Student Basic Needs and Emergency Services
The Husky Community Meets Students' Basic Needs
We know that life happens and that sometimes you need a helping hand to work through challenges that would otherwise interfere with your ability to be successful at college. We recognize that your basic needs, including things like food, housing and transportation, can have a direct impact on your well-being and success.
Below are some of the resources available on campus and throughout the community.
Quick Links
Basic Needs Resources
Food
Huskies Food Pantry
The Huskies Food Pantry provides nutritious options to students experiencing food insecurity in an effort to support learning, health and student retention.
SNAP Benefits
To see if you may be eligible for SNAP benefits, take the SNAP Eligibility Screening Survey. The screening survey is available to current registered students and requires log-in with your Office 365 account (starid@go.minnstate.edu and StarID password).
Husky Swipe Share Program
This program helps students who are who are facing food insecurity with 25 block meal plan that can be used at Garvey Commons. You can apply for the Swipe Share Program through Husky Swipe Share Form. Students are awarded the meal plans based on eligibility and availability of the meal plans.
Community, State and National Resources:
- Stearns County Food Support
- Salvation Army Programs
- Catholic Charities Food Shelf
- SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Minnesota Department of Human Services
- Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program - Minnesota Dept. of Health
- SNAP Employment and Training / SNAP Education and Training
Financial Support and Emergency Grants
Financial Aid Office
Support students and families with information and resources to financially support your educational goals.
Student Emergency Fund An emergency fund available through the University Foundation to assist current degree-seeking students who are experiencing unexpected financial hardship resulting from an emergency.
Community, State and National Resources:
United Way 211 Basic Needs Resource Hub
St. Cloud State University and Minnesota State have partnered with United Way 211 to establish a statewide basic needs resource hub. The basic needs resource hub provides SCSU students access to basic needs resources and support available on campus and in the community via phone, text, or chat 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
United Way 211 provides free and confidential health and human services information. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to connect you with the resources and information you need. If you’re looking for information about services available in your community for you or a loved one, they can help.
Text MNHELP to 898-211(TXT211) or call 211 (toll free at 1-800-543-7709) to speak with one of their highly trained information and referral specialists. Your call is completely confidential, and they have call menus in English, Spanish, and Hmong. Interpreters are also available for any language.
Housing
SCSU Campus
Residential Life can help you make a SCSU residence hall your home.
Community, State and National Resources:
Transportation
Parking & Transportation
The Public Safety Department handles all parking permit requests/disbursement and parking ticket processing and provides area transportation options.
Community, State and National Resources:
- Metro Bus
- Northstar Line
- Groome Transportation
- Jefferson Lines
- Speedy Van - Non-Emergency Medical Transportation in Minnesota
Childcare and Student Parents
Lindgren Child Care Center
Day care for the children of students, staff and faculty.
Student Parent Support Initiative/Bridge to Community Resources
The one-stop support shop for pregnant and parenting college students.
Community, State and National Resources:
- Student Parent Support Initiative - Minnesota Department of Health
- Child Care Grant
- Get Help Paying For Child Care
- Parent Aware
- Help Me Connect
Technology and Internet Access
HuskyTech
The one-stop center for technology support, training, services and products.
Information Technology Services (ITS)
Manages the University's telecommunication infrastructure, including networks, servers, computers, computer labs and smart classrooms. ITS also provides Web-, application- and multimedia-development services.
Community, State and National Resources:
- Digital Inclusion - Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- Emergency Broadband Benefit - Federal Communications Commission
- Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) - Universal Service Administrative Company
Physical and Mental Health
Medical Clinic
Clinic, immunization, education and referrals are some of the offered services.
Counseling and Psychological Services
Your one-stop location for mental health resources, services and referrals.
Health Insurance Resources
A list of resources to assist students with health insurance questions.
Center for Health and Wellness Innovation
Provides resources to serve the whole student, from academic success to mental and physical well-being. Resources include UChoose, Recovery Resource Center, Healthy Huskies, as well as many other services all housed alongside the Medical Clinic and Counseling and Psychological Services.
Public Safety (320) 308-3333
Open 24 hours a day, working to provide the safest environment possible on campus.
Community, State and National Resources:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call 988 or 800-273-TALK (8255) to connect with someone at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for yourself or for someone you care about. Help is available 24/7/365, and counselors and educators are available to help you. - Crisis Response Team - Central MN Mental Health Center (after hours/weekend support)
- Veterans Crisis Line: Suicide Prevention Hotline, Text & Chat
Confidential crisis support for Veteran’s and their loved ones. Dial 988 then press 1 or text 838255. - The Steve Fund
For young people of color/BIPOC, connect with immediate support through the Steve Fund by texting STEVE to 741741. - The Trevor Project
If you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community or an ally, connect with the Trevor Project. Here, you can reach out to a counselor if you’re struggling, find answers and information, and get the tools you need to help someone else. Phone 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678. - Reclaim: Mental Health Support for Queer and Trans Youth Home
- Mental Health Minnesota - The Voice of Recovery
- Adult mental health crisis response phone numbers - Minnesota Department of Human Services
- NAMI Minnesota
- Granite City Counseling
- The Village Family Service Center
Student Legal Resources
Central Minnesota Legal Services provides free legal help to low-income individuals and families to assist with civil legal issues. CMLS does not charge for legal services. CMLS handles civil legal matters for low income people in 21 counties in central Minnesota. They do not handle criminal problems and will refer clients when staff is unable to handle a case.
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid provides free civil legal aid for low-income individuals, over the age of 60, and/or has a disability. They do not provide legal help for criminal cases.
MN Legal Advice allows individuals who qualify to post a question and get legal advice from a volunteer lawyer. Using the site is free. It is private; only the site administrator and the volunteer lawyers see the client’s name and question. Lawyers can log in at any time and see and answer questions. Clients can post questions and read answers at any time.
LawHelpMN.org connects Minnesotans to resources to help solve legal problems. This resources is supported by Legal Services State Support (State Support), a project of the Minnesota Legal Services Coalition (MLSC), a group of seven legal aid programs that help low-income residents with a variety of legal matters.
HomeLine Minnesota is a state-wide program that offers free legal advice to tenants through their hotline services. Lawyers, law students and community volunteers give tenants legal advice and options for resolving rental problems. They serve across Minnesota and provide bilingual services in Spanish, Somali and Hmong. All hotline services are free and confidential.
Minnesota Judicial Branch Self-Help Centers provide information and resources to individuals representing themselves in court. They can help students navigate the legal system.
Minnesota State Bar Association can provide referrals to qualified attorneys in specific areas of law.
Volunteer Lawyers Network is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to connecting Minnesotans experiencing poverty with some of the top private lawyers in the state at no cost. These volunteers protect the rights and property of thousands of clients every year by advising them at legal clinics, drafting legal documents, representing them in court or otherwise supporting them in their pursuit of justice. The Volunteer Lawyers Network work with partners in immigrant, refugee, Indigenous, faith and LGBTQ+ communities, and programs that serve previous offenders, survivors of domestic and sexual violence, people experiencing homelessness, youth and many more to ensure services are available to the people who need them most.
LawHelp.org is a program of Pro Bono Net, a national nonprofit dedicated to bringing the power of the law to all. LawHelp.org was created to help people without lawyers understand their rights, make informed decisions and connect to help in your local community. LawHelp.org provides referrals to nonprofit legal aid organizations in every state and territory, free legal rights resources, court forms and self-advocacy tools. LawHelp.org includes a network of 20 statewide legal information portals developed using the LawHelp platform.
LawHelp Interactive is a website that helps you fill out legal documents for free. You can create an account in order to fill out court forms and other documents for yourself, a friend, or a family member.
Free Legal Answers from the American Bar Association provides people with low incomes the opportunity to ask questions online and have a lawyer answer them. They will not answer questions involving crimes. You can search for a law school pro bono program in your state using the Directory of Law School Public Interest & Pro Bono Programs.Additional Campus Resources
Identity, Culture and Support Centers
American Indian Center
Supports the educational needs of American Indian students and area American Indian communities.
International Students and Scholar Services
Provides information, assistance, advocacy, guidance and support to students and scholars from other nations.
LGBT Resource Center
Support, education and advocacy for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Queer, Questioning, Intersex and Ally (GLBTQIA) students.
Multicultural Student Services
Academic support, multicultural programming, cultural organizations and social events are among the offered services.
Student Accessibility Services
Support for students with a physical, cognitive or mental/emotional disability. Services include priority registration, sign language/oral interpreting and note taking.
Supporting Autistic Student Success Initiative (SASSI)
Autistic students may want and benefit from specialized supports to be successful in their college career and beyond. In a collaborative and interprofessional way, SASSI provides information to faculty and staff, and offers a support- and strengths-based program for autistic students at St. Cloud State University. SASSI is funded by a Minnesota State Innovation Grant.
Veterans Resource Center
Dedicated to supporting military, veterans, and their families, the VRC advocates and serves all military-connected students to help them achieve their mission of student success.
Women's Center
Advances women across identities and advocates for gender equity and social justice through transformative programs and services. The Women’s Center also provides advocacy and support services for students of all genders who are pregnant, parenting, and/or who have survived sexual violence, dating abuse, stalking, or gender-based harassment.
Involvement and Activities
Atwood Memorial Center
The University's meeting place, student union, and community center serves students, staff, faculty, alumni and the community.
Campus Recreation
Participate in athletic, fitness and recreation activities, from aquatics to canoe trips to intramural sports. Enjoy year-round field sports on the turf at Husky Stadium.
Department of Campus Involvement
DCI provides student opportunities in areas such as student organizations, the Huskies Events and Activities Team, community service, Greek Life and campus programs. Also provides support services for students such as student organization support and recognition programs.
Division of Student Affairs
Manages residence halls and student conduct while championing student needs via the student union, student-run arts and entertainment programming, Career Center and more.
Huskies Events and Activities Team
Events planned for students, by students! The source for events and activities that help students meet people, provide fun things to do, enhance student learning and personal development, and create the “Husky Community” on campus. These campus-wide events include live music, movies/films, performing arts, husky pride and spirit, late-night, student talent, speakers and visual arts.
General Student Business
Business Services
Supports students with questions about tuition, fees, loans and all other University business processes.
Records and Registration
Course registration, grade transcripts, academic petitions, credit transfer, graduation, teacher licensure and more is managed in 118 Administrative Services Building.
Career and Research Services
Career Center
Explore career opportunities through services such as counseling, on-campus interviews, resume assistance and expert advice.
University Library
The University Library offers a wide variety of resources and services to meet student study and research needs. Resource offerings include scholarly articles, books, DVDs, streaming media, archival material and equipment such as data projectors, calculators, cameras and phone chargers. Librarians are available to help students during library instruction sessions, personal consultations and through our 24/7 chat reference service. We assist with fine-tuning research topics, finding and evaluating information resources, creating bibliographies, and more. The library also features group and individual study spaces with and without computers.