How to Apply
SVA Alumni Society provides a wide variety of scholarships and awards to students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in all majors. Information about how to apply for select programs can be viewed below.
SVA Student Emergency Relief
The SVA Student Emergency Relief Fund provides emergency financial assistance to support currently enrolled, full-time graduate or undergraduate students who are experiencing acute economic distress.
Monetary support for the program is provided by the SVA Alumni Society and Visual Arts Foundation. The fund is administered by the SVA Alumni Society and must be sustained by continual contributions from alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends of the College.
Eligibility and Application Guidelines:
Applicants must be currently enrolled, full-time graduate or undergraduate students experiencing immediate financial hardship resulting from an emergency, accident, or another unexpected critical incident. The expense must be unexpected, unforeseen, and the urgent nature unavoidable. Up to $500 may be requested. Students may receive one grant per semester, and a maximum of two grants during their SVA career. This funding is not intended to reimburse for expenses that have already been paid or to replace or supplement existing financial aid. If funds are granted, they do not have to be repaid. Those interested must complete the application form. Applicants must complete all questions in full and may be required to answer follow up questions.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Note, the funds allocated for this program are limited. The number of students who can be served by the SVA Student Emergency Relief Fund is subject to the availability of funds.
Due to an overwhelming response, available funds have been exhausted and the application portal is temporarily closed. Please fill out this form to be notified when more funds become available.
Examples of qualifying needs due to short-term financial hardship include but are not limited to:
- Food
- Emergency travel
- Temporary loss of employment
- Theft of essentials including computers, books and clothes
- Art and other school supplies
- Prescription drug copays
- Surgery, dental work, or eyecare (e.g., buying eyeglasses) required as a result of an accident and not covered by insurance
- Travel necessitated by the death or illness of an immediate family member
- Temporary housing needs (such as due to fire, theft, or a natural disaster)
- Loss of child care
The following needs are not considered emergency needs and are ineligible:
- Normal and anticipated academic expenses already covered through financial aid (tuition, housing, fees, health insurance, and books)
- Fines and fees (such as library fines or other expenses mistakenly incurred or preventable expenses)
- Parking tickets
- Alcohol and drug-related offenses, fines and court fees; penalties, fines, tickets, legal fees, or jail bonds
- Funds to pay back prior loans
- Auto, appliance and furniture purchases
- Cash requirements that normally would be anticipated
- Costs for entertainment, recreation, or non-emergency travel, or travel over breaks (Thanksgiving, Winter or Spring)
- Student conferences
- Expenditures resulting from poor financial management
- Phones
- Computer replacement due to negligence
The funds allocated for SVA Student Emergency Relief are limited. The number of students who can be served is subject to the availability of funds. Due to an overwhelming response, available funds have been exhausted and the application portal is temporarily closed. Please fill out this form to be notified when more funds become available.
Questions? Contact alumnisociety@sva.edu.
Alumni Scholarship Awards Overview
For complete information regarding the Alumni Scholarship Awards, including eligibility and how to apply, please click here or visit sva.edu/asa.
Questions?
Contact Miranda Pierce
Alumni Society Housing Scholarship Award
This scholarship is by invitation only.
The intent of the Alumni Society Housing Scholarship is to provide on-campus housing for a student who otherwise would commute from home. The award will cover the cost of on-campus housing for the duration of study at SVA (not to exceed four years). The scholarship does not cover the cost of meals, and all applicants must be able to cover the costs of food and other out-of-pocket living expenses. The scholarship may not be deferred. The scholarship does not cover summer housing.
Please note, eligible Housing Scholarship applicants are pre-selected from applicants already accepted to SVA for the Fall semester, based on the following criteria:
- Incoming freshman (non-transfer student)
- Home address is within 25 mile radius from zip code 10010
- Minimum high school GPA of 3.0 (as on file with the College Office of Admissions)
- Demonstrated financial need
Questions about eligibility or the application process?
Contact: Miranda Pierce