If you are a currently enrolled student at Oklahoma State University, you may be eligible for immediate assistance through institutional emergency programs.

The Cowboy Strong Student Emergency Fund is designed to provide "just-in-time" financial support to students facing sudden, unavoidable hardships. It helps ensure that temporary financial strain does not force you to compromise or pause your education.

What the Funds Can Be Used For

These funds are meant to offset immediate, short-term needs caused by an emergency, accident, or unexpected critical incident. Examples of covered expenses include:

• Urgent tuition or academic fees
• Emergency rent and housing stability
• Unexpected critical expenses or medical bills

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the fund, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Enrolled Student: You must be a currently enrolled student on an OSU campus.
• Exhausted Options: You must have already considered and exhausted all other financial resources, including traditional scholarships, payment plans, or personal support, meaning these options are insufficient or unavailable in a timely manner.
• Immediate Need: You must document an immediate, unexpected, and unforeseen hardship.
• Frequency: These funds are typically reserved for students who have not previously received Cowboy Strong funding, and individual distributions generally do not exceed $500.

How to Apply

To request emergency assistance, you must submit a formal application detailing your situation and providing supporting financial documentation. You can access the official request process via the OSU Cowboy Strong Application.

The International Student Assistance Fund is primarily used to support the operations of International Students and Scholars (ISS) through scholarships and educational programming. However, a limited portion of these funds may be allocated directly to students facing sudden crises.

This fund acts as a safety net to address urgent, unforeseen financial obstacles that—if left unresolved—could directly prevent a student from staying enrolled and completing their program of study.

To qualify, a student must:

1. Be enrolled full-time or authorized by the ISS for a reduced course load. If applying during the summer, the student must be enrolled for the upcoming fall semester.
2. Reside in the U.S. with an active F-1 or J-1 student visa/status.
3. Be degree-seeking and in good academic standing (not currently on academic probation).
4. Demonstrate that the financial need arises from unforeseen, urgent emergencies.

Examples of Student Needs

These emergency grants are explicitly designed for unexpected situations rather than ongoing financial planning. Common examples of eligible student needs include, but are not limited to:

• Food Insecurity: Immediate difficulty affording basic groceries or meal resources due to a sudden loss of funds.
• Unexpected Travel: Unplanned travel expenses arising from an emergency back home, such as a family medical crisis or natural disaster.
• Critical Academic or Medical Emergencies: Sudden, necessary costs that threaten your immediate health, safety, or academic standing.

Funding Guidelines and Award Limits

• Maximum Award Amount: Awards vary based on need, with expected distributions not to exceed $1,000.
• Frequency Limit: Emergency funds may be provided at a maximum of once per academic year.
• Employment Review: Applications from students who are currently employed will be assessed on an individual basis, though preference is typically given to students without current employment.
• Status Check: Your progress to graduation, academic standing, and student conduct status may be verified during evaluation.
• Taxation: Please note that if approved, this award may be subject to taxation.

How to Apply

1. Download and complete the International Student Emergency Fund Request Form (PDF).
2. Prepare answers explaining the exact amount requested, your financial emergency, what changed since your admission, and your plan for the remainder of your program.
3. Email your completed form along with any additional supporting documents directly to iss@okstate.edu.

Applications are reviewed by the Emergency Funding Committee on a rolling basis. You will receive a decision within approximately 10 business days.

If your financial situation has changed drastically due to unforeseen circumstances completely outside of your control, you may qualify to apply for off-campus employment authorization through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

This authorization allows eligible F-1 international students to work off-campus if they can prove that their financial distress is caused by severe economic hardship.

Examples of Unforeseen Economic Hardship

To qualify, the source of your financial stress must be unexpected and outside of your control. Common examples include:

• Severe fluctuations in the value of your home country’s currency or exchange rate.
• Involuntary loss of your financial sponsor's income or source of funding.
• Substantial increases in tuition, living costs, or medical bills.
• Natural disasters, political instability, or unexpected crises in your home country affecting your funding.

Basic Eligibility and Rules

• You must have been in valid F-1 status for at least one full academic year.
• You must be in good academic standing and maintaining a full course of study.
• You must demonstrate that on-campus employment options are unavailable or insufficient to meet financial needs.
• Work Limits: If approved, you are permitted to work off-campus for up to 20 hours per week while school is in session, and full-time during official school breaks.

How to Apply

Applying for Severe Economic Hardship requires working directly with your designated school official (DSO) at the International Students and Scholars office. Your DSO must recommend authorization in SEVIS before you can file Form I-765 with USCIS.

Please visit https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/sevis-help-hub/student-records/fm-student-employment/f-1-off-campus-employment-and-international or make an appointment with your DSO advisor through Terra Dotta for more guidance.

Note: You cannot begin off-campus employment until you receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from USCIS.