Bike on quad

The University Business Office (UBO) administers the Don Gardner Emergency Loan to help students in circumstances beyond their control or unforeseen expenses. For instance, if your car breaks down or you need to buy a plane ticket to attend a funeral for a family member, you can apply for a loan. All current full-time students are eligible. 


Who do I contact?

You can contact the University Business Office by emailing at ubo@jmu.edu, visiting UBO on the 5th floor of the Student Success Center, or by calling 540-568-6505 and they will assist you. 


What is the maximum loan? 

The maximum loan is $1,000. 


How do I receive the loan?

The funds are distributed through a student’s BankMobile Disbursements refund preference. 


How long do I have to repay the loan?

 The loan must be repaid within 90 days or by the end of the semester, whichever comes first. If the loan is not repaid on time, there is interest, but none is assessed during the original period. 

Through Financial Aid and Scholarships you can: 

  • Learn what options for aid may be available to you
  • Apply for aid, scholarships, and grants
  • Manage your aid 

Financial Aid has a lot of great resources and information on the Financial Aid website. You can also contact Financial Aid by emailing at fin_aid@jmu.edu, visiting Financial Aid on the 5th floor of the Student Success Center, or by calling 540-568-7820. 

James Madison University College of Business students and faculty will offer free tax return preparation services to members of the community with annual household incomes up to $68,000. 

You can schedule an appointment at at https://jmutax.setmore.com 

Assistance is available by calling 540-568-7776 and leaving a message or by emailing vita@jmu.edu. 

More information about the program, including what you will need to bring with you, is available at JMU Vita Services.

The Donald E. Gardner Book Voucher was created specifically for students who have a financial hardship and cannot purchase books during the first week of classes. To be eligible for a book voucher you must be receiving Title IV funds as part of your financial aid award and have enough guaranteed financial aid to pay the charges on your student account.

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