State funding reduces financial aid

Due to another wave of statewide budget cuts, Kelvin Francois, director of Office Student Financial Aid and Scholarships is altering the financial aid policy and procedures significantly.

Francois, whose busy schedule wouldn't permit an interview, issued an official notice to all students expecting to receive financial aid stating revisions to the financial aid process.

Though the effects will take place during the upcoming summer and fall 2011 semesters, students are already feeling the impacts of the recent events.

Due to the uncertainty of exactly how much money the university will receive from federal aid, award letters cannot be allocated until June.

Due to these uncertainties, many students say they are hesitant to make plans to return for the upcoming semesters.

Sophomore civil engineering major Justin Linton said, "I'm not even sure if I can afford to come back next semester. I heard the state is cutting almost 300,000 jobs. This is serious business and it's affecting people's lives severely. I just don't understand why education is going to be hit the worst out of all of this."

Earlier this month the Texas House of Representatives approved a bill approving a massive budget cut to public education and health care, which led to a staggering $8 million deficit to schools across the state affecting school employees, student aid and resources.

A recent bill from the United States Senate Appropriations Committee states that legislature is working to protect national education and health as well as other components affected by the cuts through Sept. 30.

The bill states that "final legislation will not contain a 15 percent cut to the Pell Grant award" that would endanger higher education.

The final legislation also will not allow the proposed cut to Title I education grant funding resulting in the loss of 10,000 jobs and decrease of educational services to 1,000,000 students.

To avoid the misuse of financial aid funds, aid recipients will be responsible for attending class by a set census date or aid will be reduced.

In addition, aid recipients must purchase the required texts and materials for all courses and sign a document stating that all aid will be used for educational purposes.

However, Francois and his staff must wait for Congress to meet in session and reconcile their differences on this issue. Meanwhile, the Financial Aid Office is not the only office making changes.

The entire university is preparing for budget cuts with a 15 percent internal budget cut. If the university receives more money than expected, they project to create an institutional financial aid program to the benefit of students.

Senior vice president for Business Affairs Mary Lee Hodge said, "Right now it's up in the air. We just don't know exactly what is to come, so we are being proactive in our preparation by applying the internal cut. We've even begun implementing small things for example cutting back on the utility bill by keeping the air conditioning temperature to a minimum. Also, we've changed the university font from Times New Roman to Century Gothic because we've learned that it can save $100,000 per year. That might seem little but it will go a very long way. We just want to make sure that we're doing all that we possibly can for the students."

Financial Aid Counselor Joshua Menefee was invited to a financial aid workshop with Brothers Leading and Cultivating Knowledge.

He stated that those students who used to receive aid during summer school sessions would not be able to access federal aid funds for those purposes anymore. Due to the aforementioned budget cuts, the year-round grant will not exist.

Menefee said, "These budget cuts are hitting us hard but there are still a numerous amount of donors and funds out there for students. All you have to do is search and be willing to do what it takes to get the money. There should be no frivolous spending by any students. Any overpayment money needs to be used for educational expenses primarily. The economy is going to suffer and we will just have to wait to see the impact."