John P. Chesick Scholars Program forFirst-Generation/Low-Income Students
LIFTFAR Program
LIFTFAR was established in 2016 to help low-income students (as determined by their Estimated Family Contribution) deal with costs that arise from unexpected and emergency situations. This includes unanticipated financial constraints associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, including travel costs, laptops and internet access, technology platforms, expanded physical and mental health coverage, and more. Support LIFTFAR and other programs helping students
While the College’s commitment to low-income students finds deepest expression in our financial aid policy, there are often needs that are felt in the regular flow of a student’s life which fall outside the parameters of overall financial aid packages. LIFTFAR aims to help fill these gaps. As of spring 2022, this now includes funding for academic and professional development opportunities that would otherwise be difficult to attain without help.
Following the principle that every student should not merely graduate from Haverford but should thrive during their time here and beyond, LIFTFAR aims to make more accessible the extensive financial, educational, and social resources available on our campus.
Eligibility
Students that have below a certain Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) are eligible to apply for LIFTFAR funding. Eligible students are emailed at the beginning of each semester. If you are unsure if you are eligible, email Julian Jackson (jjackson2 [at] haverford.edu) to find out.
Apply
- All funding is only available for currently enrolled Haverford students during the academic year.
- If approved, students will be issued checks or direct deposits in the amount awarded. Processing time for this is around 7-10 days.
Note: Program Coordinator Julian Jackson works Monday through Friday, and may need to obtain more information before he can respond to an application. Please keep this in mind when applying, and know that he will always get back to you as soon as possible, but that this may take a few days.
How Funding Works
LIFTFAR is funded by generous alumni, parents, and friends who want to see all students thrive at Haverford College. LIFTFAR awards are gifts to students. This means they never need to be paid back to the college. If approved, students will be issued checks or direct deposits in the amount awarded. Processing time for this is around 7-10 days. Students should consult a tax professional to determine whether to report LIFTFAR funding to the IRS as taxable income.
LIFTFAR funds are finite and come from the same pot, so students are typically able to request a maximum of $1000 per academic year to ensure there are enough funds to support student emergencies. We ask that you consider this when making requests and budget for smaller expenses when you can manage it. In some special cases, requests for the year can exceed the $1000 limit, so please still submit a request if an emergency arises.
LIFTFAR now offers two separate areas of support: the Emergency Fund and the Opportunity Fund.
The Emergency Fund
Can provide funding for incidental and unanticipated expenditures that occur during the academic year. Some examples of expenses that can be covered by this fund include, but are not limited to:
- expenses associated with emergency medical, dental, and vision procedures;
- unanticipated trips home due to a family emergency;
- funding to repair or replace a laptop or other technology necessary for coursework
The Opportunity Fund
Can provide funding to support on or off-campus professional development. Some examples of expenses that can be covered by this fund include, but are not limited to:
- various fees related to postgraduate opportunities (e.g., standardized testing and application fees, travel for interviews);
- travel and accommodations for a conference or internship related to the student’s field of study;
- business attire for job interviews
Note: Apply for funding before you actually pay for something, when at all possible. Sometimes we have other resources available to address your request, and it becomes challenging when a large purchase is made before checking to make sure it is eligible.
Why are some things not covered?
- LIFTFAR cannot provide funding for expenses that are included in students’ financial aid packages. This includes but is not limited to: textbooks, course materials, tuition, room and board, and travel that is not emergency-related.
- LIFTFAR cannot support expenditures for athletic gear as that is considered an impermissible benefit by the NCAA.
- In order to support as many students as possible, multiple funding requests from a student in a given academic year and/or repeated requests for the same category of expenditure (such as repeated requests for airfare home) may not always be approved. LIFTFAR prioritizes singular, unanticipated expenditures over on-going, discretionary expenses (such as those associated with living off campus) and is intended for the sole, direct use of Haverford students - not relatives or third-parties.
Need Help?
Please reach out to jjackson2 [at] haverford.edu any time with any questions or concerns. We will be in touch with eligible students throughout the year with information, programs they may find interesting, and any other resources we think might be helpful.