WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY Edquity FAQs.

The Edquity app offers a holistic, three-pronged approach to both preempt and support financial emergencies you might be facing while trying to balance meeting your rent payment, paying for textbooks and tuition, and affording food. In addition to the WGU Emergency Funds application, the Edquity app also includes a cash-flow management tool and a “Yelp for emergency resources” to help you find emergency resources in times of crisis.

There are some eligibility requirements that you should know about:

• You must be an active enrolled student at WGU.
• You can apply once per academic calendar year.
• You must have a valid student ID.
• You can apply regardless of your citizenship status in the U.S.

You can find the Edquity app in the App Store, Google Play, or apply for emergency funds online. Simply download the app or head over to the Edquity website and follow the instructions on how to get started. 

When creating your Edquity account, be sure to select Western Governors University as the school you attend in order to access our Emergency Funds application in the “Funds” tab of the mobile app. The application for funds shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes to fill out. You don’t have to worry about writing answers or finding references. The only thing you need is your student ID.

Funds are meant to support those who experience a financial emergency that interferes with you finishing college. You will know within 24 hours if you are approved to receive emergency aid. 

Within 24 hours of completing the emergency funds application within the Edquity tool, you will be notified if your application was approved or denied via the email you used when signing up. You can also log in to the app to check for updates about your application.

At Edquity, we want to make sure students in need of emergency support have the funds and resources they need as soon as possible. To do so, we've worked with Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab, Edquity's Chief Strategy Officer and the nation’s leading researcher on basic needs challenges and emergency funds, to develop an evidence-based approach to determining funds distributions.

After students apply for emergency funds through the Edquity app, all submissions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis using our research-driven, evidence-based evaluation system. The goal of the system is to ensure students demonstrating significant need that may cause unenrollment will receive funds.

Edquity provides options for every student. Even if you don’t have a bank account, you can still claim your emergency aid. Once you’ve completed the process, you can claim your aid.

Once you log in to the app and first accept the funds, Edquity will then start the disbursement process. You can claim your funds via direct deposit to your banking institution. Directly depositing funds into your bank account can take up to five business days. Alternatively, users can claim a prepaid card with the approved fund amount — a digital gift card is available for immediate use, or you may request the physical prepaid card which will take up to 8–10 business days to arrive in the mail.

No. Emergency funds do not require repayment and will not interfere with your current financial funds. If your situation changes, feel free to donate to the WGU fund to support other students.

While every student who applies for emergency funds will not receive it, Edquity and WGU still want to help however we can. 

Please send an email to emergencystudentaid@wgu.edu for further assistance. We also suggest that you check out the resources page on the Edquity app to find other organizations and service providers in your area. The WGU WellConnect program is also a resource for you to consider.

WGU students can apply for Emergency Funds once per calendar year. If you have already applied for funds in 2020, you will not be eligible to reapply until 2021. 

Administrators at your institution cannot view the personal or financial information you submit. They are, however, able to see de-identified, aggregated behavioral trends of students applying for funds overall and general information regarding the usage of resources. They are also able to see events that are being posted on the app.

• Resources: Resources in the app are located both on campus and in the local community.  Resources are conveniently categorized by type of service: Food, Housing, Health, Transit, Work, Legal, Care, and Goods.
• Events: Find and attend events happening near you that have free food.
• Finances: Link your bank account and manage your personal finances in the app to stay on track with your budget.

Students can request a maximum amount of $500 per student, per year. 

WGU offers many ways for students to get the help they need during this uncertain time. The WGU WellConnect program offers students free counseling, legal, and financial services. To gain access to these services, simply call (866) 640-4777. Services are available 24/7. If you aren’t ready to talk to someone but are interested in learning more about the issues you’re facing, visit the WGU WellConnect site. The school code for the WellConnect site is WGU-STU

WGU WellConnect offers:

• Personal counseling. WellConnect offers immediate support for issues from marital counseling to suicidal thoughts. You can follow up with four free counseling sessions with an experienced professional.
• Budget and debt. For students who are struggling with financial issues or are seeking to better manage their finances, WellConnect offers budget and debt consultation services. Thirty minutes per issue are free.
• Legal consultation. WellConnect offers students access to free legal consultation services. Thirty minutes per legal matter are free. If you choose to retain an attorney, you will receive a 25 percent rate reduction.
• Health and wellness. Receive information, resources, and referrals to assist with health-related issues, such as fitness programs, diet and nutrition, smoking cessation, stress management, and chronic disease.
• Family and caregiving. WellConnect can help you find adoption services, housing resources, special needs or educational programs, and care for children, pets, or the elderly. They can also answer questions about parenting.
• Convenience services. WellConnect can refer you to local vendors who perform house cleaning and other chores. They can give you consumer comparisons and help you find reputable movers, electricians, plumbers, and more.