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