Legislative
Update
If you have not yet heard, there
is a proposed amendment to the Appropriation Act (4-2.01)
regarding tuition policy which would affect public 4-year
institutions. Both the House and Senate have proposed
amendments limiting in-state tuition eligibility to the first
125% of the credit hours needed for a student's program, with
the Senate's version also limiting state aid eligibility to
125%. The text of both amendments appears below. A similar
bill (HB65) that would have amended the Code of Virginia died in
committee earlier during the session.
Based on a preliminary review of the proposals, here are some of
the problem areas relating to financial aid:
*In effect, the 150% SAP language for state student financial
assistance that is consistent with federal SAP standards would
be null and void. (Senate version)
*Students not eligible for in-state rates could be eligible for
state financial aid and could receive higher award amounts than
those students charged in-state rates, depending on the
institution's awarding policy. (House version)
*Excluding transfer credits may require another SAP policy and
associated calculation.
*Inconsistent treatment of students attending one institution
and students attending more than one institution (for example, a
student in a four-year program who attends one institution would
be eligible for in-state rates/state aid for five years while a
student attending more than one institution could be eligible
for more than five years (due to the exclusion of transfer
hours).
More than likely, passage of either proposal would be
problematic for institutions across various offices (the term
nightmarish has been used). The VASFAA State Relations
Committee encourages you to review the amendments with other
offices at your institution (student accounting, registrar,
governmental relations, etc) to determine the potential impact,
and that if you feel it is appropriate to do so, contact your
House and Senate representatives.
Melissa Collum Wyatt
Chair, VASFAA State Relations Committee
Proposed Amendment to the Appropriation Act (4-2.01) - HOUSE:
12. The entitlement to in-state tuition charges at four-year
institutions shall not extend beyond 125 percent of the credit
hours needed to satisfy the degree requirements for a particular
program, excluding transfer or advanced placement credits.
Proposed Amendment to the Appropriation Act (4-2.01) - SENATE:
13. The entitlement to resident charges, at four-year
institutions, shall not extend beyond 125 percent of the credit
hours needed to satisfy the degree requirements for a particular
undergraduate program excluding transfer or advanced placement
credits. Resident students taking in excess of 125 percent of
the credit hours needed to satisfy the degree requirements for a
particular program shall not be eligible to receive awards
through state-sponsored financial aid programs. The State
Council of Higher Education for Virginia shall establish
procedures through which institutions shall implement this
provision.
Mentor Offers College Planning Web Site
to Students and Their Parents
Available at
www.virginiamentor.org, VirginiaMentor is a free
college and financial aid planning resource for college
bound students and their parents. The Web site
provides families with an in-depth look at Virginia
colleges and universities, admissions and recruitment,
and financial aid.
Student
visitors to VirginiaMentor are encouraged to establish
individual accounts, which personalize the experience to meet
their needs and interests. The comprehensive college planning
Web site provides families with the knowledge with which to
prepare for college, select a college, access admissions
information, apply online to many schools, and explore career
opportunities.
In
addition, VirginiaMentor describes the many different
options families can consider to help pay and save for
college. It is a source for learning and understanding
the financial aid process and outlines, step-by-step,
how and when to apply for financial aid. Education
loans for parents and students are summarized, including
the Nelnet Mentor Loan. Finally, searches on
www.virginiamentor.org allow students to easily
find scholarships for which they are eligible.
The
VirginiaMentor Web site is a collaborative effort between the
Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia, the State Council
of Higher Education for Virginia, the Xap Corporation, and
Nelnet. To learn more about the VirginiaMentor Web site and
the Nelnet Mentor Loan, please email your Nelnet
representative, Jennifer Rone (jennifer.rone@nelnet.net)
or Eric Owens (eric.owens@nelnet.net).
Submitted by Jennifer Rone,
Nelnet
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