Smith Students’ Aid Society
The Smith Students’ Aid Society (SSAS) provides assistance to Smith College students with grants and emergency funds to enhance the quality of their educational experiences. Funds are available for interterm and spring break trips and summer study, as well as for textbooks and art materials that help students participate fully in the opportunities available at Smith. SSAS also offers emergency and medical funds, as well as funds for certain financial needs beyond Smith.
Available Grants
Smith Students’ Aid Society grants are available to any undergraduate student at Smith experiencing financial need. The grants are subsidies meant to help with a need, and each category has specific guidelines that must be followed when making a request. SSAS strives to help as many students as possible; however, funds are limited and not all requests can be approved. Priority is given to those who have not previously received a grant in that category.
Eligible Expenses
Smith expects students to budget for their textbooks. If costs exceed budgeted allowance or an emergency situation has impacted a student's available funds, they may apply for aid from SSAS.
Selection
Application deadline is the end of the fourth week of classes. Review of applications typically begins two weeks before the start of the semester. Students may apply only once per academic year.
Application Instructions
Textbook grants are coordinated with the dean of the college.
Students may receive funding only once per academic year.
To apply for textbook funding, please select the “Textbook funding” option on the Academic Funding form on the Smith Social Network. Please note that you must be signed in with your Smith credentials on the Social Network to gain access to the form.
Eligible Expenses
Eligible expenses for medical emergency funds include unreimbursed emergency costs, such as medical and dental expenses, travel, eyeglasses, emergency housing and food provided on campus over breaks, emergency childcare, computer repair, and winter clothes. These funds are available for partial reimbursement of emergency expenses, with a limit of $400 towards eye care.
Application Instructions
Bills for all expenses must accompany the application unless special permission is given by SSAS; please send an email to the Office of the Dean of the College at docemail@smith.edu.
Please select the Emergency Funding Application on the Smith Social Network. Please note that you must be signed in with your Smith credentials on the Social Network to gain access to the form.
Eligible Expenses
Fine arts supplies grants apply to all Smith students in financial need and enrolled in a qualifying fine arts course (art, dance, music, film studies, or theater). Decisions for funding are made by faculty in the art department.
Application Instructions
Proof of registration must accompany application. The deadline to apply is the last day on which a student may enroll in a fine arts class each semester. Late requests are not considered.
Submit Application
To apply for fine arts funding, please select the “Fine Arts Supplies funding” option on the Academic Funding Application on the Smith Social Network. Please note that you must be signed in with your Smith credentials on the Social Network to gain access to the form.
Eligible Expenses
Grants for noncredit and credit-bearing programs and travel are available to all Smith undergraduate students in financial need.
Eligible expenses include:
- unreimbursed fees or costs associated with trips
- programs for credit-bearing courses offered or accepted for credit by Smith and not covered by financial aid
Please note: Funds cannot be awarded for athletic trips. Credit-bearing courses also need to be pre-approved for transfer credit by the Registrar’s Office.
International Students
Fourteen to 30 percent of grant total is withheld for tax purposes. Awards cannot be adjusted to cover this. You need to pay the difference. Make sure you file a tax return for possible refund.
Application Instructions
You must include:
- a complete budget, including your own contribution towards the activity for which you are requesting aid
- a complete description of the activity
Submit Application
SSAS Application for Financial Assistance
The application deadlines are November 15 (interterm) and February 15 (spring break). Decisions will be made within 2 weeks after the deadline. The Class Deans office will decide on funding.
Eligible Expenses
Grants for noncredit and credit-bearing programs and travel are available to all Smith undergraduate students in financial need.
Eligible expenses include:
- unreimbursed fees or costs associated with trips
- programs for credit-bearing courses offered or accepted for credit by Smith and not covered by financial aid
Please note: Funds cannot be awarded as a supplement to Praxis funding. Credit-bearing courses also need to be pre-approved for transfer credit by the Registrar’s Office.
Selection
Students with credit shortages get preference in funding for summer school unless that shortage is the result of an acceleration plan.
International Students
Fourteen to 30 percent of grant total is withheld for tax purposes. Awards cannot be adjusted to cover this. You need to pay the difference. Make sure you file a tax return for possible refund.
Application Instructions
You must include:
- a complete budget, including your own contribution towards the activity for which you are requesting aid
- a complete description of the activity
Submit Application
SSAS Application for Financial Assistance
The application deadline is April 15. Decision will be made within two weeks of the deadline. The Class Deans office will decide on funding.
Eligible Expenses
Smith seniors in financial need are eligible for one-time grants of up to $400 to assist with unreimbursed costs and fees for interview travel and clothing, graduate and professional school applications, required entrance exams, the Alumnae Consortium Program and fine arts portfolios.
Application Instructions
Documentation (receipts, email confirmation, estimate of costs, etc.) is required and must accompany the application or be submitted after approval.
A brief explanation of financial need must be included with the application. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis, so it is advantageous to apply early.
Submit Application
To apply for Beyond Smith funding, please select the “Graduate School Application Process/Post-Graduate Plans” option on the Academic Funding Application on the Smith Social Network. Please note that you must be signed in with your Smith credentials on the Social Network to gain access to the form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to be on financial aid to get SSAS funding?
No, the Smith Students' Aid Society recognizes that with the high cost of tuition many families are stretching to afford higher education. Therefore, we understand that many students who did not receive financial aid could be under financial stress.
Are receipts required with applications for grants?
The answer depends on the grant for which you are applying. In the case of emergency medical funding, SSAS can often pay the provider directly. If the student has paid the medical bill, a receipt should be included with the application. With Beyond Smith grants, students are permitted to supply receipts after approval if they cannot afford to make the purchase without the grant money.
Can seniors apply to Beyond Smith after graduation?
No, all applications for Beyond Smith funding need to be submitted by seniors before they graduate from Smith.
Where should students send thank-you notes for the funding that they have received from SSAS?
Students can send thank-you notes and cards to the attention of the Office of the Dean of the College. Notes can be addressed to the SSAS Board of Directors. You may also send thank you messages by email to docemail@smith.edu. In the subject line, please include the words SSAS Thank-you Note. All thank-you notes are shared with the board at its regular meetings throughout the academic year.
Donate to the Smith Students’ Aid Society
Sophia Smith’s vision was an education for women equal to any available to men. A Smith education is and should be open to women of talent regardless of their financial circumstances.
A gift to SSAS is credited to your class, to the same extent as a gift directly to the college is credited. You may divide your gift over several areas, including a portion to the SSAS.
- Phone the Smith Fund, toll free, at 800-241-2056, option 1. Be sure to say your gift is for SSAS.
- Online using Smith’s secure form.
- Mail the reply envelope that came with a Smith Fund appeal and write “SSAS” in the note space on your check.
What Students Say
“SSAS continues to ensure that no dream or opportunity is out of reach.”
“You saved me once again! Thank you so much for helping me with all those medical bills.”
“Because of your generosity, I will be attending NYU to earn my master’s degree in music education.”