|
|
FYI
I'm passing this info on that I received from a colleague.
Georgine Materniak
Director
University of Pittsburgh
Learning Skills Center
311 William Pitt Union
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
phone: (412)648-7920
fax: (412)648-7924
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
"Life is what happens while you are making other plans" John Lennon
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 11:19:09 -0500
From: Cheryl Lovell <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: NASPA Public Policy Alert
RELEASED January 22, 1998
!!!!!!!! NASPA PUBLIC POLICY ALERT !!!!!!!!
Attention NASPA members:
On Tuesday, January 14th an emergency meeting of higher education
governmental relations officers was held in Washington, DC to discuss
strategies to combat the recent news of President Clinton's proposal to
eliminate Perkins Loans. Every association is encouraging its members
to contact the White House comment line at (202) 456-1414 and the Office
of Public Liaison at the White House at (202) 456-2930. Therefore, we
ask our NASPA members to contact these offices IMMEDIATELY to express
your opposition to the proposed elimination of this important loan
program. We also recommend you contact your Congressional
Representatives and your campus and local newspapers to inform them of
this devastating proposal.
It appears Clinton's recommendation to eliminate the Perkins Loan is a
reversal of policy previously backed by the White House administration
and the US Department of Education.
We suggest you refer to the attached copy of the Federal Perkins Loan
Program Fact Sheet and a draft letter which would be appropriate for
sending to your elected officials. Please feel free to incorporate this
information into the letters and the calls you make. It is imperative
we express our concern to these officials and that they understand the
proposed elimination of the Perkins Loan Program will have a significant
impact to our students and campus communities.
Should you need additional information or desire to discuss this
important issue, please feel free to contact Gwen Dungy at
[log in to unmask] or contact Cheryl Lovell at [log in to unmask] The NASPA
Public Policy Advisory
Committee is committed to addressing issues of concern to our members
and to the millions of students you represent. However, we need each of
you to also play an active role in this process. Your telephone calls
and letters will make a tremendous difference. Please follow up TODAY.
This proposal can be reversed if the administration hears from concerned
citizens.
Thank you for your immediate attention to this important public policy
alert.
Cheryl D. Lovell, Chair
NASPA Public Policy Advisory Committee
Assistant Professor of Education and Coordinator of
Master's Program in Higher Education and Adult Studies
University of Denver
Attachments:
Federal Perkins Loan Program Fact Sheet
Sample Letter to Member of Congress
"What you can do" strategies list
**********
Cheryl D. Lovell, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Education and
Coordinator of Master's Program in
Higher Education and Adult Studies
College of Education
University of Denver
2450 S. Vine St., Room 229
Denver, CO 80208
303.871.2479 (voice)
303.871.4456 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM FACT SHEET
The Federal Perkins Loan Program, formerly the National Defense Student
Loan Program was authorized by the National Education Act of 1958 and is
the oldest federally supported student aid program. The program offers
-low interest loans to students of higher education institutions through
campus revolving funds. New funds are added to the revolving fund by a
federal and institutional matching contribution.
The program fosters access to postsecondary education for low income
borrowers by providing low interest loans with favorable terms during a
period of declining grant availability.
Perkins loan borrowers are predominantly from lower income families.
Approximately 83 percent of the undergraduate dependent borrowers are
from families with incomes of $30,000 or below. Approximately 25%
percent of these borrowers are from families with incomes of $18,000 or
below.
Perkins loans have a 5 percent interest rate which begins to accrue
after a 9 month grace period when the borrower ceases to be a student.
The loans carry a number of cancellation provisions for public service
through VISTA, the Peace Corps and teacher shortage areas.
>From program inception over $15 billion in loans were made to 10 million
borrowers from the $6 billion federal dollars appropriated for the
program. In 1991-92, according to analysts at the Department of
Education, 654,244 students borrowed $867,800,439 in loans, with an
average amount of $1326.00 awarded per student. The cohort default rate
of 11 percent for the program is low when compared to other federal loan
programs and is extremely impressive when you consider the borrower
population. The success of the program should be attributed to the
central role of the education institution which originates the loan,
counsels the borrower through repayment. selects contractors for
servicing and collection; ultimately tailoring the program to best fit
the borrower's and institution's needs. Perkins is a risk-sharing
program with an institutional match to new federal contributions of 15
percent in the 1993-94 award year, increasing to 25 percent in
subsequent years.
for additional information on the Federal Perkins Loan Program contact.-
Ellin Nolan Judith Nemerovski Flink
COHEAO Consultant President, COHEAO
202-289-3910 312-996-2515
Prepared by the Coalition of Higher Education Assistance Organizations
(COHEAO)
WHY IS THE FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM NECESSARY?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO STUDENTS IF THEY CAN NO LONGER APPLY FOR FEDERAL
PERKINS LOANS?
Without access to a Federal Perkins Loan, many prospective students will
not be able to pursue a post-secondary education, particularly at a time
of escalating college costs. They will be forced to walk away from the
opportunity to improve their lives through the pursuit of their
academic, vocational and professional goals. Further, many currently
enrolled students receiving Federal Perkins Loans would not be able to
return to finish school, consequently dropping graduation rates.
About 83 percent of undergraduate Federal Perkins Loan borrowers are
from families with incomes at or below $30,000. Twenty-five percent of
these borrowers are from families with incomes of $18,000 or less.
Since its establishment in 1958, the Federal Perkins Loan Program has
made a postsecondary education possible for over 10 million of these
low-income borrowers. Since federal legislation places limits on
student borrowing, it would be virtually impossible for them to pay for
college without a Federal Perkins Loan. The alternative, in many
instances, is a PLUS (parent loan) or a private loan. These
alternatives are far more costly and, for certain students, not even an
option because of poor credit history, lack of credit-worthy co-signers,
or
COULDN'T THE FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM SURVIVE WITHOUT THE FEDERAL
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION (FCC)?
The Federal Perkins Loan Program is notable fbr its structure-students
who benefit from access to Perkins capital help keep the doors of
post-secondary education open for those who follow with every loan
repayment check they send to their institution. However, the FCC is
critical to insuring the longevity of the Federal Perkins Loan Program
for several reasons: it covers the default costs which even the best run
programs face; it meets the needs of increased numbers of eligible
students; and it covers costs that allows campuses to best meet
students' needs. The formula that determines campus-specific
appropriations is need-based, with consideration given to prior-year
collections. The true impact of the elimination of the FCC on the
Federal Perkins Loan Program is not just the federal government's
contribution, but also the potential loss of the one-third match
required by school participants. This match stretches federal dollars
and contributes to the fiscal health of the program.
WHAT ARE ARE ADVANTAGES OF FEDERAL PERKINS LOANS OVER OTHER LOANS?
The Federal Perkins Loan Program was established by Congress to promote
access to post-secondary education for low income borrowers by providing
low interest loans with favorable terms (current rate is 5%). Also,
deferments and forbearance can be granted to borrowers with documented
hardship. The loans carry a number of cancellation previsions such as
for public service through VISTA, the Peace Corps and for teaching in
teacher shortage areas. The Federal Direct Student Loan Program and the
Federal Family Education Loan Program do not offer students any of these
benefits. The fact that the Federal Perkins Loan Program is campus
-based is also an advantage for students. The local administration of
funds allows schools to tailor the program to best fit borrowers needs
and to insure efficient operation.
*** SAMPLE LETTER ***
Dear Member of Congress:
The Federal Perkins Loan Program, formerly the National Defense Student
Loan Program, was first authorized by the Congress in 1958 and is the
oldest federally supported student aid program. Over 2,700
participating higher education institutions offer low interest Perkins
loans to eligible students. These funds are supplemented each year by
repaid loans and federal funds that are matched by institutional dollars
(3 to 1). It is this critical capital contribution that we are asking
you to preserve.
Collectively, we represent thousands of students who attend higher
education institutions. As participants in the Federal Perkins Loan
Program, we know firsthand the importance of Perkins loans to low-income
students. The $158 million appropriated by the Congress in Fiscal Years
1994, 1995 and 1997 for the Perkins program leveraged $900 million each
year in loan capital for student borrowers. In addition, in FY 1998,
Congress increased allocations for the Federal Perkins Loan Program's
loan cancellation fired, an indication of increased support for loan
forgiveness for students who serve their communities.
The Federal Perkins Loan Program fosters access to postsecondary
education for low-income borrowers by providing low interest loans (five
percent annually) with favorable terms during a period of declining
grant availability. Approximately 83 percent of undergraduate Federal
Perkins borrowers are from families with incomes of $30,000 or below.
Approximately 25 percent of these borrowers are from families with
incomes of $18,000 or below.
Of particular importance are the loan cancellation provisions contained
in the Federal Perkins Loan Program, that apply to nurses, teachers and
other low-income service employees, who choose to work in disadvantaged
areas. The benefits to these areas would be lost with the elimination
of the Perkins program.
The Federal Perkins Loan Program has made over $13 billion in education
loans to eligible borrowers. This is a program that has stood the test
of time. It enjoys the support of all participating institutions and
its I I percent national cohort default rate indicates satisfaction
among its primary beneficiaries -- student borrowers.
At a time when access to education is increasingly important and costs
continue to escalate, we urge you to sustain critical federal support
for, campus-based student loans and the Federal Perkins Loan Program.
Thank you for your interest and attention to our request.
Sincerely,
*** WHAT YOU CAN DO ***
Call people you know in the administration (Department of Education,
Office of Management and Budget, White House)
Call a member of Congress, congressional staffer or committee staffer
you know.
Prepare a grassroots message for your members to use when they call the
administration.
Organize a letter-writing campaign to the administration.
Prepare op-eds for placement in local papers
The Message
Perkins loans have a unique role in student aid. The additional
resources they provide cannot be subsumed under other programs.
The additional $3,000 available through Perkins Loans gives campus
financial aid administrators the flexibility they need to meet the
special needs of low-income students, by providing less expensive loans
or supplementing federal loans for students whose borrowing needs are
greater than the limits set by the Stafford Loan Program.
Support all student aid programs, including Perkins Loans.
From: NASPA Office <[log in to unmask]>
***************************************************************************
This broadcast message was generated by the NASPA Office using listserve
software. If you have any questions or comments, please
DO NOT select reply in your email software, as this may result in your
message being posted back to ALL NASPA members. Questions or comments
should be directed to [log in to unmask]
***************************************************************************
|
|
|
Archives |
January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011, Week 3 January 2011, Week 2 January 2011, Week 1 January 2011 December 2010, Week 5 December 2010, Week 4 December 2010, Week 3 December 2010, Week 2 December 2010, Week 1 November 2010, Week 5 November 2010, Week 4 November 2010, Week 3 November 2010, Week 2 November 2010, Week 1 October 2010, Week 5 October 2010, Week 4 October 2010, Week 3 October 2010, Week 2 October 2010, Week 1 September 2010, Week 5 September 2010, Week 4 September 2010, Week 3 September 2010, Week 2 September 2010, Week 1 August 2010, Week 5 August 2010, Week 4 August 2010, Week 3 August 2010, Week 2 August 2010, Week 1 July 2010, Week 5 July 2010, Week 4 July 2010, Week 3 July 2010, Week 2 July 2010, Week 1 June 2010, Week 5 June 2010, Week 4 June 2010, Week 3 June 2010, Week 2 June 2010, Week 1 May 2010, Week 4 May 2010, Week 3 May 2010, Week 2 May 2010, Week 1 April 2010, Week 5 April 2010, Week 4 April 2010, Week 3 April 2010, Week 2 April 2010, Week 1 March 2010, Week 5 March 2010, Week 4 March 2010, Week 3 March 2010, Week 2 March 2010, Week 1 February 2010, Week 4 February 2010, Week 3 February 2010, Week 2 February 2010, Week 1 January 2010, Week 5 January 2010, Week 4 January 2010, Week 3 January 2010, Week 2 January 2010, Week 1 December 2009, Week 5 December 2009, Week 4 December 2009, Week 3 December 2009, Week 2 December 2009, Week 1 November 2009, Week 5 November 2009, Week 4 November 2009, Week 3 November 2009, Week 2 November 2009, Week 1 October 2009, Week 5 October 2009, Week 4 October 2009, Week 3 October 2009, Week 2 October 2009, Week 1 September 2009, Week 5 September 2009, Week 4 September 2009, Week 3 September 2009, Week 2 September 2009, Week 1 August 2009, Week 5 August 2009, Week 4 August 2009, Week 3 August 2009, Week 2 August 2009, Week 1 July 2009, Week 5 July 2009, Week 4 July 2009, Week 3 July 2009, Week 2 July 2009, Week 1 June 2009, Week 5 June 2009, Week 4 June 2009, Week 3 June 2009, Week 2 June 2009, Week 1 May 2009, Week 5 May 2009, Week 4 May 2009, Week 3 May 2009, Week 2 May 2009, Week 1 April 2009, Week 5 April 2009, Week 4 April 2009, Week 3 April 2009, Week 2 April 2009, Week 1 March 2009, Week 5 March 2009, Week 4 March 2009, Week 3 March 2009, Week 2 March 2009, Week 1 February 2009, Week 4 February 2009, Week 3 February 2009, Week 2 February 2009, Week 1 January 2009, Week 5 January 2009, Week 4 January 2009, Week 3 January 2009, Week 2 January 2009, Week 1 December 2008, Week 5 December 2008, Week 4 December 2008, Week 3 December 2008, Week 2 December 2008, Week 1 November 2008, Week 5 November 2008, Week 4 November 2008, Week 3 November 2008, Week 2 November 2008, Week 1 October 2008, Week 5 October 2008, Week 4 October 2008, Week 3 October 2008, Week 2 October 2008, Week 1 September 2008, Week 5 September 2008, Week 4 September 2008, Week 3 September 2008, Week 2 September 2008, Week 1 August 2008, Week 5 August 2008, Week 4 August 2008, Week 3 August 2008, Week 2 August 2008, Week 1 July 2008, Week 5 July 2008, Week 4 July 2008, Week 3 July 2008, Week 2 July 2008, Week 1 June 2008, Week 5 June 2008, Week 4 June 2008, Week 3 June 2008, Week 2 June 2008, Week 1 May 2008, Week 5 May 2008, Week 4 May 2008, Week 3 May 2008, Week 2 May 2008, Week 1 April 2008, Week 5 April 2008, Week 4 April 2008, Week 3 April 2008, Week 2 April 2008, Week 1 March 2008, Week 5 March 2008, Week 4 March 2008, Week 3 March 2008, Week 2 March 2008, Week 1 February 2008, Week 5 February 2008, Week 4 February 2008, Week 3 February 2008, Week 2 February 2008, Week 1 January 2008, Week 5 January 2008, Week 4 January 2008, Week 3 January 2008, Week 2 January 2008, Week 1 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 August 2002 July 2002 June 2002 May 2002 April 2002 March 2002 February 2002 January 2002 December 2001 November 2001 October 2001 September 2001 August 2001 July 2001 June 2001 May 2001 April 2001 March 2001 February 2001 January 2001 December 2000 November 2000 October 2000 September 2000 August 2000 July 2000 June 2000 May 2000 April 2000 March 2000 February 2000 January 2000 December 1999 November 1999 October 1999 September 1999 August 1999 July 1999 June 1999 May 1999 April 1999 March 1999 February 1999 January 1999 December 1998 November 1998 October 1998 September 1998 August 1998 July 1998 June 1998 May 1998 April 1998 March 1998 February 1998 January 1998 December 1997 November 1997 October 1997 September 1997 August 1997 July 1997 June 1997 May 1997 April 1997 March 1997 February 1997 January 1997 December 1996 November 1996 October 1996 September 1996 August 1996 July 1996 June 1996 May 1996 April 1996 March 1996 February 1996 January 1996 December 1995 November 1995 October 1995 September 1995 August 1995 July 1995 June 1995 May 1995 April 1995 March 1995 February 1995 January 1995
|
|