Financial Aid for the VERY Adult Learner MASFAA Conference 11/08/2007 Allene Begley Curto Springfield College School of Human Services

Who Is the VERY Adult Learner? An older student (over age 24 or 25) An older student (over age 24 or 25) A student who previously attended college but has not attended for several years A student who previously attended college but has not attended for several years A student who never attended college (went straight to work after high school) A student who never attended college (went straight to work after high school)

Baggage of the VERY Adult Learner Obligations to family and work Obligations to family and work Prior educational debt (and non- educational debt) Prior educational debt (and non- educational debt) MAJOR lifestyle change MAJOR lifestyle change HIGH expectations for Financial Aid HIGH expectations for Financial Aid

Communication/Style Letters Letters Forms Forms Publications Publications Phone and Counter response Phone and Counter response Confidentiality Confidentiality Stress Levels Stress Levels

Admission/Enrollment Abbreviated application and enrollment window Abbreviated application and enrollment window More likely to defer/drop/ More likely to defer/drop/ change enrollment change enrollment More likely to attempt to accelerate More likely to attempt to accelerate

The Joys of Admission “I just spoke to the recruiter and I’m going to apply for admission tomorrow – can I have my refund now?” “I just spoke to the recruiter and I’m going to apply for admission tomorrow – can I have my refund now?” “I was going to come last term but I didn’t so why didn’t you know I decided to come next term?” “I was going to come last term but I didn’t so why didn’t you know I decided to come next term?” “I was going to come last term but I didn’t so why didn’t you know that I never wanted to hear from you again?” “I was going to come last term but I didn’t so why didn’t you know that I never wanted to hear from you again?” “I’m not admitted because I can’t get my transcript from the other college until I pay my balance so can you just give me my refund now so I can pay them?” “I’m not admitted because I can’t get my transcript from the other college until I pay my balance so can you just give me my refund now so I can pay them?”

Enrollment Changes Job and family responsibilities change and the student needs to drop to part time, defer, withdraw. How do you track those changes to enrollment? Job and family responsibilities change and the student needs to drop to part time, defer, withdraw. How do you track those changes to enrollment? Wait - how do you even know the student actually began enrollment? Wait - how do you even know the student actually began enrollment? When could grade level change when awarding undergraduate students for loans? When are transfer credits evaluated? Do you have Prior Learning programs? When could grade level change when awarding undergraduate students for loans? When are transfer credits evaluated? Do you have Prior Learning programs?

Regulatory/Eligibility Issues Defaults Defaults Discharges Discharges Bankruptcy Bankruptcy Aggregate limits Aggregate limits

Defaults Attended Before Attended Before Loan period from many years earlier Loan period from many years earlier Old records or incorrect database information Old records or incorrect database information Multiple Consolidation Loans Multiple Consolidation Loans

Disability Discharges Conditional Discharge - negated if borrows again while conditional Conditional Discharge - negated if borrows again while conditional Permanent Discharge - not eligible for loan unless condition has changed Permanent Discharge - not eligible for loan unless condition has changed

Bankruptcy Bankruptcy (per se) does not make a student ineligible for a loan Bankruptcy (per se) does not make a student ineligible for a loan Bankruptcy does not clear a default Bankruptcy does not clear a default Active bankruptcy should cancel pending disbursements Active bankruptcy should cancel pending disbursements

Aggregate Limits 34 loans at 8 different schools over an 18 year period…and not much left to award at our school 34 loans at 8 different schools over an 18 year period…and not much left to award at our school Check the limits are correct! Use base Stafford loans actually disbursed and not repaid Check the limits are correct! Use base Stafford loans actually disbursed and not repaid How to counsel the student at or near limits How to counsel the student at or near limits

More Regulatory/Eligibility Issues Selective Service Selective Service Citizenship not confirmed (name changes, naturalization) Citizenship not confirmed (name changes, naturalization) Verification Verification

Selective Service If over 26, can’t register now If over 26, can’t register now but still must document was registered if/when required but still must document was registered if/when required May have entered US after age 24 May have entered US after age 24 May have been unaware required to register or thought was registered May have been unaware required to register or thought was registered If female or DOB before 1/1/1960 – document! If female or DOB before 1/1/1960 – document!

Citizenship Eligible non-citizens, naturalized citizens, asylum/refugee status Eligible non-citizens, naturalized citizens, asylum/refugee status Citizenship okay – but not confirmed by SSA due to name or DOB! Citizenship okay – but not confirmed by SSA due to name or DOB! Document and inform! Document and inform!

Verification/Conflicting Information Household has spouse that wasn’t spouse in base year and base year joint tax was filed with ex-spouse Household has spouse that wasn’t spouse in base year and base year joint tax was filed with ex-spouse Can’t we all just file Head of Household? Can’t we all just file Head of Household? Do we count my nieces kids that live with us or my mother that doesn’t and what about my boyfriend and his brother? Do we count my nieces kids that live with us or my mother that doesn’t and what about my boyfriend and his brother?

Avoid that sinking feeling! Use Early warning systems! Use Early warning systems! Monitor Enrollment for beginning attendance and add/drops Monitor Enrollment for beginning attendance and add/drops Use the transfer monitoring process! Use the transfer monitoring process! Check NSLDS! Check NSLDS! Review subsequent ISIRs! Review subsequent ISIRs!

Communication! What you say and what they hear What you say and what they hear Review forms and letters Review forms and letters Use your web site Use your web site Train staff Train staff Speak “fedreg” fluently but translate for everyone else! Speak “fedreg” fluently but translate for everyone else!

CAEL Exemplary Practices on Financing for Adult learners The Institution promotes choice and uses an array of payment options for adult learners including: The Institution promotes choice and uses an array of payment options for adult learners including:  Informs adult learners about convenient payment options available to them.  Assists adult learners with deferred payment options when tuition reimbursement is not available until course completion.  Makes financial aid available to part-time students.  Assesses charges incrementally and establishes equitable refund policies.  Helps learners develop strategies for locating external funding to assist with education costs.

CAEL Exemplary Financing Practices (cont.) In partnership with organizations such as businesses and/or unions: In partnership with organizations such as businesses and/or unions:  Work to influence tuition reimbursement policies.  Ensure that the learner is not caught between institution and organization on tuition payment issues.  Work with the organization to communicate basis for costs and accurate and understandable reporting and billing.

Resources Council for Adults and Experiential Learning Council for Adults and Experiential Learning American Council on Education (click on Adult Learners) American Council on Education (click on Adult Learners) US ED US ED Employers Employers Chambers of Commerce Chambers of Commerce

Where do we go from here? Modify your own forms and publications Modify your own forms and publications Ensure you have warning systems Ensure you have warning systems Request “adult friendly” publications from vendors and agencies Request “adult friendly” publications from vendors and agencies Develop a world class sense of humor Develop a world class sense of humor