Butler Emergency Resources

The Butler Emergency Assistance Fund was created to provide gift assistance to students with a short-term, unforeseen financial hardship or immediate expense that may impact their academic success at Butler University. 

Examples of Financial Hardships Considered 

• Unexpected medical and dental expenses 

• Housing and living costs 

• Transportation needs 

• Family/personal emergencies 

• Natural disasters 

• Theft 

Credit card debt and other non-emergent matters may not be considered. 

Note: Students with non-emergent financial hardships that do not qualify for the Butler Emergency Assistance Fund, including student account balances, are encouraged to contact the Office of Financial Aid directly to discuss their situation and talk about possible aid options. 

These funds are made possible by the Ayres Student Assistance Fund, which was established to assist students who experience financial crisis during the school year. Annual gifts are designated to support this program. 

If you are interested in supporting the Butler Emergency Assistance Fund through a charitable donation, please contact the Office of Annual Giving at 317-940-9469 or gifts@butler.edu. Gifts may be made online at butler.edu/advancement.  

To be eligible, students must: 

• Be in good standing with the University. 

• Be enrolled and attend classes in a degree-seeking program at Butler University. 

• Complete the Emergency Assistance Fund Application. 

• Students may receive the funds only once per semester. 

• Funds approved are generally between $100–$1500. 

• The funds do not need to be repaid; however, they may be subject to federal taxes.  Please consult with your tax preparer or accountant. 

• The Office of Financial Aid will review the application and will consider the student’s financial aid file to ensure that all financial aid eligibility is being utilized to its fullest before awarding emergency assistance funds. 

• Applications will be reviewed during normal business hours. Please allow up to two business days for a response. 

• Funds are paid based on the type of request and urgency of the hardship. 

• Apply here.
• Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. 
• Documentation should be submitted within the application itself. If you encounter issues with attaching the PDF documentation, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@butler.edu or by phone 317-940-8200. 
• Each application is carefully reviewed to ensure all other financial aid resources are maximized first. 

Navigating unexpected or long-term financial challenges during your college journey can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to carry that weight alone. If financial hardship is creating barriers to continuing your enrollment or reaching graduation, we encourage you to apply for the Completion Grant Application for support.

Finding the right long-term solution takes care, so this review process can take time. Our team will carefully evaluate your situation, which may include exploring options like a special circumstance appeal, reviewing federal loan eligibility, or connecting you with additional financial guidance to help keep you on track to graduate. 

Having reliable technology is essential to your academic journey, and Butler wants to help make sure you have the resources you need. If you are experiencing technology challenges or need a device for your classes, we encourage you to explore Butler’s Loaner Laptop Program. Through this partnership between the Student Success Center, Financial Aid, and IT, eligible students can check out a laptop for up to a full semester to stay connected and on track. 

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal aid program administered by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Eligibility has been temporarily expanded to include students enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher education, who either:

• Are eligible to participate in state or federally financed work study during the regular school year, as determined by the institution of higher education,
• Have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of -1500 or 0 in the current academic year.

Learn more at fns.usda.gov/snap/students.

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