We recognize that students may experience a personal emergency which requires more immediate funds or financial help. To address these concerns, the College has established the Safety Net Fund.

What is the Safety Net Fund?

The Safety Net Fund is a funding grant program created primarily to support FGLI ( first generation and/or low-income) students in addition to other students who may have a difficult time accessing living necessities, access to technology, and or other needs to support a successful academic learning (i.e., food, shelter, internet access). This fund does not replace the loss of student wages, but it can help offset the impact on your ability to meet your essential needs while also assisting students from having to ask multiple sources for support.

When can I apply for the Safety Net Fund?

The Safety Fund will accepts applications during the 2024-2025 academic year from...

  • Fall 2024:  August 27 - December 10
  • Spring 2025:  January 22 - May 6

To apply for the safety net fund fill out the Safety Net Fund Application.

Who do I contact if I have questions or concerns?

If students would like to discuss the decision of the committee or have questions, they should email safetynetfund@mtholyoke.edu to set up a meeting with someone from the Office of Community and Belonging.

How Are Applications Approved?

The Safety Net Fund ensures an equitable and fair process in providing all students the opportunity to seek funds when they can find no other solution to a financial problem.

  • The Safety Net funds are available on a first come, first-served basis until the fund is depleted.
  • All Safety Net Fund applications are reviewed by members of the First Gen Network (A group of faculty and staff who support first generation and low income students) and the executive director of the Office of Community and Belonging).

Students who need financial support to purchase books should first apply for a Book Advance. Information about the Book Advance is below.

When Are Applications Approved?

Applications submitted by Thursday before 5:00 p.m. will be reviewed, and students will receive an outcome letter regarding their funding application by the following Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. unless the campus is closed or otherwise notified.

If approved for funding and/ or resources, the letter will include a confirmation form which must be submitted at least 24 hours in order to align with the 14 day process. Failure to submit the confirmation form in at least 24 hours will result in a delay of payment.

Applicants not approved will receive a denial outcome letter explaining why you were not approved for funding.

What is the Payment Process

  • Accounts Payable processes payments every Tuesday and Friday. Payments will be issued via Payees Choice from US Bank. You will have a choice in the setup process of ACH direct deposit or Zellepay. If you received a payment already via Payees Choice or Zellepay, your payment will automatically go through in the same method. If it is your first payment: You will receive an email link from US Bank containing a financial link for enrollment. The link expires after 12 days. (See notes below for a successful enrollment) Payments to students that do not have a US based bank account will be processed via check.
  • Payments will be issued via Payees Choice from US Bank. You will have a choice in the setup process of ACH direct deposit or Zellepay. If you received a payment already via Payees Choice or Zellepay, your payment will automatically go through in the same method. If it is your first payment: You will receive an email link from US Bank containing a financial link for enrollment. The link expires after 12 days. (See notes below for a successful enrollment) Payments to students that do not have a US based bank account will be processed via check.
  • If you received a payment already via Payees Choice or Zellepay, your payment will automatically go through in the same method. If it is your first payment: You will receive an email link from US Bank containing a financial link for enrollment.The link expires after 12 days. (See notes below for a successful enrollment) Payments to students that do not have a US based bank account will be processed via check.
  • The link expires after 12 days. (See notes below for a successful enrollment) Payments to students that do not have a US based bank account will be processed via check.
  • Please indicate the address you would like to have the check mailed to.

For inquiries related to payments after you have an approved submission please email payables@mtholyoke.edu and use DOS Emergency funds as the subject header.

Notes About Taxes

If you agree to accept funding from the Safety Net Fund you may incur taxes or the funding received may be documented as taxable income. Mount Holyoke College is not responsible for any taxes you may have to pay after accepting the funds.

Request for Book Advance

There is no local supplier of textbooks for MHC students and textbooks must be purchased online.

All students who do not have available funds to purchase books at the beginning of the semester and have no access to a credit card or other delayed payment method may apply for a Book Advance. Students who need a short-term option to purchase books should complete this form.

Students can request up to $250.00 in a Book Advance.

How it works....

You will have the ability to charge $250.00 to your student account so that you can purchase your books with a pre-paid card. You can spend the rest of the semester paying this off instead of trying to front it all out of pocket.

Students who would like to apply for the Book Advance must complete this form.

It is recommended that all Book Advances be requested  by September 17, 2024.

To apply for funding or support resources please fill out the forms below:

International Student Support

The Safety Net Fund works collaboratively with the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives to ensure that international students who meet the criteria listed above are supported. International students are generally considered to be students who are legally present in the United States on an F-1 of J-1 visa. Students who are not in those visa categories should contact Jenny Medina in the McCulloch Center to discuss

Additional Questions about the Safety Net Fund

This fund does not replace the loss of student wages, nor support tuition. It, however, can be a resource to offset the impact on your ability to meet your essential needs while also assisting students from having to ask multiple sources for support.

Students who have an on-campus job or are doing research during the summer must still meet at least one of the identified criteria.

Remember, funding is not guaranteed, and students may be awarded less than the full amount requested. Each funding application is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.