Student Emergency Assistance Grant (SEAG) Program

Student Emergency Assistance Grant (SEAG) program information for students

Student Emergency Assistance Grant (SEAG) Program

The Washington State Legislature established the Student Emergency Assistance Grant (SEAG) Program through the passage of 2SHB 1893 during the 2019 legislative session. The SEAG Program allows community and technical colleges to provide monetary assistance to students experiencing unforeseen emergencies or situations that affect the student's ability to remain enrolled in their classes.

All colleges that administer SEAG Program funding to students must:

ensure that students' access to emergency aid funds will be as low barrier as possible and will not require the student to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to receive emergency funds;
allow flexibility in who may apply for funds, and include students who may not necessarily meet the RCW 28B.92.030 definition of "student with financial need" but who may be experiencing emergency situations, and;
indicate how the colleges will prioritize the disbursement of emergency aid funds.

SEAG Program Legislative Reporting Requirements

The college board shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature beginning December 1, 2020, and each December 1st thereafter. At a minimum, the report must: (a) Identify the community and technical colleges receiving grants and the amounts of the grants; and (b) Summarize how the community and technical colleges distributed funds to students, and provide the number of students, the amounts, and the emergency conditions for which funds were granted.