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Show campus news Act ESeamtlhoffisadoiffl Qaanages Editor Karin Jaffie Managing Editor Bill Godwin Business Manager Mike Moser Contributing Writers Ronda Byrne Cara Cahoon Myriam Hernandez Joe Stewart-Mas- h Angie Russell Chris Thurmond Photo Director Mark Bricker Photo Staff Trent Alvey Ronda Byrne Bill Godwin Susie Martin Faculty Adviser Dr. Ray Ownbey by Cara Cahoon . Westminster students will be affected by several pieces of legislation in the 1986 reau thorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965, according to Ruth Henneman. Director of Financial Aid. The Higher Education Act of 1965 is reauthorized every five years. This is actual legislation, said Henneman. The reauthorization was signed on October 17. 1986, by President Ronald Reagan. The revisions in legislation that will affect Westminster students most, according to Henneman, are changes in eligibility requirements for the Guaranteed Student Loan Program (GSL); an increase in the amount of money students may borrow under the GSL; and a new definition for determining student status. One of the major changes in the GSL program is the way in which eligibility is determined. Before reauthorization, if a students family income was less than $30,000, the student would automatically be eligible for the nt GSL. The new law, which was effective after Oct. 17, requires all GSL applicants to demonstrate financial need through a system approved by the Secretary of Education for determining need, according to the Act The approved system is the same used for other federal financial aid need-analys- The Forum of Westminster College of Salt Lake City will be published and distributed eight times during the academic semester by the Associated Students of Westminster College. The newspapers address is 1840 South 1300 East, Salt Lake City, Utah " , I i by Hoffine Printing, 55 East Malvern, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115, The Forum welcomes letters from students and other readers. Submissions must be signed and include the authors telephone number (telephone numbers will be used only to verify the authenticity of letters). Submissions must also avoid the use of profanity and libel. Lengths may not exceed three typed, double-space- d pages with lines 50 character ' spaces wide. Deliver letters directly to the Forum office (under the door if necessary) in the base ment of Shaw Center by 3 p.m. on Friday one week before the date of publication, or mail them to the Forum office at the above ad dress. Please be concise and to the point in your letters. Opinions expressed on the Forum editorial pages are those of the writers and are not to be construed as the opinions of the Associated Students of Westminster College or of the college administration, faculty or staff. Issue No. 8 Dec. 15, 1986 g According to Henneman, the change in eligibility for the GSL will significantly affect Westminster student in that GSLs can no longer replace contributions expected from the family, Henneman said, previously, if a students family could not pay all of the money that was expected in parentstudentcontributions. GSL money could be used to replace some of the family contributions. This will no longer be possible under the new law which became effective on Oct. 17 of this year. Another change in the law involves the maximum amount of GSL money a student may borrow. Previously undergraduate students could borrow $2,500 per year and graduate students could borrow $5,000 per year. Total aggregate limits were $12,500 for undergraduates and $25,000 for graduate students. The new law. effective for periods of enrollment beginning on or after January 1, 1987, increases annual GSL limits to $2,625 for the first two years of undergraduate study, and $4,000 for subsequent undergraduate study. Graduate and professional students can borrow up to $7,500 per year. Undergraduates can borrow up to a total aggregate limit of $17,250 and professional students up to $54,750. According to ltnneman, these increases make it look like more money could be borrowed. However, because eligibility requirements ! ! i ! i i i Ruth Henneman, director of financial aid, is more than willing to help students understand the new changes. instead of a loan being taken out by the student, the parents would take out the loan. They would be required to begin paying back the loan 60 days after it was taken out. The minimum payment amount for the PLUS would be approximately $50 a month for 10 years. deter-minin- are more stringent, a student may not be eligible for a GSL at all. A student who does receive a GSL may not be eligible for an increased amount of money. It sounds good, said Henneman, but students don't realize that often 84105. The Forum is an award-winnin- g member of the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Press Association. Typsetting and printing is programs, such as the National Direct Student Loan and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. This probably means less students will be eligible for the GSL at Westminster, said Henneman. It makes the program more restrictive. they may not be eligible for more money. Another law that Henneman said is more stringent than the preceding law involves the definition for an independent student. Before, the criterion considered was whether or not a student lived with their parentfs), received $750 in support andor was claimed as a dependent for tax purposes. According to Henneman, this meant a student might be dependent for approximately the first two years of college and independent after that period of time. Students tend to want to be independent, said Henneman, now this is no longer quite as easy. She said however, the law allows for an alternative plan. The Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), can be used, Students tend to want to be independent, now this is no longer quite as easy. According to the Act, the new definition of an independent student is one who has reached age 24 as of December 31 of the award year. If the student has not reached age 24, independent status will be granted if he or she is: an orphan: a ward of the court: a veteran of the Armed Forces; or has legal dependents other than a spouse: is a graduate; professional or married student who will not be claimed as a dependent for tax pruposes by the parent or guardian for the first calendar years of the award year; is unmarried and not claimed as - a dependent for tax purposes for the two years prior to the award year and demonstrates during that two year period by showing evidence of an annual income of at least $4,000 for a single person or $8,000 for people with dependents. The Act also states that a student may also be delcared independent if he or she is able to present documentation of other unusual circumstances demonstrating independence to the student financial aid administrator. A student considered independent under the old regulations may now be dependent and their parents resources would be considered according to Henneman. Some other parts of the law affecting Westminster students include a requirement for counseling students about student loans and the availability of additional federal aid programs to part time students. Henneman feels there is a need for counseling students at Westminster about student loans, loan debt and pay back policies. Students need to make sure they dont get in over their heads, she said. The new programs available to part time students may include assistance in the National Direct Student Loan Program and other support grants. This may help some of our part time students who need assistance," said Henneman. Spring 87 Undergraduate Applicants Up; Westminster Is Better School Than Before - by Cara Cahoon The number of applicants for undergraduate admission to Westminster for spring 87 increased 44 percent from the same time last year, according to Craig Green, vice president for enrollment management and college relations. This figure does not represent the exact number of students who will register for spring semester. Green said, but because there are more applications he anticipates more students will register for spring semester. The numbers are still rising and this increase is expected until registration day. Applications on the graduate level have increased as well. Westminster is a better college to go to than it was before, said Green. We have more and more people returning all the time. Apart from general improvement of the school itself. Green feels that the increase in applications for admission is due to the fact that efforts have been concentrated in the admissions department. Also, Green said, We have some new staff people who are trying new and different ideas. Some of the innovations include more direct advertising and a new computer system. Direct advertising involves mailing information aixiit h'- college to- Individuals. This semester information about Westminster was sent to 122.000 homes. The computer system allows better communication with students. It is helpful when we can get the right information to the right students." Green said. The admissions department is also doing a better job in getting application files completed, thus answering the applications more rapidly. Green seemed to summarize a common feeling regarding increased application to Westminster when he said. Things are just looking - good. Forum 3 |