BAUSP seniors on student field trip in 2023
Student Opportunity Fund
The Planning at Illinois Student Opportunity Fund provides funding to assist undergraduate BAUSP candidates (entering sophomore year and above) and MUP candidates with program, life, and unique professional development expenses at times of critical need. Specifically, the Planning at Illinois Student Opportunity Fund serves as a quick response fund to address critical unforeseen student financial burdens and/or unusual professional development expenses such as travel to interviews for internships and jobs.
The maximum award a student may receive during a semester is $1,000.
Award Eligibility
Eligibility for funds through the Planning at Illinois Student Opportunity Fund is restricted to Planning at Illinois students in good standing who demonstrate a persuasive need. Current sophomores, juniors, seniors, MUP1s, and MUP2s are eligible to apply during both the Fall and Spring application cycles. Current freshmen are eligible to apply during the Spring application cycle only.
Individual students may receive an award no more than once per semester, and no more than two times overall.
Application Instructions
Students are required to complete a short application form in which they describe their unforeseen financial burden or anticipated/incurred professional development expenses. The application form is available here. Applications are considered on a rolling basis.
Questions?
If you have questions about the Planning at Illinois Student Opportunity Fund, please email Ben LeRoy at bleroy@illinois.edu.
Thank you to Planning at Illinois alumnus Doug Houston (bio here) for supporting this fund.