Any registered student who has paid student registration fees is eligible to apply. This includes Graduate, Undergraduate, International, and DREAM Scholars. Students who have graduated are eligible to apply for funding up to one quarter after their graduation date so long as they incurred their medical emergency during a quarter in which they were enrolled. A student has until the end of the quarter following the one in which the emergency occurred.

The Jack Canfield Student Medical Emergency Relief Fund (SMERF) provides grants to students with expenses related to medical, dental, psychological, and optical emergencies. For the purposes of this fund, a medical emergency is a condition, injury, or illness that poses a risk to a person’s life, long-term health, or well-being and requires timely intervention.

Any registered student who has paid student registration fees are eligible to apply. Students who have graduated are eligible to apply for funding up to one quarter after their graduation date if they incurred a medical emergency during a quarter in which they were enrolled. A student has until the end of the quarter following the one in which the emergency occurred.

What makes you eligible?

  • Inability to pay existing and/or anticipated medical, dental, optical, or psychological expenses. The medical emergency must have occurred in a quarter in which you were enrolled.
  • Ongoing financial impact due to recent emergency medical, dental, optical, or psychological expenses. The medical emergency must have occurred within the current quarter or the previous quarter in which a student was also enrolled.
  • Past examples included vehicle/sports/bike accidents, diseases, medical, dental and psychological conditions, and surgical needs.

What makes you ineligible?

  • Housing requests, childcare, school supplies/books
  • Non-emergency procedures (i.e., Braces, Contact Lenses, Fertility Treatments, Lasik Eye Surgery, Gastric Bypass, etc.)
  • Medical expenses for relatives or dependents

Please complete the online application and attach the following documents:

  1. A letter to the committee describing your emergency and any steps you have taken to address the situation
  2. Copies of your medical bills, quotes, cost of services, or any other supporting documents related to the assistance you are requesting

*PDF format is preferred but students without access to a scanner can take a photo of your bills with your phone to upload with your application.

If you would like to schedule a meeting with a member of the SMERF Committee to ask questions or better explain your circumstances, please email financialcrisis@sa.ucsb.edu.

Each amount awarded will be determined at the discretion of the SMERF Committee based on individual situation, financial aid eligibility, and funding availability. The maximum award granted per student is $1,500 per quarter. Students are welcome to re-apply for additional awards in future quarters.

Students with large medical bills can apply once per quarter. Generally, students will only be approved a maximum of twice per academic year.

Students with UCSHIP insurance and medical expenses exceeding $500 are encouraged to also explore the Campus Medical Care Assistance Fund.

The SMERF Committee meets every two weeks to review applications. Students will receive an email confirmation of approval or denial once the committee has reviewed their application. Approved students will receive the grant through the BARC office either through a check or direct deposit. Processing usually takes 2-4 days.

The SMERF Committee is made up of UCSB staff with experience in medical, mental health, and basic needs resources. We have representatives from Disabled Student Services, Social Work, Student Mental Health Coordination Services, EOP, and Financial Aid.

Yes, gender affirmation surgery costs can be considered if the out of pocket expense is impacting a student's ability to pay for food, housing or other basic needs.

  • Inability to pay existing and/or anticipated medical, dental, optical, or psychological expenses. The medical emergency must have occurred in a quarter in which you were enrolled.
  • Ongoing financial insecurity due to recent emergency medical, dental, optical, or psychological expenses. The medical emergency must have occurred within the current quarter or the previous quarter in which a student was also enrolled.
  • Past examples included vehicle/sports/bike accidents, diseases, medical, dental and psychological conditions, and surgical needs.
  • Housing requests, childcare, school supplies/books
  • Non-emergency procedures (i.e., Braces, Contact Lenses, Fertility Treatments, Lasik Eye Surgery, Gastric Bypass, etc.)
  • Medical expenses for relatives or dependents