Military Service Fund

Administered through the Office of Veteran Student Services, the Veteran Student Emergency Fund provides limited financial assistance to currently enrolled students facing an unforeseen hardship that could have a direct negative impact on their educational status.

The types of expenses that may be covered include:

• Costs related to medical care such as prescriptions/medications
• Assistance with rent, mortgage or utilities
• Childcare expenses that could cause the student to drop classes
• Car or insurance payments
• Food or gas

The Veteran Student Emergency Fund was established in 2013 as part of a special campaign called “40 Dollars/40 Years” conducted during Saint Leo University’s 40th anniversary celebration of educating service men and women.

Requests for assistance are approved and managed by the Office of Veteran Student Services. The office serves as the focal point for resources and support for veteran and active military students who are attending classes at University Campus, a center, or through the Center for Online Learning.

“Our goal is to get funds into the hands of a veteran student as quickly as possible, ultimately within 48 hours of receiving the request,” says Dr. Coll, director of the university's Office of Veteran Student Services.

According to Dr. Coll, in the spirit of Saint Leo’s core values of community and responsible stewardship, any veteran student who receives assistance from the fund is asked, but not required, to make a pledge to return any unused portion of the monies received back into the fund.

The fund is entirely dependent on donations. To make a contribution, contact Elizabeth Barr, associate director in the Saint Leo Annual Fund Office at (352) 588-8824 or you can make a gift online.

“These brave men and women have sacrificed so much for this great nation in our time of need,” says Dr. Coll. “It is an honor to be part of this program to help them in their time of need.”

For more information about this fund, please contact the Office of Military Affairs & Services at (352) 588-8234.