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Graduate Education and Life

Stitzel Emergency Fund

The Robert E. Stitzel Emergency Fund assists graduate and professional students who experience unexpected and documented financial hardship that negatively impacts their academic journey. Managed by Grad Ed and Life, the program supports those who cannot reasonably resolve their finances through other financial or community resources.

The Dr. Robert E. Stitzel Emergency Fund program was established in honor of Dr. Stitzel’s many contributions to WVU and the graduate education community.

Donate to the Fund Apply for the Fund

ELIGIBILITY

  • Students must exhaust all other financial and community resources before consideration.
  • No reasonably anticipated expense will be considered a financial hardship.
  • Students must meet with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of their enrolled academic college for assistance before consideration.
  • Domestic students who receive financial aid are strongly urged to meet with the WVU Hub for review of their financial aid eligibility before consideration.
    • Financial aid – including scholarships, grants, tuition waivers, loans and a Stitzel Emergency Award – cannot exceed a student’s cost of attendance. 
    • If a student receives financial aid, their Stitzel award must fit within their financial need and cost of attendance for financial aid purposes. Adjustments to other aid may be needed to account for receiving this award. (For example: A student may not receive the Stitzel Award as a direct refund, but may instead see other aid, such as their loans, decrease to keep their financial aid within their cost of attendance.) 
  • International students must meet with Global Affairs for assistance before consideration. Applicants will be asked to demonstrate that they have concluded working with Global Affairs before their Stitzel application can be reviewed.
  • First year international students are not eligible for consideration as they must demonstrate sufficient financial resources for their first year of study prior to admission to the University.
  • Students must not have an outstanding balance on their university student account before consideration.
  • Student must be in good standing (academic, financial, conduct) before consideration.
  • Student must be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral level graduate or professional program of study (this excludes graduate certificates).
  • Students with questions about eligibility may email GradEd@mail.wvu.edu.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants must:

  • Complete the online application.
  • Provide sufficient information to support an unexpected and documented financial hardship that negatively impacts their academic life and progress.
  • Provide sufficient information that documents that they have exhausted all other financial and community resources. Provide sufficient information to support they have met with campus resources, as listed above, and these resources are not able to provide assistance.
  • Provide verification from a campus professional (faculty, academic adviser, associate dean) that such financial hardship is negatively impacting their academic life and progress.

Students may be asked to meet with Grad Ed and Life staff to elaborate on their financial hardship.

Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

AWARD GUIDELINES

  • A financial award will not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).
  • Funds post to a student's WVU MyAccount. Please be aware that this does not guarantee a student will receive a refund from the Stitzel Emergency Fund (see above).
  • A Stitzel award does not have to be repaid to the University.
  • A Stitzel award may be considered taxable income and/or part of a student’s financial aid package. Students are strongly encouraged to learn more about the federal tax guidelines for students and/or contact a tax professional of assistance and to review the most current information about WVU tax policies.
    • Note: WVU does not provide individual tax advice. Students should also consult with the WVU Hub on the impact to their financial aid package in receiving these funds.
  • Students are not eligible for a financial award for one calendar year after receiving support from this program.
  • Students who receive a financial award from the Stitzel Emergency Fund are expected to send a thank you note to the Dr. Robert E. Stitzel family to express their gratitude for the programs assistance in addressing their financial hardship.