What students need to know about financial aid
With recent reports of federal program cuts, students at Cal Poly Humboldt and across the country are questioning the future of financial aid and how it may affect them.
Morgan McBroom, associate director of Student Services with Financial Aid at Cal Poly Humboldt, answers students’ most pressing questions.
“A couple of weeks ago, there was an announcement from the new [presidential] administration regarding a freeze of federal funding,” McBroom said. “At this time, we’ve been told that it does not affect federal financial aid such as the Pell Grant and student loans.”
Have there been delays in the distribution of federal student loans or grants due to recent policy shifts?
“No, we have not seen any delays regarding the distribution of federal funds,” McBroom said.
What can students do if they struggle to make tuition payments or cover other school-related costs?
McBroom shared that whether students receive financial aid or not, they should visit the financial aid office. The office covers a lot of different resources for students. It connects students with programs like Oh SNAP, the Campus Assistance, Response and Engagement (CARE) office and the Health Services office.
As a liaison to the financial aid office, McBroom can connect students with the cashier’s office for a payment plan or a short-term loan from the university.
What financial literacy programs does the school offer to help students manage debt and make informed borrowing decisions?
McBroom said there are two standard programs that CPH offers, one being entrance counseling and the other exit counseling.
“For students who are borrowing for the first time, we have what’s called entrance counseling. Entrance counseling is an interactive activity where students learn about their rights and responsibilities for borrowing,” McBroom said. “They also explore the income levels for types of jobs that they might be interested in getting into and what kind of income they can expect to earn versus managing that debt and different types of repayment plans. This can be done in person at our office or online.”
Exit counseling happens at the end of a student’s education, and McBroom said they check back in once students have applied for graduation or if they withdraw for any reason.
How is the university preparing for possible changes in federal financial aid policy?
“We don’t know what to expect, so we’re expecting everything. We are in constant conversations with the Chancellor’s Office about what the impact might be on the federal level,” McBroom said.
Are there efforts to increase institutional aid or scholarships to offset potential federal cuts?
“Our sponsored programs and foundation are always trying to collect dollars for scholarships for different grants. Our CARE office works closely with students to try to acquire dollars to help them with their basic needs,” McBroom said.
What is the Middle-Class Scholarship, and how will it be impacted?
“The Middle-Class Scholarship is a California-based aid program, but it’s a grant, not a scholarship,” McBroom said. “It comes from the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). It works as what we call a ‘gap-filler’. When evaluated for the Middle-Class Scholarship, CSAC looks at your entire financial aid award package, trying to mitigate your need to borrow loans.”
McBroom said this scholarship is currently on hold but was notified by CSAC that payments from the fall semester will be reconciled.
McBroom has confirmed that the Middle-Class Scholarship being put on hold is unrelated to the new presidential administration.
What is the Green and Gold Guarantee program, and how will it be impacted?
“The Green and Gold Guarantee (GGG) is a new initiative through the Enrollment Services office. It’s specifically designed for new incoming students, first-time freshmen, and incoming transfer students,” McBroom said. “It adds transparency to what financial aid covers, and what isn’t covered, and how we can bridge those gaps for those students. If they meet all of the criteria, we guarantee their tuition fees will be covered.”
Students that qualify for financial aid and meet the criteria necessary to get the GGG can take advantage of the program, which is one offered at few universities.
To stay informed, students can find the most recent updates about financial aid on the campus website.
