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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.

Need Resources?

We’ve got you covered. The Common Goods Resource Center helps you find the material and financial resources you need. Whether you’re looking for clothing, toiletries, room essentials, emergency funds or other financial assistance, start here.

Learn about Common Goods

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.

About the Smith Students’ Aid Society

The Smith Students’ Aid Society was founded to help Smith students in financial need with small grants that could bridge the gap between needing to leave for financial reasons and remaining at Smith to complete their degree and graduate. Today, the SSAS provides grants to enhance students’ experiences. Grants also cover emergency expenses and travel home in cases of immediate family illness or loss. Financial support for unexpected expenses can relieve stress and help students focus on their academic work during difficult circumstances. Beyond Smith grants help seniors in financial need with costs associated with life upon graduation, such as graduate school application fees, interview clothing and travel.

History of the Society

SSAS has been in existence since 1897, when it loaned $50 to Otelia Cromwell 1900 to help pay for living expenses. At the beginning and for many years, SSAS was a membership organization comprising alumnae and others who wished to help current students facing need. SSAS is now incorporated [nonprofit 501(c)(3)] and governed by a board of directors composed of alumnae. In 2001, SSAS received a generous bequest and is now able to fund more students and at higher dollar amounts than in the past. To help ensure that grants continue to be relevant to current needs, the SSAS board consults actively with the faculty and staff advisory groups, and with students themselves.

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.”