Resources

Faculty and Staff Referral

Financial DIStress and Basic Needs Support

An increasing number of college students are facing financial stress, significantly impacting their academic success, mental health, and overall well-being. The University of South Florida (USF) is committed to helping these students by connecting them with essential university and community support services designed to alleviate financial burdens.

The assistance provided can cover a wide array of needs, including but not limited to:

  • Emergency housing or rent assistance
  • Medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance
  • Books and academic supplies
  • Transportation costs related to family emergencies

Deciding to Refer

The decision to refer a student is a difficult one and there is no clear formula appropriate for all situations. We recommend asking the student if you may make a referral to the Stay Afloat Emergency Fund Committee on their behalf.  While Stay Afloat Emergency Fund is available to USF St. Petersburg undergraduate or graduate students who are unable to meet unexpected, unforeseen, and unavoidable expenses, there may be funds available to support Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee students. We will make sure your referral gets to the appropriate resource. The goal is to help prevent one emergency or unexpected expense from jeopardizing a student’s academic journey.

The Faculty and Staff Referral is a simple way for us to reach out to your student to offer help. If you heard the information second-hand from another student, please ask the concerned student to refer their friend directly to the Stay Afloat Emergency Fund web page. The goal of the Stay Afloat Emergency Fund is to offer a safety net that prevents temporary financial setbacks from derailing a student's academic progress. 

Referral Process

  1. Send an email to a member of the Stay Afloat Emergency Fund Committee at STP-StayAfloat@usf.edu.
  2. In the subject line heading: “Referral: Stay Afloat”
  3. In the body of the email, please include:
    1. the student’s USF ID number, if known (or USF email if ID unknown);
    2. first and last name; and
    3. a brief summary of the financial emergency the student discussed with you. (Again, this is a way to provide a friendly hand-off to those who can assist the student with financial emergencies.)
  4. The Committee will acknowledge receipt of the referral promptly and may contact the referrer for additional information if necessary to better assist the student. It is important to note that all communications regarding the referral and subsequent actions are conducted with the utmost respect for student confidentiality, underscoring the program's commitment to maintaining the privacy and dignity of all students. 

Thank you again for your continued support of the success of our students in need!

We Care about our Bulls!

The Stay Afloat Emergency Fund Committee

Please contact Laura Zuppo, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Success, at LZuppo@usf.edu, for questions.