THE STUDENT NAVIGATOR NETWORK IS A 1:1 ONLINE STUDENT REFERRAL SERVICE THAT CONNECTS COLLEGE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS TO SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES AND HELPS THEM APPLY FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS.

Welcome to the Student Navigator Network in Michigan, a free and confidential program for graduate and college students seeking help with essential, non-academic needs. When you apply below, a peer case manager will reach out to you to help you find emergency financial aid, apply for public benefits, and connect with school and local resources. We look forward to helping you! Please note: this is not an application for cash grants.

To book an appointment, click on the program below closest to you.

Serving Ferris State Univ. Students and Community

Serving Central Michigan Univ. Students and Community

Serving Western Michigan Univ. Students and Community

Student Navigator Network (SNN) in Michigan FAQs

1. What does the SNN do?

The purpose of this SNN is to connect graduate and college students to government, school, and community-based resources in order to address financial and basic needs insecurity, mental health, and overall well-being. Basic needs insecurity includes food insecurity, housing insecurity, and homelessness, as well as difficulty accessing low-cost transportation, childcare, school supplies, and technology.

Our Student Navigators can help students by:

• Determining eligibility for public benefits
• Guiding students through application processes for public benefits
• Helping students secure emergency funding, grants, aid, and assistance and appealing financial aid packages
• Connecting students to community resources including food pantries, shelters, mutual aid organizations, mental health and health care providers, transportation assistance, and industry-specific emergency grants
• Providing information about local, state, and federal policies or programs including eviction moratoriums, Wifi and low-cost computers, bill-paying assistance, stimulus payments, and student loan forgiveness
• Providing emotional support

2. Who does the SNN serve?

The Student Navigator Network in Michigan is currently serving Ferris State Univ. Students and Community, Central Michigan Univ. Students and Community, and Western Michigan Univ. Students and Community.

3. Where does the SNN operate?

This SNN does not have a physical space it operates from. We provide confidential virtual services and support. Rise, our parent organization, is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

4. Who’s behind the SNN?

The Student Navigator Network is part of Rise, a non-profit that addresses barriers to college attendance, persistence, and graduation. These barriers include basic needs insecurity as well as lack of college affordability.