The Dreamkeepers Emergency Financial Assistance program at the University of Maryland is designed to help students avoid dropping out of school when faced with unforeseen financial difficulties. Dreamkeepers can help ease student worries about housing, food and utilities, books, transportation, childcare and medical needs, allowing students faced with sudden financial obstacles to focus their energy on education.

Developed by Scholarship America with support from Lumina Foundation for Education and the Wal-Mart Foundation, the Dreamkeepers program provides students with emergency funding to allow them to remain in school and obtain a post-secondary education. For further information about Dreamkeepers Emergency Financial Assistance, please visit https://umd.dreamkeepers.org, see your Financial Aid Counselor, call 301-314-9000, or visithttp://www.financialaid.umd.edu/scholarship_info/dreamkeepers.php

In order to qualify for the Dreamkeepers Emergency Assistance Grant students must meet the following criteria:
Applicants to The University of Maryland’s Dreamkeepers Emergency Financial Assistance program must meet the following criteria:
•       Undergraduate students in a degree seeking program
•       Registered during the semester that application is received
•       Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress / Good Academic Standing
•       Have a FAFSA form on file for the current school year
Assistance is granted without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, age, gender, disability or national origin.
The Dreamkeepers Emergency Assistance Grant can be used to assist students with:
	• Delinquent off campus living expenses (i.e. rent/mortgage payment)
	• Delinquent utility bills
	• Delinquent Medical Expenses not covered by insurance
	• Food related expenses (i.e. groceries)
Please be aware that proof of circumstances must be provided to the Office of Student Financial Aid. For more information regarding the criteria of this grant please contact the Scholarships Office at 301-314-9000.