Student Access and Support Grants
All students deserve the full Middlebury experience. In that spirit, students are invited to apply for Student Access and Support (SAS) grants, formerly known as opportunity grants. SAS grants are funded by the Seizing Opportunities, Student Support, and Dean’s Emergency funds, as well as Middlebury’s Student Government Association.
Important Updates
FALL 2025: Over the past several years, SAS grant applications have grown exponentially. Due to finite funding and a large number of requests, our policy has been revised and tweaked in order to equitably and sustainably support the most students possible. We look forward to continuing to holistically support students during their time here at Middlebury.
The SAS grant applications officially open Monday, September 15, 2025. If you filled out an application before that date, please re-submit your application on or after 9/15 as the process has changed.
Please read the instructions and parameters below carefully as there are several changes to the process.
How to Apply
The SAS grant applications open Monday, September 15, 2025.
Every student must attend a Financial Capability Workshop BEFORE being approved for a SAS grant. This is an excellent opportunity to be in community and discuss financial planning, including an introduction to budgeting. The workshops are offered:
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Monday, September 22, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
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Tuesday, October 14, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
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Tuesday, November 11, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
All workshops will be held at the Robert A. Jones House at 148 Hillcrest Road.
SAS grants are reserved for students on financial aid (prioritizing students whose expected financial contribution is $12,000 or below, and proportionally supporting students with an EFC of under $30,000).
You can log into the Middlebury Financial Aid Portal to check the status of your financial aid application, view your financial aid offer, and accept or decline your awards. If you have additional questions about your EFC or financial aid, talk directly with your financial aid director (you can find them by your last name here) or email sfs@middlebury.edu.
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Students experiencing dire financial need (i.e. death in immediate family and other family emergencies, time-sensitive legal proceedings, etc.) should connect with the CARE team to learn about appropriate supports and resources and discuss the SAS grant process. You may also discuss with your Class Dean if you are already meeting with them. Students who qualify for an expedited SAS grant must still attend a mandatory Financial Capability Workshop this semester.
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Students with acute medical concerns and/or other health care expenses, including eye exams/glasses, should reach out directly to Health Services at (802) 443-3290. Health Services can help you navigate the often confusing field of medical issues, including outstanding medical bills. Our office and Health Services is working closely together to support students regarding their medical expenses, so please start with them first and they will follow up with our office if needed.
To apply for a SAS grant, go to the CARE Management form and select “Student Access and Support Grant request” from the student report drop down list. Follow the directions for the “Student Access and Support Grant Request” and upload any receipts under the “Document Uploads” section at the bottom. Please email ehammond@middlebury.edu with any questions.
SAS Grant Funding
SAS grant applications will be processed and, if approved, disbursed in two cycles for the fall 2025 semester:
- Any application submitted by Friday, October 17, 2025 will be reviewed and processed by or around Friday, October 31, 2025.
- Any application submitted by Monday, November 24, 2025 will be reviewed and processed by or around Friday, December 12, 2025.
Monday, November 24, 2025 is the last day to submit SAS grant applications for the fall 2025 semester.
- SAS grants are processed as reimbursements and require receipts. Please upload your receipts using the upload box at the bottom of this application. Reimbursements are processed through Oracle, where you can indicate payment by check or direct deposit. Please make sure you are an Oracle supplier to ensure more efficient payment. Here is the supplier/payee self-registration information.
- SAS grants can assist students with many essential and extracurricular expenses associated with life at Middlebury, including (but not limited to):
|
Category |
Maximum Times Funded During College Career |
|
Conferences related to career interest |
Once |
|
Graduate school applications and/or testing fees |
Once |
|
OPT filing fee reimbursement (for international students with financial need) |
Once |
|
Recreational excursions |
First time requests prioritized; funding depends on request frequency and amount of requests. |
|
Ski expenses |
First time requests prioritized; funding depends on request frequency and amount of requests. |
|
Supplemental travel break assistance |
Once per academic year There will be an open call for travel reimbursement once for the 2025-2026 academic year in the spring 2026 semester; any requests made by Friday, April 17, 2026 will be reimbursed by Friday, May 9 (this does NOT include study abroad travel; please see below for more information on study abroad). Please note that your cost of attendance does estimate travel to and from the college once year so this is a limited, supplemental opportunity during a school break. |
|
Technology assistance (only laptops and cellphones) |
Once If you are experiencing laptop issues, the quickest way to ensure continuity in your studies is to get a loaner from Davis Library. If you were issued a laptop directly from the College/Student Financial Services, be sure to check your warranty before applying for a SAS grant: https://checkcoverage.apple.com/ Read more in the FAQs. |
|
Wage relief |
Once There are a limited number of wage relief opportunities for students with high financial need who are taking a J-term course that hinders them from earning a salary; must provide proof of wages lost. |
|
Winter clothing |
Once Check out the Gear Room for outdoor gear that you can borrow from the College at no cost. There is also a winter clothing closet that will be available for open hours by the beginning of October; check back here for updates! |
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I am facing a time-sensitive emergency and need funds as soon as possible?
Students experiencing dire financial need (i.e. death in immediate family and other family emergencies, time-sensitive legal proceedings, etc.) should connect with the CARE team to learn about appropriate supports and resources and discuss the SAS grant process. You may also discuss with your Class Dean if you meet with them for other reasons.
What if I have medical/health expenses, whether emergency or not?
Students with acute medical concerns and/or other health care expenses, including eye exams/glasses, should reach out directly to Health Services at (802) 443-3290. Health Services can help you navigate the often confusing field of medical issues, including outstanding medical bills. Our office and Health Services is working closely together to support students regarding their medical expenses, so please start with them first and they will follow up with our office if needed.
What if I have an issue with my laptop and need a replacement quickly because of my work?
You may obtain assistance with your computer and technology in the following ways:
- Visit the Walk-in HelpDesk on the main floor of the Davis Family Library, Room 202
- Call the Technology HelpDesk at (802) 443-2200
- Send email to helpdesk@middlebury.edu
If you are experiencing laptop issues, the quickest way to ensure continuity in your studies temporarily is to get a loaner from Davis Library.
If you were issued a laptop directly from the College/Student Financial Services, please check your warranty before applying for a SAS grant. Your computer comes with a 4-year warranty that includes AppleCare+ which treats damage from drops, spills, etc. as covered under warranty. Note that batteries are a “consumable” and only have 1-year warranties. To find your warranty expiration date and more information about your warranty coverage can be found at: https://checkcoverage.apple.com. For hardware problems, you may contact Apple by visiting: https://support.apple.com/contact.
After you have gone through all these steps and are still in need of a new laptop, you are welcome to apply for a SAS grant!
Can these grants be used for items that are part of my cost of attendance?
These grants may NOT be used for items that are included in your cost of attendance. Direct and indirect costs are part of Middlebury’s cost of attendance and are factored into your financial aid. Direct costs (tuition, student activity fee, campus housing, and meal plan) are charges that you will incur on your bill and pay directly to the College. Indirect costs (books, course materials, supplies and equipment, transportation to and from Midd for the academic year, and miscellaneous personal expenses) are estimated costs that you may incur that are not paid directly to the College.Please note that any first-year, sophomore, or junior on financial aid automatically has their books covered through Middlebury’s book support program.
If you are curious about your financial aid awards, please reach out to your financial aid advisor at Student Financial Services.
Can SAS grants be used for Study Abroad travel?
Middlebury students who are on financial aid have the cost of attendance for study abroad programs calculated into financial aid awards. Study Abroad cost of attendance incorporates billed costs (tuition and abroad fee) as well as non-billed expenses (housing, food, travel, visa, books/supplies, and personal expenses). If your financial aid exceeds your billed costs, please contact SFS to inquire on a possible advance of a potential refund to help with start-up study abroad costs.
In addition, please refer to the Schools Abroad site for information on Middlebury’s funding resources for students who plan to study abroad. Review this information carefully before applying for SAS support. For example, Go Global, Stay Local Fundingprovides an opportunity to apply for funding for local recreational excursions and activities while studying abroad.
Can SAS grants be used for professional clothing?
SAS grants no longer cover the cost of professional clothing because the Center for Careers and Internships is establishing a program to support students with financial need with professional attire for interviews. Please contact CCI with any questions.
How is payment processed?
SAS grants are processed as reimbursements and require receipts. Please upload your receipts using the upload box at the bottom of this application. Reimbursements are processed through Oracle, where you can indicate payment by check or direct deposit. Please make sure you are an Oracle supplier to ensure more efficient payment. Here is the supplier/payee self-registration information.
Is there a maximum number of times students can apply for SAS funding?
- We expect that applications will differ greatly based on the student, the activity, and other variables. SAS grants are capped at certain amounts that can be awarded for particular categories. Due to limited funding, the SAS staff reserves the right to ask applicants to amend their applications if deemed necessary or deny applications.
- Students can submit different applications for more than one category of SAS funding, but funding is not guaranteed. The SAS staff reserves the right to cap the overall amount of funding provided to an individual student within a semester and/or academic year.