Graduate and international students who suddenly find their finances in dire straits may be able to alleviate their problems with emergency short-term loans.

Joan Schumacher, director of graduate student financial resources, said loans are available to graduate students who are United States citizens through the Graduate School for $100 to $500.

Students can borrow more though, she said, adding, "(The amount) depends on what the circumstances are and how the student can repay it."

International students can obtain similar loans through the Office of International Students, said Barbara Rayman, financial coordinator for the office.

Schumacher stressed that the graduate loans are for emergencies such as transportation problems and sudden medical expenses. "It's not a loan of convenience. It's really for emergency situations because there is a limited amount of funds."

The loans from the Graduate School are provided for up to 90 days without interest, but must be paid back at this time or else the borrower's registration will be put on hold, Schumacher said, adding that after the 90-day period, 6 percent interest is charged on the overdue payment.

OIS loans are made to international students for a maximum of $400, with up to a 90-day repayment period. Rayman said.

"The (international) students and their foreign student advisers set the due date. Once that due date passes, there's 9 percent per year interest," Rayman said. She added that like the Graduate School's loan fund, a hold is placed on the registrations of students who fail to repay their loan by the due date.

The Graduate School loans are funded by money collected from student parking fines, Schumacher said, adding that about 200 graduates take advantage of the loan program each semester.

Ken Martin, president of the Graduate Student Association, said money from parking fines is divided among the Graduate School and undergraduate student activities, with about 30 percent going to graduates and 70 percent to undergraduates.

Martin said while the undergraduate portion of the funds is used as stipends for officers of undergraduate student organizations, the money given to the Graduate School goes to the loan fund.

"Obviously it's money we believe in because it's money being foregone by some graduate students to give to other graduate students," he added.

About 2,000 international students -- about 80 percent of whom are graduate students -- are enrolled at the University's campuses, Rayman said.

Students are only eligible to receive loans from either the Graduate School or OIS if they are registered and classes are in session, she said.

International student loans are made from two similar funds: the International Fund and the Lagovin Fund, Rayman said.

The total amount of money in both international student funds is $38,000, Rayman said.

However, Rayman said more money is needed in the international student loan funds because "We have had an increase in the number of students, but not a proportional increase in the amount of loan funds -- so it's stretching further and further."