Spring 2019
Committee:
Legislative Affairs Committee
WHEREAS, California Community College students’ total costs of attendance can exceed $21,000 annually even with comparatively low fees; even after grant aid many low-income students attending California community colleges would have to work more than 30 hours per week to cover total college costs;
WHEREAS, for students who need to borrow, federal student loans are the safest and most affordable form of borrowing with consumer protections and benefits including fixed interest rates, Income-Driven Repayment plans, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness;
WHEREAS, California Community Colleges enrolling more than 100,000 students continue to choose not to make federal student loans available to any of their students; and
WHEREAS, without access to federal student loans students may instead turn to riskier forms of debt like credit cards or private loans, or work excessive hours to cover college costs; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for financial aid that supports college access and success;
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges affirm that students deserve a full range of choices when it comes to making decisions about how to finance college;
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges urges all California Community Colleges to make federal student loans available to their students by participating in the federal student loan program; and
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges urges the Legislature, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, and the California Community Colleges to provide resources to support financial education for students, including information about federal student loans, repayment options, and default prevention.
WHEREAS, for students who need to borrow, federal student loans are the safest and most affordable form of borrowing with consumer protections and benefits including fixed interest rates, Income-Driven Repayment plans, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness;
WHEREAS, California Community Colleges enrolling more than 100,000 students continue to choose not to make federal student loans available to any of their students; and
WHEREAS, without access to federal student loans students may instead turn to riskier forms of debt like credit cards or private loans, or work excessive hours to cover college costs; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for financial aid that supports college access and success;
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges affirm that students deserve a full range of choices when it comes to making decisions about how to finance college;
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges urges all California Community Colleges to make federal student loans available to their students by participating in the federal student loan program; and
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges urges the Legislature, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, and the California Community Colleges to provide resources to support financial education for students, including information about federal student loans, repayment options, and default prevention.
Status
High-legislative priority