HARDSHIP FUNDS

As stipulated in Articles 35 and 36 of our contract, the University maintains four support funds to assist bargaining unit members. Each fund has an annual per-person cap:

Article 35: Support Funds

• Medical Assistance and Financial Hardship Support Fund (MAFHSF) — up to $4,500 per member, per year. Covers medication, immunizations, vision and dental expenses, and medical emergencies.

• International Activities Support Fund (IASF) — up to $1,000 per member, per year. Covers appointment-related international travel and other international expenses.

• Dependent Support Fund (DSF) — up to $6,500 per member, per year. Covers licensed childcare (daycare, preschool, after-school), emergency/backup childcare, dependent care needed during conferences or research travel, dependent-care health insurance premiums, and summer/holiday childcare.

Article 36: Leave of Absence Medical Support Fund

• Leave of Absence Medical Support Fund (LOAMSF) — up to $5,000 per member, per year. Helps defray the cost of health insurance through a non-university vendor for members on an approved leave of absence.

The total funding across all pools is $400,000 per year. Funds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis; when a fund is depleted, no further awards of that type are made until the next academic year (which starts in fall). Applying does not guarantee receipt of funds, and awards are subject to taxation.