Spring 2015
Committee:
Equitable Practices Committee
Whereas, Many self supporting students are limited in their access to various forms of financial assistance due to the unwarranted dependant status in accordance with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) requirements, and the narrow process offered to qualify for dependency override;
Whereas, The independent age to receive federal financial aid currently stands at 24, denying students who financially support themselves, but do not fall under the special circumstances listed on FAFSA form sheet for independent status, access to financial aid as it is based on parent(s)/guardian(s) income rather than individual student merit; and
Whereas, The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) granted that students whose parent(s)/guardian(s) refuse support, making them ineligible for dependency override, may still receive unsubsidized Stafford loans, while many California Community Colleges do not offer these loans in order to avoid the risk of student loan defaults, therefore excluding financial opportunities from “dependent,” self-supporting students; therefore
Resolved, That the Student Senate of California Community Colleges advocates that no student should be denied access to education regardless of the income status of their parent(s)/guardian(s), when the student is financially solvent and independent financially, age notwithstanding;
Resolved, That the Student Senate of California Community Colleges encourages FAFSA to lower the independent age to 21, to allow these students who do financially support themselves greater access to financial assistances for education; and
Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges acknowledges that financial aid in the form of loans are not measures that focus first and foremost on the learner; and advocate against endorsements of legislative bills or administrative decisions that push students towards getting loans.
Whereas, The independent age to receive federal financial aid currently stands at 24, denying students who financially support themselves, but do not fall under the special circumstances listed on FAFSA form sheet for independent status, access to financial aid as it is based on parent(s)/guardian(s) income rather than individual student merit; and
Whereas, The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) granted that students whose parent(s)/guardian(s) refuse support, making them ineligible for dependency override, may still receive unsubsidized Stafford loans, while many California Community Colleges do not offer these loans in order to avoid the risk of student loan defaults, therefore excluding financial opportunities from “dependent,” self-supporting students; therefore
Resolved, That the Student Senate of California Community Colleges advocates that no student should be denied access to education regardless of the income status of their parent(s)/guardian(s), when the student is financially solvent and independent financially, age notwithstanding;
Resolved, That the Student Senate of California Community Colleges encourages FAFSA to lower the independent age to 21, to allow these students who do financially support themselves greater access to financial assistances for education; and
Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges acknowledges that financial aid in the form of loans are not measures that focus first and foremost on the learner; and advocate against endorsements of legislative bills or administrative decisions that push students towards getting loans.
Status
Ongoing