Graduate Policies

Resources are available to assist graduate students who experience financial hardships or mental health issues. These resources are listed below.

Financial Hardship

Graduate College Emergency Loans - The Graduate College offers emergency loans of up to $1,000 to graduate students in need. To apply, email Cindy Rechsteiner.

University of Delaware’s Student Crisis Fund – UD’s Student Crisis Fund supports eligible students who face a serious financial hardship due to unanticipated crisis. Situations are considered on a case-by-case basis and may eliminate unforeseen barriers to students’ persistence at UD such as food or home insecurity, travel costs related to a sudden death or illness in the immediate family, out-of-pocket medical costs, or replacement of personal belongings due to fire, natural disaster, or theft.

To apply, complete the application form. For assistance, contact the Dean of Students office: at 302-831-8939 or DeanofStudents@udel.edu.

Blue Hen Bounty Food Pantry - Blue Hen Bounty is a student-run food pantry that provides supplemental nutrition to all UD students in need of this support. Blue Hen Bounty is located at St. Thomas's Episcopal Church at 276 South College Avenue and is open by appointment Monday-Thursday 9-12 pm.

Special Support for International Students - International students and scholars can seek financial assistance in the form of emergency assistance funds, local food aid support and free/discounted services. Please note that international students should not apply for or receive certain public benefits from federal, state, county or local public service agencies, as doing so may jeopardize your non-immigrant status in the U.S.

Special Support from Academic Programs – Some UD academic programs offer program-specific emergency grants/funding. For additional information, contact the director of your program of study.

Mental Health

UD’s Center for Counseling & Student Development fosters student learning by promoting psychological wellbeing so that students can be more successful in their academic, personal, and career pursuits. The activities and programs of the Center are intended to help with one or more of the following:

reducing psychological symptoms
coping with life events and developmental tasks
improving interpersonal skills and relationships
increasing self-knowledge and problem-solving ability

Essential to the Center’s mission is promoting equality and respect for individual and cultural differences. Consultation services are available to the entire University community, whether to enhance student wellbeing, to increase the understanding of student culture, or to improve the ability of faculty and staff to meet student needs.

To connect with CCSD, call 302-831-2141 during business hours, or call the UD Helpline at 302-831-1001, which is available 24 hours a day for any student in need. If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.