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Policy on Auburn University Hardship Fund
In 2018, the Employee Hardship Fund was established to provide financial support to eligible Auburn employees (Staff, Administrative & Professional, and Faculty) who are experiencing a temporary financial hardship due to a qualifying life event. It is funded entirely by voluntary charitable donations. Once the fund raises $50,000, AU employees will be able to apply for hardship funding.
To ensure the fund's solvency, $50,000 must be raised before the Fund Review Committee begins to accept applications from employees. Due to the generosity of Auburn University employees and supporters, the fund has already raised more than $40,000.
Any person or entity is eligible to donate to the Fund. Donations cannot be earmarked for a specific individual, department, college, etc. Donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. Regarding tax information, donors should discuss any questions related to deductibility with a personal tax advisor.
Contributing to the fund is easy, and donors can make a one-time or ongoing gift. They can also share gift credit with or give in honor or memory of another person.
Automatic Salary Deduction - Preferred
One-Time, Scheduled Payments, or Ongoing Gift
The Fund applies to any full-time employee of Auburn University, with a minimum of one year of continuous service. An immediate family member of the eligible employee can apply on behalf of an employee who is unable to do so.
The applicant must not have any disciplinary actions that resulted from violating Auburn University's Personnel Policies and Procedures within the past twelve (12) months. If an employee is being investigated for potential violations thereof, the application will be placed "on hold" pending the final decision. If cleared, the employee will be eligible for consideration for financial assistance from the Fund.
Note: An application form will be posted here once the goal is raised and the Committee begins to accept applications.
Applications must be completed and submitted to the Executive Director of Campus Relations. Financial records, billing statements, and/or estimates must be submitted as supporting documentation with the application.
The Executive Director of Campus Relations will prepare applications for the Fund Review Committee, omitting any identifying information in order to preserve anonymity. Applications will be reviewed anonymously by the Fund Review Committee.
The Executive Director of Campus Relations communicates the Committee's decision to the applicant and, if appropriate, submits paperwork for payment to Human Resources according to established procedure, and follows up to ensure payment has been processed and received.
Taxes will be deducted from the financial assistance consistent with applicable tax laws. However, every effort will be made to ensure the full requested amount will be disbursed to the applicant and taxes will be deducted such that the final disbursement is as close to the requested amount as administratively possible.
Approval is subject to extent of need; satisfactory completion of the application; and availability of funds. All decisions of the Fund Review Committee are final. There will be no appeals process.
Financial assistance applications will be reviewed anonymously and Fund Review Committee members will not be given the individual name associated with any application. Information provided by applicants will be treated as confidential and shared only with individuals directly involved in fund administration, processing, and tax reporting.
Catastrophic community events such as mass destruction due to acts of god (weather, earthquake, and other natural unavoidable events) or other similar occurrences are not qualifying events for which financial assistance from the Fund will be made.
Common life occurrences such as routine car and home repairs, car and home maintenance, legal fees, monthly bills, animal care, and living beyond one's means are not qualifying events for which financial assistance from the Fund will be made. The Fund is not designed to replace all losses or to reimburse the cost of nonessential, luxury or decorative items or services.
Also, financial hardships caused by garnishments, payday/title loans, and student loans do not qualify an employee for assistance.
The Fund Review Committee shall consist of six (6) appointed representatives from each of the following groups:
Administrative and Professional Assembly (2),
Staff Council (2),
and University Senate (2).
A representative from Human Resources (1) will serve on the committee as a continuing, non-voting member.
Committee members will serve three-year staggered terms unless otherwise specified.
Committee appointments will become effective July 1 and expire on June 30. At the initial constitution, two members will serve one-year terms, two members will serve two-year terms and two members will serve three-year terms. All subsequent appointments will be for three years.
Selection of the terms for the initial constitution of the committee will be accomplished by random drawing. The committee members will be selected by the Nominations and Elections committees of each of the three governance bodies through the normal and established process for university committee selection.
Yes, an eligible employee must have one year of continuous service.
(Note: An immediate family member of the eligible employee may apply on behalf of the eligible employee if he or she is unable to do so. Immediate family members include a child, dependent, spouse, sponsored adult/child dependent, or parent. Additional information is available in the Hardship Fund Procedures.)
A Qualifying Event is defined as extreme misfortune experienced by the employee or the employee's immediate family member for reasons beyond his or her control that prevents the employee from meeting basic living expenses. Examples of such events include, but are not limited to the following:
death of a family member;
unusual uninsured medical expenses caused by severe illness or accident;
losses to primary residence (rental properties where the lessor is the applicant are excluded) caused by fire, crime, flood or other disasters except as described in the policy;
unusual uninsured expenses for the care of a family member; and
insupportable indebtedness occurring for reasons beyond the individual's control.
Refer to the Auburn University Hardship Policy for further information.
The documentation will be determined by the reason of the request of hardship funds. Examples may include but not limited to:
Certification of medical condition;
Certified death certificate;
Obituary;
Medical bill(s);
Insurance claims;
Police reports;
Expense receipts; and/or
Foreclosure or eviction notices.
