Program Information
The Sylvia Myatt Student Emergency Endowment Fund provides one-time financial assistance to current USAO students facing unexpected, non-academic emergency expenses that may jeopardize their ability to remain enrolled and progress toward degree completion. Eligible expenses must be unforeseen, urgent in nature, and incurred during the semester in which assistance is requested.
Please carefully review the criteria noted below before applying. Applications for funding are only accepted and reviewed when classes are in session, after the term drop deadline.
The ability to submit an application for funding from the Sylvia Myatt Student Emergency Endowment Fund is solely dependent on the availability of funds. All students who have submitted applications may not receive funding. Please note that the application link will close when funding for the current fiscal year has been exhausted.
Applications are reviewed by a committee of staff. Students will be notified of funding approval via their USAO student email. Funding will be made available in the form of a check in the approved amount.
Due to the overwhelming need of our student community, we continue to fundraise for the Sylvia Myatt Student Emergency Endowment Fund to aid our students. If you would like to make a gift to the USAO Sylvia Myatt Student Emergency Endowment Fund, please contact the Development Office at 405-574-1306 or contact Shelby Hurst, Director of Development, at shurst@usao.edu.
Important Details
- Funding is limited; most awards do not exceed $250, at the discretion of the review committee
- Students may only be eligible for emergency funding one-time
- Not all requests can be fully funded
- Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to the following:
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- Tuition and student fees
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- Campus housing and meal plans costs
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- Health insurance
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- Medical expenses
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- Study abroad costs
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- Parking tickets
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- Costs for entertainment, recreation, non-emergency travel or other non-essential expenses
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- Legal counsel or fees
- Situations that may warrant the use of emergency funding can include:
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- Food insecurity
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- Rent assistance and/or utility bills due to a documented loss of household income or death of immediate family
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- Travel costs related to a death or illness in the immediate family
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- Replacement of essential personal belongings lost in a fire, flood, tornado, or other disaster
- Transportation assistance due to a documented vehicle accident, unexpected major vehicle repair, or other unforeseen transportation-related emergency
- Essential academic expenses not related to university tuition, fees, housing, meal plans, or study abroad
- Expenses related to personal safety or emergency security needs
*Supporting documentation is required to demonstrate need.
Criteria for Consideration
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above
- Must be currently enrolled in at least 6 credit hours at USAO (concurrent and non-degree seeking students do not qualify for emergency funding)
- Must have already completed at least one semester at half-time enrollment at USAO, not including credit hours earned concurrently
- A current year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be on file with the USAO Financial Aid Office. International students do not qualify for the FAFSA application.
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- All available aid, including student loans, must be exhausted (Parent Plus loans are excluded from this requirement).
- Must be in good academic, judicial, and financial standing with the university
Application Submission Form
After Application Submission:
Eligibility will be determined through a review of each applicant’s student account and financial aid history. This review will assess whether the applicant has fully utilized all available financial aid resources, including Federal Direct Student Loans. Applicants who have not exhausted all other available aid options will be ineligible for emergency funding.
Additionally, funding history will be reviewed to determine whether the applicant has previously received emergency funds. Applicants who have received emergency funding in the past are not eligible for additional awards. The applicant’s Bursar account will also be reviewed to evaluate payment history and compliance with any existing payment plan. Finally, the applicant’s current academic and judicial standing with the university will be considered.
Emergency funding is intended to support students in making progress toward degree completion at USAO. Applicants who are not actively attending and participating in their courses will not be eligible for emergency funding.