Emergency Fund

The Beam Emergency Fund is intended to support Minnesota West students facing unexpected financial hardship that may impact their academic success. Due to limited funds, grants from the Emergency Fund will generally be a maximum of $1000 with only one award per academic year (if approved).
Who is eligible to apply?
  • Must be actively enrolled at Minnesota West in at least 3 credits.
  • Must be degree-seeking. PSEO/Concurrent Enrollment, Customized Training, and Minnesota State employees are not eligible.
  • Must meet Minnesota West’s Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements as of the date of the award.
  • Must have completed FAFSA for the current academic year and exhausted all financial aid eligibility for the current semester (Note: International Students are exempt from this requirement)
  • Do not need to be a Minnesota resident. International students are also eligible to apply.
  • Must have Minnesota West listed as their home/primary institution if attending multiple institutions. Students may only receive emergency funding at their home/primary institution.
What types of expenses are covered?
  • Immediate student needs caused by unforeseen financial emergencies related to:
    • Emergency housing or utility costs
    • Medical expenses
    • Food insecurity
    • Transportation needs
    • Other urgent financial needs
What types of expenses are NOT covered?
  • Academic-related expenses, such as tuition, fees, books, and program-required tools/equipment
  • Routine living expenses (e.g., rent, utilities, groceries) unless due to a documented emergency
  • Credit card debt or loan repayments
  • Costs related to entertainment or leisure activities
  • Expenses already covered by financial aid or other support programs
  • Non-essential technology upgrades (e.g., purchasing a new phone, gaming device)
  • Travel unrelated to academic or emergency needs
  • Expected or chronic financial costs
How do I apply?
  • To access the application, you will need to log in to your D2L account. The Beam Emergency Fund application link will be available on the right-hand side of your D2L homepage in the “Help at Minnesota West” box.
  • After clicking the link, you will need to create an account on the Beam portal using your school email address (firstname.lastname@live.mnwest.edu).
  • Complete the online Beam Emergency Fund application, including the required explanation of your situation and supporting documentation.
  • To ensure your application is reviewed, you must include a clear explanation of your situation in the “Additional Information” space, along with uploaded supporting documentation. Applications submitted without explanation and documentation will be denied without review.
  • The amount of aid you request must match the supporting documentation submitted for your unexpected financial hardship.
What information is required?
  • Minnesota West student email address (firstname.lastname@live.mnwest.edu)
  • StarID (xx9999zz) and Minnesota West Tech ID (8-digit number)
  • Explanation of unexpected financial hardship, including any other sources of funding you have attempted to obtain to assist.
  • Proof of financial hardship (e.g., bills, eviction notice, medical invoice, repair estimate)
  • Any additional documentation or receipts to support your explanation
When will I hear back?
  • Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. You will be contacted via your Minnesota West student email regarding the status of your application.
Who can I contact for help or if I have questions?

FAQs

You will not be approved for emergency funding if you have unused financial aid benefits available to you. One of the eligibility requirements is that students must have exhausted all of their financial aid eligibility for the current semester. This eligibility requirement does not apply to International Students, since they are not eligible for financial aid.

Emergency funding will not be approved to cover your on-campus housing expenses unless your on-campus housing is the result of an unforeseen circumstance or emergency.

Emergency funding will not be approved to cover routine or expected expenses such as books and supplies for your courses. However, if there was an emergency related to these expenses, emergency funding may be appropriate as it was an unforeseen circumstance.

Emergency funding is intended to assist students with unexpected financial hardships. If the situation is ongoing and no longer considered unforeseen, it would not fall under this emergency fund eligibility. If you have questions about your specific situation, please contact the coordinators for clarification.

Additional Resources

Minnesota West’s Beam Emergency Fund is designed to support students in navigating unforeseen financial hardship. However, a student’s situation may sometimes require more assistance than what these funds can provide.

Below are additional college and community resources you may find helpful:

United Way 211
    • Provides free and confidential health and human services information
Food
Childcare
Housing
Legal Resources
Transportation
Finance and Employment
Technology Support
    • Student Laptop Checkout
Mental Health & Wellness