Hardship Assistance Fund
Graduate Assistants United is happy to pilot test a Hardship Assistance Fund for GAU members in need. For the Spring 2023 semester we have a grand total of $3000 to allocate, which we have split into 6 awards of up to $500. If your need does not exceed $500, the reminder of your award may be pooled with others to create additional funds.
We have allocated funds for four types of awards. Please read the specific requirements for all awards. You may apply to all for which you are eligible, but shall only receive 1 award.
(1) General Award (3 awards): General awards are intended for graduate assistant union members who have incurred a non-recurrent expense in the past 6 months.
(2) International/Immigrant Graduate Student Award (1 award): This award is intended for international or immigrant graduate students who have incurred an expense within the past 6 months. This expense must be associated to an experience or process that is incurred exclusively by international or immigrant students, such as Visa applications or immigration lawyer fees. Unlike those covered by the general award, this expense may be recurring.
(3) LGBTQ+ Graduate Student Award (1 award): This award is intended for graduate assistant union members who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community and who have incurred an expense within the past 6 months. This expense must be associated to an experience or process that is incurred exclusively by members of the LGBTQ+ community. These expenses can be tied to any form of gender affirming care. Unlike those covered by the general award, this expense may be recurring.
(4) Disability Award (1 award): This award is intended for graduate assistant union members with some type of disability who have incurred an expense within the last 6 months. This expense is associated with costs that are experienced as a result of the applicant’s disability. Expenses can be tied to any disability dimension (Impairment, activity limitation, or participation restrictions). Unlike those covered by the general award, this expense may be recurring.
In addition to these specific award requirements, all applicants must have been members of GAU for at least 6 full months prior to the application deadline.
Deadline: February 28th, 2023 at 1:00 pm.
Your application will be reviewed according to the following criteria:
(1) Degree of need: we will create an estimate based on your household size, personal and household income and the appropriate estimate of a living wage for a Gainesville, FL resident according to the MIT Living Wage.
(2) Type of Expense: your application will be reviewed based on whether the type of expense you list in your application meets the requirements of the award for which you are applying.
(3) Exceptional Circumstances: we will also take into consideration any exceptional circumstances that may add to your financial burden.
Please be sure to complete all required fields, as failing to do so will disqualify your application.
The review committee is made up of 5 graduate assistant union members, who are not part of the GAU executive board and who shall remain anonymous. The review committee will not be aware of the identities of the applicants prior or during the review.
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]
We have allocated funds for four types of awards. Please read the specific requirements for all awards. You may apply to all for which you are eligible, but shall only receive 1 award.
(1) General Award (3 awards): General awards are intended for graduate assistant union members who have incurred a non-recurrent expense in the past 6 months.
(2) International/Immigrant Graduate Student Award (1 award): This award is intended for international or immigrant graduate students who have incurred an expense within the past 6 months. This expense must be associated to an experience or process that is incurred exclusively by international or immigrant students, such as Visa applications or immigration lawyer fees. Unlike those covered by the general award, this expense may be recurring.
(3) LGBTQ+ Graduate Student Award (1 award): This award is intended for graduate assistant union members who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community and who have incurred an expense within the past 6 months. This expense must be associated to an experience or process that is incurred exclusively by members of the LGBTQ+ community. These expenses can be tied to any form of gender affirming care. Unlike those covered by the general award, this expense may be recurring.
(4) Disability Award (1 award): This award is intended for graduate assistant union members with some type of disability who have incurred an expense within the last 6 months. This expense is associated with costs that are experienced as a result of the applicant’s disability. Expenses can be tied to any disability dimension (Impairment, activity limitation, or participation restrictions). Unlike those covered by the general award, this expense may be recurring.
In addition to these specific award requirements, all applicants must have been members of GAU for at least 6 full months prior to the application deadline.
Deadline: February 28th, 2023 at 1:00 pm.
Your application will be reviewed according to the following criteria:
(1) Degree of need: we will create an estimate based on your household size, personal and household income and the appropriate estimate of a living wage for a Gainesville, FL resident according to the MIT Living Wage.
(2) Type of Expense: your application will be reviewed based on whether the type of expense you list in your application meets the requirements of the award for which you are applying.
(3) Exceptional Circumstances: we will also take into consideration any exceptional circumstances that may add to your financial burden.
Please be sure to complete all required fields, as failing to do so will disqualify your application.
The review committee is made up of 5 graduate assistant union members, who are not part of the GAU executive board and who shall remain anonymous. The review committee will not be aware of the identities of the applicants prior or during the review.
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]
