Office of Financial Aid doing more case-by-case evaluations for students
By Jessie Hethcoat
As the 2009-2010 school year approaches, the economic crisis has taken on a new role in the Office of Financial Aid. Nationally, the recession has a larger impact on public colleges than private.
However, the Office of Financial Aid at UP maintains that the University still takes responsibility to aid the students who have been affected by the recession.
They do so by making available case-by-case evaluations of students who feel as though their financial needs have not ?been covered by their FAFSA forms.
Students, as before, are not allowed to negotiate their financial aid package, but the office does evaluate individual situations when they are proposed to the office.
There has been discretionary aid in the past, but there is ?much more of this year than ever.
Special circumstances for additional aid include involuntary loss of a job, loss of income, unreimbursed medical expenses and private elementary or secondary school tuition paid for a sibling.
Financial Aid Director Janet Turner said that no changes have been made to UP's financial aid program because of the recession, but individual assessments for special cases have been greatly increased.
When the Office ?of Financial Aid makes a recommendation for additional institutional aid after considering a special circumstance, those recommendations are forwarded to the administration.
Many students are unaware that this service is available.
When asked her opinion on the topic, freshman Megan ?Drouhard was surprised that she was even allowed to ask ?her package to be reconsidered.
"I thought I did a reasonable amount of research when it came to my college financing, but I thought that my FAFSA results were the final say," Drouhard said.
"I think that the Financial Aid office needs to make it more clear that students can ask to ?be reevaluated because I don't?think my aid ?package completely covers my family's need," Drouhard ?said.
Students like Drouhard are frustrated that UP cannot cater to their financial situations.
However, Turner explained that UP is doing all it can to help students to afford their education.
Sophomore Andrew Hudak feels like his financial aid package does not reflect the financial needs of his family.
"I feel like I'm going to be paying off student loans until I retire," Hudak said. "I know that I made the choice to attend an expensive private university, but I just wish there was something more that they could do to help us afford such a costly education."
"We are trying to be compassionate to our students because we understand that the economy has affected many," Turner said.
The Office of Financial Aid is looking at some institutional funds - which are highly discretionary.
The Office of Financial Aid attempts to help the University both "recruit and retain" students, Turner said.
In only her fifth month of working for UP, Turner came from working at a financial aid office in a community college in Washington.
There, she said, the ?recession has been far more hard-hitting.
In the case of community colleges, they are experiencing a much higher enrollment of non-traditional students, adults going back to work because of unemployment.
However, these colleges ?are not receiving the ?necessary funds from the government.
As a private school, Turner said, the many of students come from more favorable financial situations.
At a private school, students and their families are more likely to be able to afford tuition. Because of this, the recession has been less present at colleges like UP.
According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, the recession has become an apparent problem for colleges.
Both students and colleges without proper funding present what combines to be a large problem.
Turner, however, ensures that the recession has not hit UP as hard as many other public institutions.
