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Compassionate Care Fund Overview

The Mel Richey Student Compassionate Care Fund was created to assisRhodes students who encounter an unforeseen financial emergency or event that would otherwise prevent them from continuing their education aRhodes. Requests must be urgent, and an event or unforeseeable circumstance must have occurred to be eligible for student emergency funds. These funds are not intended to be used for routine expenses or as a consistent supplement to a student’s education funding sources.

Our goal is to help students who need to stay in school to graduate from 91����Ƶ. Priority is given to students whose tenure aRhodes may be at risk because of unexpected expenses.

Students may apply for funds when they have exhausted all other resources (payment plans, additional student aid, assistance from family/friends, and other personal resources). This funding is not intended to reimburse expenses that have already been paid or to replace or supplement existing financial aid. If Student Compassionate Care Funds are granted, they do not have to be repaid. Funds may be considered as taxable income and subject to federal tax regulations.

Contact ccstudentfund@rhodes.edu with questions.

Eligibility Criteria for the Compassionate Care Fund

1. Applicants must be currently enrolled and in good standing or show evidence of satisfactory progress during the term when emergency funds are requested.
2. Applicants must have a financial hardship resulting from an emergency, accident, or other unplanned events that potentially inhibit or threaten their ability to complete the current semester successfully.
3. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their current financial need with supporting documentation.
4. All other resources, including Student Financial Aid, must be considered and are either insufficient, unavailable, or not available in a timely manner.
5. Applicants may submit only one application within a 12-month period.
6. Awards will not exceed $1000, except in truly exceptional circumstances.

Application Process

Students may and supporting documentation to the Committee at ccstudentfund@rhodes.edu. The application must include all necessary information and supporting documentation that will assist the committee in evaluating the request. This may include medical bills, physician reports, fire or flood reports, and documented loss of income due to illness or accident, among other expenses.  Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. 

Expenses that may be covered, including but not limited to:

• Medical
  • Medications and other costs related to medical care.
• Safety needs (i.e., changing a lock)
• Family/Household Emergencies
  • Assistance with rent, utilities, food, and other essential household expenses.
  • Assistance with the replacement of essential personal belongings due to fire, theft, or natural disaster.
• Transportation
  • Travel costs related to a death or illness in the immediate family.

Expenses NOT covered, including but not limited to:

• Tuition, fees, health insurance, books, and study abroad costs.
• Non-essential utilities (i.e., cable), household, or furniture costs not related to damage or theft.
• Parking tickets and other fines.
• Costs for entertainment, recreation, non-emergency travel, or other non-essential expenses.
• Expenses that could be anticipated, as well as other non-emergency-related expenses.
• Expenditures resulting from poor financial management.

Supporting Documentation

Applications submitted without supporting documentation will not be reviewed. Examples of supporting documentation include, but are not limited to:

• Invoices
• Bills (e.g., utility bill)
• Rental leases
• Receipts
• For books or online access codes, attach a screenshot of the lowest price you can find

Please note, your supporting documentation does not need to prove your financial situation. Do not submit bank statements, texts from family/friends, etc., will not be used or considered in the review process. 

Supporting documentation must be relevant to the issue you request funding for. For example, if you are requesting funds to help with a utility bill, you must attach your utility bill. If you are requesting funds to help with car repairs, you must attach an invoice, bill, or some other documentation of the cost of the repairs. If you are requesting funds to purchase books, you must attach proof of their prices.  The documentation supplied must be in the name of the applicant and submitted to ccstudentfund@rhodes.edu.

Review & Award Process

The college has a committee to determine 1) if the applicant’s request fits the criteria, 2) whether or not an award should be granted, and 3) the amount of the award. Once the committee has made a decision, 91����Ƶ will notify the applicant about the outcome of their application. All decisions of the committee are final, and there is no appeals process.  

All committee members keep requests to and disbursements from the Fund confidential to individuals outside of the committee. 

Compassionate Care Funds are placed on the student’s account, and a refund check or withdrawal will be issued. Awards of $100 or less may be withdrawn from 91����Ƶ Express immediately upon approval. Funds more than $100 must be requested through 91����Ƶ Express no later than Wednesday to be issued in the form of a check or direct deposit on the Friday of that week. Purchasing a plane ticket for a student with significant financial need because of a family emergency or death can be accommodated when warranted through coordination with the 91����Ƶ Finance Office.

Students must provide receipts and/or documentation for payments or reimbursements no later than 10 days after funds have been dispersed to ccstudentfund@rhodes.edu.

Applicants may be required to meet with a staff member to discuss their application.

* Please note that students will not need to repay this financial assistance. However, it may be considered taxable income and subject to federal tax regulations.

We ask that recipients of the Mel Richey Student Compassionate Care Funds consider making a gift to the Fund in the future, should financial circumstances allow it. We wish to ensure that our community always strives to “pay forward” the kindness and support we extend to each other.

Contributions to the Fund

Students may make designated contributions to the college for the Mel Richey Student Compassionate Care Fund online at Make a Gift Today | Rhodes College, by cash, check, or credit card. Contributions made to this fund will be tax-deductible as a charitable donation.

Contact the committee at ccstudentfund@rhodes.edu with questions.

Additional Resources

(Current Students)