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Advocacy Support

Loans for Unexpected Emergencies

The Dean of Students Office is currently accepting emergency loan applications for the Fall 2024 semester.

Our emergency loan program provides students with a 45-day grace period during the current semester for loan repayment. This allows students adequate time to secure the necessary funds to repay their loan without negatively impacting their student status. The last day to submit an emergency loan application for the Fall 2024 semester is October 11, 2024. 

Contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid for Special Loan Programs.

What is an emergency loan?

The Dean of Students Office issues financial emergency loans up to $500. Students can apply for an emergency loan in the Dean of Students Office or online by completing the Emergency Loan Request Form and Promissory Note. A Dean of Students staff member will review complete applications to determine eligibility. If approved, a staff member will complete the Promissory Note and send all documents to the Office of Student Business Services for processing. Once the loan has been processed it will then be applied to the student's account.

What are the criteria for eligibility for an emergency loan?

  • Currently enrolled in at least six (6) semester credit hours.
  • Have no past due short-term loans or a history of past due short-term loans.
  • Have no outstanding returned checks or a history of returned checks.
  • Have no financial stops.
  • Have no delinquent university debts.

What is included in a complete emergency loan application?

  • Completed Emergency Loan Request Form
  • Completed Promissory Form
  • Documentation related to your emergency request (see below for examples)
  • A copy of your UH Student I.D. (front and back)

What documentation is needed to verify an emergency?

  • Living expenses – Bills or past due notification
  • Car payment/insurance/repairs - Payment books, statements, estimates, or name and telephone number of party rendering services
  • Medical and dental - Name and phone number of practitioner, appointment confirmation, or bill
  • Rent - Lease agreement or eviction notice
  • Illness or death of a family member - medical records, death certificate, or obituary

Frequently Asked Questions

You may apply for an emergency loan after you have paid your university bill and have been activated for enrollment. The application will close 45 days from the end of each semester.
Unexpected medical emergencies or other unforeseen situations such as vehicle repair.
The loan is limited to a maximum of $500.
Emergency loans cannot be granted for credit card bills, cash advances, or to pay any debt to the University (tuition, books, parking, or on-campus housing costs).
In general, students are eligible for one loan per semester. Extenuating circumstances may be considered for one additional loan if specified criteria can be met.
Students who receive a refund of financial aid already have a reimbursement system setup. Your loan money will be dispersed in the same way. Students who do not have a refund option setup will need to setup a refund option. Students who do not setup a refund option will have a check mailed to their address on file with the University.
Once submitted to DOS@uh.edu, we will do our best to review that same business day. Please know, we have staff available between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday. Requests sent outside of those hours may not be reviewed until the next business day. The processing of loans may take up to two business days to complete before a student has access to their funds electronically.

 

Instructions on completing an emergency loan application:

  1. Download the Emergency Loan Request Form and complete the following fields:
    • Name, Student ID Number, Address, City, State, Zip, Phone number.
    • Indicate if you have been awarded financial aid for the current academic semester.
    • Indicate the amount you are seeking, up to $500.
    • Provide responses to question 1 and question 2.
    • Sign and date the form. You may add a signature to a PDF digitally, or you may print out the form and physically sign it before scanning back to your computer. The University requires a signature on your application, whether it is done as an ADOBE Digital Signature/ID or drawn through a drawing tool. Please see the Signature Help link above. If you are using a mobile device (phone or tablet) please consider downloading the App "Adobe Fill & Sign - Form Filler" to complete your application and add your signature.
  2. Download and complete the Promissory Note. Be sure to complete the following fields:
    • Name, Student ID Number, Address, Phone number, Hours you are currently enrolled in, Date of birth, Purpose of loan, Amount of the loan you are requesting. You do not need to provide nor send your driver's license information. Do not complete boxes outlined in red, staff will do that.
    • At the bottom of the page, please sign and date the form by "Student".
  3. Once you have completed both forms, you will need to send them to our office using the following instructions:
    • Log in to your UH email account. Your loan request must come from your UH account.
    • Compose an email to DOS@uh.edu and attach completed Emergency Loan Request Form, completed Promissory Form, documentation related to your emergency request, copy of your UH Student I.D. (front and back).

Important information regarding these short-term loans

By submitting this loan request, you understand:

  • The approved loan amount will appear as a debit (charge) on your student account, plus $5.00 for administrative processing. For example, if you are approved for a $500 loan, the charge on your student account would appear as $505.00.
  • Emergency loans are interest-free.
  • Please be advised, students who do not pay the balance of their loan back within 45 days of issuance, may have a hold placed on their account and prevent them from registering for classes if they carry a financial balance/debt forward.
  • In the event a student's account is sent to a Collection Agency, it will be subject to a 25% fee of the total balance owed and will be charged a $50 fee to have University services restored.
  • State law requires that you be informed of the following: (1) with few exceptions, you are entitled on request to be informed about the information the University collects about you by use of this form; (2) under sections 552.021 and 552.023 of the Government Code, you are entitled to receive and review the information; and (3) under section 559.004 of the Government Code, you are entitled to have the University correct information about you that is incorrect.

If you have questions before you submit this loan, please send an email to DOS@uh.edu and we will be happy to assist you.