Education at OHSU

Education at OHSU

Hardship

What to do if you need money to stay in school

Many OHSU students encounter an unexpected financial emergency while they are enrolled. Financial emergencies are distinct from long term financial hardship, where students are struggling to meet basic needs. OHSU has resources to support both kinds of issues.

First Stop for Emergency Funding – Financial Aid

If you have a sudden, unexpected financial issue you may be able to access emergency short term funding. The first stop for addressing a financial emergency is by contacting the financial aid office. They have access to the largest number of resources and can help you understand your eligibility for various programs. To access these programs, you will need to first file a FAFSA. The new FAFSA is relatively fast and easy to file.

If you have already filed the FAFSA, you should still contact the Financial Aid Office at (503) 494-7800 or via email at askfa@ohsu.edu. They can help you:

  • Determine if you have accessed all the aid you’re eligible for
  • Advise you on a Cost of Attendance Adjustment for unexpected costs
  • Provide information on recalculating your eligibility based on job loss or other change in your financial situation.

Increased financial aid usually take three to five business days to process and receive, though sometimes it can take longer.

Next Stop for Emergency Funding – Emergency Funds

For students who are experiencing acute, unexpected financial emergencies, there are a limited number of emergency funds. Please note, these funds are limited. Students who have ongoing financial difficulties like persistent housing or food insecurity, should see the following section on Persistent Financial Hardship.

Student Affairs – Emergency Fund

  • Access: Contact Britt Hoover
  • Examples of Approved Requests: Urgent housing, emergency funding for transportation
  • Student Type Restrictions: Must be an OHSU student

School of Medicine – Graduate Studies program

  • Contact: Monica Hines
  • Maximum Dollar Amount: Most approvals have topped out at $2,000
  • Student Type Restrictions: Must be a student in the MD program

School of Medicine – MD Program

  • Contact: Dr. Benjamine Schneider or Dr. Rebecca Cantone
  • Maximum Dollar Amount: $2,000
  • Student Type Restrictions: Must be a student in the MD Program

School of Nursing

  • Contact: Tami Buedefeldt
  • Maximum Dollar Amount: $300
  • Examples of Approved Requests: Natural disasters and homelessness, potentially utilities and rents.
  • Student Type Restrictions: Must be a student in a nursing program

Northwest Native American Center of Excellence

  • Contact: Caitlin Donald
  • Maximum Dollar Amount: N/A – individual requests assessed on need and availability of funds. Support generously provided via the Laurence Fund. 
  • Student Type Restrictions: Wy’east Medicine scholar intending to matriculate at OHSU or Currently enrolled American Indian or Alaska Native medical student at OHSU

School of Public Health

  • Access: Complete the intake form
  • Maximum Dollar Amount: $500
  • Examples of Approved Requests: Unexpected costs like accidents or car repair
  • Student Type Restrictions: Student be enrolled in the School of Public Health

Confidential Advocacy Program

  • Contact: To apply for the CAP Participant Fund you can schedule an appointment with a CAP Advocate online here or by emailing CapSupport@OHSU.EDU
  • Maximum Dollar Amount: $2,000/academic year. This amount is based on fund availability. CAP will work with all participants to identify their financial needs and strive to provide alternatives in instances where our fund is not applicable or sufficient. 
  • Examples of Approved Requests: Any costs related to power-based violence and its impact including safety needs, replacing stolen funds, recovering from financial abuse, accessing healing, and more. Some examples are: moving costs, rent, groceries, car payments, childcare, legal fees, medical fees, transportation, healing modalities, mental health support, etc.
  • Student Type Restrictions: Any OHSU student and student volunteer, in any program, at any campus, impacted by power-based violence is eligible for the CAP Participant Fund. If you are unsure if you can apply for the CAP Participant Fund please reach out - CAP strives to make our fund as accessible as possible.

Persistent Financial Hardship

Some students have difficulty making ends meet every month. For these students, longer-term more robust solutions are usually better than short-term emergency funding. In these cases, OHSU has some counseling and advocacy resources to get student connected to community partners, build out better budgets, and make sure they can stay in school.

​​​​​​​First Stop – Persistent Financial Hardship

Just like emergency funding, the first stop for most students is the Financial Aid Office. Often, the Financial Aid Office and help students identify financial aid programs for which they qualify but have not accessed. Likewise, they can advise a student on their appeal options to increase current financial aid.

​​​​​​​Another Resource – Persistent Financial Hardship

The Educational Debt Counseling and Financial Management Office can help you develop a budget to help stretch your limited dollars. They offer personalized one-on-one counseling and can help you understand your student loan portfolio.

​​​​​​​Folks Who Can Help – The CARE Program

The  OHSU CARE Program  can help you connect you to campus and community basic need resources related to:

  • Housing stability 
  • Food security 
  • Mental health 
  • Physical health and wellness