Post on 04-Jan-2016
transcript
FINANCIAL AID AND COLLEGE ACCESS
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MEET NCHE, NASFAA, MEET NCHE, NASFAA, AND COLLEGE GOAL AND COLLEGE GOAL
SUNDAYSUNDAY The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) is the U.S.
Department of Education’s technical assistance and information center in the area of homeless education; www.serve.org/nche
The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) supports the training, diversity, and professional development of financial aid administrators; advocates for public policies and programs that increase student access to and success in postsecondary education; and serves as a forum for communication and collaboration on student financial aid issues;www.nasfaa.org
College Goal Sunday brings together financial aid professionals from colleges and universities along with other volunteers to help college-bound students and their families complete the FAFSA; www.collegegoalsundayusa.org
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SESSION GOALSSESSION GOALS
You will:
Gain an understanding of the higher education life cycle
Receive tools and resources to assist unaccompanied homeless youth access higher education
Receive information and resources to develop higher education networks
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BARRIERS TO BARRIERS TO HIGHER EDUCATIONHIGHER EDUCATION
Lack of financial means to live independently and safely
Inability to be financially self-sufficient once enrolled in college
Limited housing options, especially in small towns or rural areas
Struggling to balance school and other responsibilities
Lack of adult guidance and support Lack of access to parental financial information
and support Failure to access available support systems
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THE SCHOOL’S CHARGETHE SCHOOL’S CHARGE
Institutions of higher education first and foremost are educational agencies
Their primary responsibility and goal is to enroll and educate in accordance with federal law, which supersedes state and local law
Institutions of higher education do not need to understand and/or agree with all aspects of a student’s home life to educate him/her and comply with federal educational mandates
THE HIGHER EDUCATION THE HIGHER EDUCATION LIFE CYCLELIFE CYCLE
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ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Issues posing challenges to unaccompanied homeless youth:
Application fees
Transcripts
Addresses
Supplying personal documents
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FINANCIAL AID ANDFINANCIAL AID ANDFAFSA BASICSFAFSA BASICS
Families are expected to contribute to higher education costs to the extent to which they are able (“expected family contribution” or EFC)
FAFSA Cannot be filed before January 1st preceding the
academic year in which the student wishes to enroll For dependent students, filling out the FAFSA requires
income and asset information for both the student and a parent, and a parent signature
For independent students, no parental signature or income and asset information is needed
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INDEPENDENT STATUS INDEPENDENT STATUS FOR UNACCOMPANIED FOR UNACCOMPANIED
STUDENTSSTUDENTS
College Cost Reduction and Access Act Independent student status on the FAFSA for
unaccompanied homeless youth and self-supporting youth at risk of homelessness
Can apply for aid without parental signature or consideration of parental income
Must be determined by: Local liaison RHYA-funded shelter director or designee HUD-funded shelter director or designee College Financial Aid Administrator
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INDEPENDENT STATUS INDEPENDENT STATUS FOR UNACCOMPANIED FOR UNACCOMPANIED
STUDENTSSTUDENTS
CCRAA uses the McKinney-Vento definition of homeless; also includes a student living in the dorms if he/she would otherwise be homeless
At risk of homelessness: “when a student’s housing may cease to be fixed, regular, and adequate”
Includes a homeless student fleeing an abusive parent, even if the parent would provide housing and support
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20112011––12 FAFSA12 FAFSA
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20112011––12 FAFSA12 FAFSA
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THE ROLE OF THE FAATHE ROLE OF THE FAA
FAA = Financial Aid Administrator According to the Application and Verification Guide, if
a student does not have, and cannot get, documentation from a Local Liaison, RHYA provider, or HUD provider, a financial aid administrator must make a determination of homeless/unaccompanied status
This is not an “exercise of professional judgment” or a “dependency override” for youth 21 and younger; this is determining the independent student status of an unaccompanied homeless youth
For the 2011–2012 FAFSA cycle, process independent status for UHY as a dependency override; this issue will be resolved for the 2012–2013 FAFSA cycle
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2011-12 2011-12 APPLICATION APPLICATION AND VERIFICATION AND VERIFICATION
GUIDEGUIDE
Updated Application and Verification Guide released in Spring 2011 Borrows language from NCHE’s Determining
Eligibility brief Student can use the college’s administrative
address as his/her mailing address UHY may be 21 or younger or still enrolled in
high school on the date he/she signs the FAFSA 22-23 = dependency override for independent
status 24 or older is automatic independent status
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20112011––12 12 APPLICATION APPLICATION AND VERIFICATION AND VERIFICATION
GUIDEGUIDE
Provides guidance on verification by FAAs Verification is not required unless there is
conflicting information Permits a FAA to verify the status with a
documented interview Encourages discretion and sensitivity when
gathering information Some information may be confidential (e.g. protected
by doctor-patient privilege) Child welfare reports are not necessary
Recommends consulting with Local Liaisons, State Coordinators, NCHE, school counselors, clergy, etc.
Eligibility determinations may be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education
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FINANCIAL AID OFFICE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT
Having to do more with less
Increased administrative burden
Competing roles
Serving students
Enforcing U.S. Department of Education regulations and policies
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COMPLETECOMPLETE20092009––2010 NUMBERS2010 NUMBERS
Numbers for January 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010, FAFSA application period Total Number of Applicants for Independent
Status – 8,807,210 Total Number of Applicants who indicated they
were an unaccompanied homeless youth – 33,232 (.38 % of total independent applicants) Determined by Local Liaisons: 10,549 applicants Determined by HUD provider: 5,219 applicants Determined by RHYA provider: 10,238 applicants Multiple responses: 7,226 applicants
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COMPLETECOMPLETE20102010––2011 NUMBERS2011 NUMBERS
Numbers for January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011, FAFSA application period Total Number of Applicants for Independent
Status – 12,149,074 Total Number of Applicants who indicated they
were an unaccompanied homeless youth – 33,039 (.27 % of total independent applicants) Determined by Local Liaisons: 13,789 applicants Determined by HUD provider: 9,991 applicants Determined by RHYA provider: 5,659 applicants Multiple responses: 3,600 applicants
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PartialPartial20112011––2012 NUMBERS2012 NUMBERS
Numbers for January 1, 2011 through August 31, 2011, FAFSA application period Total Number of Applicants for Independent
Status – 10,028,391 Total Number of Applicants who indicated they
were an unaccompanied homeless youth – 22,296 (.22 % of total independent applicants) Determined by Local Liaisons: 13,267 applicants Determined by HUD provider: 4,679 applicants Determined by RHYA provider: 3,664 applicants Multiple responses: 686
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SMALL GROUP SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONSDISCUSSIONS
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REVIEWING AND REVIEWING AND COMPARING BUDGETS COMPARING BUDGETS AND AWARD LETTERSAND AWARD LETTERS
Important issues to consider:
Cost difference between institution types
Mix of aid types
Out of pocket expenses
Wise borrowing
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SMALL GROUP SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONDISCUSSION
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CAMPUS SERVICES FOR HOMELESS STUDENTS
7 Domains
Adapted from Casey Family Programs; Western Michigan University Seita Program
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CAMPUS SERVICES FOR HOMELESS STUDENTS –
WHAT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS CAN DO
Create greater awareness among instructors, staff, and administrators Share NCHE’s brief Solicit campus support (UNC Asheville) Place articles in newsletters, etc.
Add page to school’s website (Loyola) Appoint a single point of contact for
homeless students on each campus (Loyola)
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ACCESSING CAMPUS SERVICES (CONT.)
Use education rights posters and brochures so students who fit the definition can identify themselves (NCHE)
Coordinate with liaisons for homeless education in nearby school districts
Create list of community resources Assign each youth a mentor to ensure
needs are met Set up a campus clothing closet and food
pantry (UCLA)
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GOOD IDEAS
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GOOD IDEAS
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GOOD IDEAS
UNC – Asheville Matrix
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GOOD IDEAS
Welcome Packs
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ISSUES DURING PERIODS OF
NONATTENDANCE
Housing Dormitory open Host homes
Adult support and connection Ongoing followup by Student Services Mentoring program in place
Basic needs (food, transportation) Connection to community resources Gift cards (campus service projects)
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APPLYING FOR AID IN FUTURE YEARS
Determining status
Importance of establishing a good relationship with the financial aid office
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SMALL GROUP SMALL GROUP ACTIVITYACTIVITY
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PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER SCHOOL
Planning for loan repayment
Career preparation
Building basic life skills
DEVELOPING A HIGHER DEVELOPING A HIGHER EDUCATION NETWORKEDUCATION NETWORK
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SOME THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
Higher education institutions are newer to addressing the needs of homeless students and resources in place to serve them
The provisions of the Higher Education Act that allow UHY to be determined Independent Students requires understanding of the MV definition of homeless and the process of determining eligibility
UHY often seek access to higher education through school and shelter advocates with whom they have had contact
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ASSIST WITH THE FINANCIAL AID
PROCESS
Reach out to the financial aid office Offer to provide information, resources,
training on homeless student populations Know the regulations with regard to
financial aid for homeless and unaccompanied youth
Ask about resources currently on the campus for homeless youth and other underserved populations
Assist in developing a statewide network
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TOOLS TO START THE CONVERSATION
Poster on Homeless Students and Higher Education (NCHE)
NCHE Brief on Access to Higher Education NCHE Determining Eligibility Brief NCHE-NAEHCY webinars NAEHCY overview of CCRA and template
for making a determination of Independent Studenthttp://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/higher_ed.php
http://www.naehcy.org/higher_ed.html
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CREATING A NETWORKCREATING A NETWORK
Convene a meeting with local stakeholders from the McKinney-Vento K-12 and Higher Education communities
Share knowledge about your area of expertise Higher Ed: Financial aid Local Liaisons: McKinney-Vento definition and
community resources for homelessness Build an action plan for serving unaccompanied
homeless youth that makes sense for your community
Examples of networks: Colorado, Michigan, North Carolina
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HOMELESS-HIGHER EDUCATION
NETWORKING IN COLORADO
SC contacted by staff in CO Dept. of Higher Education after passage of CCRA Act
Presented at each other’s meetings Expanded partnership to bring stakeholders
together and create a systemic way to support higher education access for UHY
Addressed jargon and organizational differences Have SPOC at every college and university in CO Use standardized process and form (NAEHCY
template) 80 trainings across state in 18 months
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HOMELESS HIGHER EDUCATION
NETWORKING IN NORTH CAROLINA
Developed a plan – range of activities
Built on existing connections
Reached out; offered to do presentations
Invited people to the table; created awareness; identified resources each could offer; identified existing systems in place to utilize (newsletters, conferences, regional contacts)
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LESSONS LEARNED
Look for energetic, like-minded people Be strategic – timing is everything! Use data Create awareness of homeless students Build relationships Understand the higher education climate
and culture Be persistent and celebrate incremental
successes
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WHAT TYPE OF CONNECTION IS BEST
Level of shared responsibility for:
Type of Connection
low
high
Networking - info sharing
Coordination – changing services
Cooperation – sharing resources
Coalition – formal agreements
Collaboration• Decision
making
• Resources
• Open, Frequent
Communication
• Long-term Commitment
• Formalized Agreements
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SMALL GROUP SMALL GROUP ACTIVITYACTIVITY
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NAEHCY HIGHER EDUCATION
SUBCOMMITTEE – SUPPORT FOR YOU FOR
NETWORKING Awareness
Development of partnerships with higher education service providers
Education
Presentations, trainings, webinars
Policy
Influencing guidelines and laws
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NAEHCY HIGHER EDUCATION
SUBCOMMITTEE-SUPPORT FOR NETWORKING
Financial aid, UHY, higher education
Meet by phone every six weeks
Working groups
Webinar trainings
Conference presentations
Collaborations
Assistance to state networks
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FOR MORE FOR MORE INFORMATIONINFORMATION
NCHE website:http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/higher_ed.php
(AVG, ACT/SAT fee waivers, etc.)http://center.serve.org/nche/best/higher_ed.php
NCHE helpline: 800-308-2145 or homeless@serve.orgNational Association for the Education of Homeless Children
and Youth:http://www.naehcy.org
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators:http://www.nasfaa.org/
Office of Postsecondary Education:http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/index.html
Office of Federal Student Aid:http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/fsa/index.html
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CONTACT US
Diana Bowman, dbowman@serve.org
Jennifer Martin, martinj@nasfaa.org
Marcia Weston, Marcia.Weston@ymca.net