Bucknell University Athletics
Special Assistance Fund Application
9/6/2004 8:00:00 AM | General
Sept. 6, 2004
The Special Assistance Fund is provided through the revenue distribution plan of the NCAA. Its purpose is to assist student-athletes with special financial needs.
The following student-athletes are eligible to apply for funds by submitting the NCAA Special Assistance Fund Application to the office of the Director of Athletics:
A. Pell-eligible student-athletes (except nonqualifiers in their initial year of residence), including student-athletes who have exhausted their athletics eligibility or no longer are able to participate because of medical reasons.
B. Student-athletes who are receiving countable athletically related financial aid and who have demonstrated financial need as determined by an analysis consistent with federal methodology or the methodology used for all students at the institution.
C. Foreign student-athletes, who have had an official foreign student-athlete advisory entity of the institution outside the Department of Athletics certify in writing that the student-athlete has financial need.
The responsibility for oversight and administration of the fund, including interpretations, rests solely with the conference. The guiding principles of the fund are to meet the student-athletes needs of an emergency or essential nature for which financial assistance is not otherwise available. Conference interpretations not addressed by the Executive Committee should stay within this intended purpose. The following uses of the fund are permissible:
A. Cost of clothing and other essential expenses (not entertainment) up to $500 for Pell-eligible student-athletes and full grant-in-aid student-athletes who demonstrate financial need.
B. Cost of expendable academic course supplies (e.g., notebooks and pens) and rental of nonexpendable supplies (e.g., computer equipment and cameras) that are required for all students enrolled in the course.
C. Medical and dental costs not covered by another insurance program (e.g., premiums for optional medical insurance, hearing aids, vision therapy, and off-campus psychological counseling).
D. Costs associated with student-athlete or family emergencies.
The following are restrictions on the use of the funds:
A. Financing any portion of an institutional grant-in-aid that could have been awarded to the student-athlete is prohibited.
B. Nonqualifiers may not receive special assistance funds during their first academic year in residence.
C. Entertainment expenses for student-athletes are not permissible.
D. The purchase of disability, illness, or injury insurance to protect against the loss of potential future professional sports earnings is not permissible.
E. The funds may not be used for administrative purposes (conferences may not charge an administrative fee nor may salary or staff expenses for administration of the funds be paid from these monies).
