Document Type
Doctor of Education Capstone
Original Publication Date
2026
Date of Submission
May 2026
Abstract
For many college students, unanticipated financial expenses such as medical bills, transportation failures, or housing insecurity pose immediate threats to academic persistence and overall well-being. Literature has demonstrated student emergency funding can mitigate financial stress and support persistence; however, literature has been limited in examining how institutional structures, communication practices, funding models, and eligibility systems shape equitable access to these resources. This mixed-methods study examined the Virginia Commonwealth University Office of Student Advocacy’s Student Emergency Fund (SEF) and the systemic factors that influenced its effectiveness in supporting students experiencing short-term financial hardship. Guided by the financial stress theory, theory of change, and improvement science frameworks, the study integrated survey data, semistructured interviews, and historical institutional records to examine the relationship between emergency funding, student persistence, academic continuity, and perceived well-being. Findings indicated, although SEF awards provided meaningful short-term financial relief, students’ abilities to benefit from the program were constrained by limited institutional communication, inconsistent promotion, unclear eligibility criteria, and the absence of sustainable funding mechanisms. These structural and operational barriers contributed to inequitable awareness of and access to emergency financial assistance across the broader student population.
The study concluded with four evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the SEF’s capacity to support student stability and persistence: (a) develop a sustainable and diversified funding strategy; (b) implement clear, consistent, and student-centered communication and promotion; (c) streamline eligibility and application pathways to reduce procedural burden; and (d) enhance program evaluation through systematic data collection and feedback loops. Together, these recommendations outlined a more inclusive, transparent, and sustainable model of emergency financial aid.
Rights
© The Authors