Student Assistance Resources

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Even before the recent surge in gas prices, goods and services have been increasing in price significantly. According to U.S. Labor Department Data, the consumer price index rose 7.9% from February 2021 to February 2022. We know college students may be particularly hard hit and so we wanted to pass along some suggestion and helpful resources:

Faculty and staff at the Gordan Ford College of Business (GFCB) and WKU care tremendously about you and your success! Understandably it can be quite difficult reaching out to a professor or a staff member, but sometimes a simple email can have a huge impact. If you find yourself struggling during these times and do not know who to turn to, you might consider the following:

• Email a professor – our passion is to help you succeed and we want to help remove anything that might be making success unnecessarily difficult.
• Connect with a staff member – the excellent staff at WKU and GFCB routinely mention that working with students is a highlight of their job.
• Talk to your college advisor – navigating college successfully is more than just picking the right classes. Your advisor knows this and is prepared to help.
• Talk to your Resident Assistant (RA) – WKU RAs want to ensure that you have a positive experience at WKU and are trained in how to help.

Financial Assistance:

If you find yourself in a position where covering basic life necessities is becoming difficult enough to keep you from focusing necessary attention on your school work and WKU obligations, then the WKU Opportunity Fund may be able to help. This fund was set up to “provide funding to address a verified need associated with a student’s education.” The funding may be designated for “tuition, course fees, books, housing, transportation, or other relevant needs.” Please contact the Department of Student Financial Assistance for more information: (270) 745-2755 or email them at fa.help@wku.edu – A quick phone call could make all the difference!

Food Insecurity Assistance:

Focusing and studying is hard to do if you are hungry and worry about putting food on the table. Statistics suggest that 1 in 8 Americans were food insecure in 2020. The WKU food pantry is here to help! They offer non-perishable food and toiletries to all WKU students, faculty, and staff. Community members are welcome to utilize this resource as well! All information is kept confidential, and it is a safe place for you to acquire some of the resources you might need. Please contact the Office of Sustainability for more information 270-745-5982.

Personal Financial Advice and Budgeting Assistance:

In many ways success can be greatly amplified by having a good plan in place. This is certainly true when it comes to financial success. The WKU Center for Financial Success offers faculty expertise and peer-to-peer coaching on a variety of topics including:

• Budgeting/Spending Plans
• Debt Management
• Student Loans
• Credit
• Retirement
• Savings Plans

You can get more information at financialsuccess@wku.edu or by calling 270-883-1910.

Mental Health Assistance:

Financial stress is real! The Counseling Center believes your university experience should be challenging and not overwhelming. We at GFCB could not agree more. To help with those overwhelming situations, please take advantage of the resources provided to you below through the Counseling Center. 

• Counseling Center | 270-745-3159  
• WKU #MyMentalHealth resource guide: https://www.wku.edu/mymentalhealth/ 
• Therapy Assistance Online (TAO): https://us.taoconnect.org/login 
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline | 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) 
• National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline | 1-800-656-4673 (HOPE)  

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) 
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357 (HELP) 
• Trans Lifeline’s Hotline (a peer support phone service run by trans people for trans and questioning peers) 1-877-565-8860