per semester.
• The maximum number of food cards is 2 per semester.
• The maximum award for textbooks and required course materials is $250 per semester or $500 per academic year.
• The maximum amount for all other requests is $800 total per semester or $1,500 total per year.

Requests are holistically reviewed on a case-by-case basis.  Funds are determined based on student information, supporting documentation, and available funding.  Funding awards may be approved for different amounts based on the specifics of your request, current financial circumstances, and available funding. Please note that most individual requests do not exceed $400; however, larger awards may be considered in exceptional circumstances, subject to funding availability and annual program limits listed below.

• Students should expect to hear from a Student Persistence Review Committee member by college email within 5 business days of submitting food card, fuel card, or bus voucher requests.
• The timeline for third-party payment requests (see the list above for eligible categories) depends on how quickly the committee receives all required documentation and a completed W-9 from the vendor.
  • Requests received are reviewed weekly and may take 7-10 business days for an initial response/correspondence. This initial response may not guarantee approval/funding.
    • Additional conversations and/or emails with a member of the committee may be required to determine the outcome of the request.
  • If a request is approved for payment to a third-party vendor (landlord, mechanic, etc.), payment cannot be initiated or processed until the vendor has received a formal bill or invoice and a W-9.