Financial aid changes making it tougher to get grants
More students must
rely on loan money
to pay for college
By Jody Holzworth
StaffReporter
Jennifer McGinnis feels fortunate that chang
es in student financial aid occurred during her
final year at the University of Nebraska-Lin
coln.
Pell Grants have helped pay for much of her
education during the past four years. But new
federal regulations forced McGinnis, a senior
engineering major, to take out student loans for
the first time this year.
“I’m glad these regulations hit me as a senior
and not as a sophomore,” McGinnis said.
However, students with several years left at
UNL may not be so lucky.
McGinnis is one of an increasing number of
UNL students taking out loans this year, partly
because the new guidelines decreased the num
ber of students eligible for Pell Grants.
John Beacon, director of scholarships and
financial aid, said UNL students were taking
out about 25 percent more loans this year.
Beacon said $30.5 million in school loans
had been taken out this year, compared to $24.7
million during the 1992-93 school year.
Students also are receiving 20 percent less in
Pell Grants, Beacon said. UNL awarded only
$6 million in Pell Grants this year, compared to
$8.5 million during the 1992-93 school year.
The maximum amount students can receive
for a Pell Grant dropped from $3,700 to $2,300
this year, Beacon said. The federal government
has $2.5 million less to contribute toward Pell
Grants.
Beacon said more stringent Pell Grant guide
lines, which were set by Congress in 1992,
made it more difficult for students to prove
independent status, which usually assures a Pell
Grant.
To gain independent status under the old
guidelines, parents would not claim the student
as a federal tax deduction for two years, and the
student had to earn more than $4,000 a year.
To be classified as independent under the
new guidelines, students must be one of the
following:
• Twenty-four years old or older.
• A veteran.
• Married.
• Supporting other dependents besides a
spouse.
The regulations were changed to prevent
fraud, Beacon said. Parents who could afford
their kids’ education tricked the system by not
claiming them.
Beacon said the recent legislation led to
more breaks for middle-class families. The new
version of the Stafford Loan allows almost all
students to get low-interest loans, but interest
accumulates while the student is in school.
The new guidelines also increased the max
imum allowance on the total of grants, loans
and work-study, which has led students to take
out bigger loans.
However, Beacon said, students should be
careful not to accumulate too many loans.
Many UNL students will graduate with as much
as $17,000 to $19,000 in debt, he said.
Beacon urged students to request only what
they needed to fund their education.
Some students may have to work more and
attend school less, Beacon said.
“Drop back to half-time and get a job if you
can’t make it,” Beacon said. “Don’t take more
loans than you can handle.”
—NEWS BRIEFS—
Legislative bill
puts architecture
degree in statues
From Staff Reports
Clarifying the status of the
UNL College of Architecture’s
graduate program has spurred a
legislative bill to clean things
up.
Master’s degree programs at
the University ofNebraska-Lin
coln are listed in state statutes,
with the exception of the archi
tecture program.
LB954 would add the archi
tecture degree, which the col
lege has offered since 1971, to
the list.
Nebraska’s Coordinating
Commission for Postsecondary
Education raised concerns that
the architecture college was of
fering the degree without the
authority of the Nebraska Leg
islature. Adding the college to
the list would clarify the clerical
issue.
“We need to put the titles
where they belong,” said Cecil
Steward, dean of the architec
ture college.
LB954 was introduced last
spring but carried over to this
spring’s legislative session.
Steward had discussions with
Sen. Jerome Warner of Waverly,
who introduced the bill in both
sessions, to see if any revisions
should be made to last year’s
bill.
Lost student found
From Stall Reports
A UNL international student
was reported missing by his host
family Tuesday, nearly four
weeks after he was scheduled to
meet with them in South Dako
ta.
University of Nebraska-Lin
coln Police Sgt. Bill Manning
said the student was supposed to
meet with his host family over
Christmas break but didn ’ t show
up. He also had a skiing vaca
tion planned that he didn’t at
tend, Manning said.
After talking with the stu
dent’s friends, Manning said,
police discovered he went to
Mexico on vacation.
Jewelry stolen
From Stall Reports
More than $4,100 in jewelry
was reported stolen Monday
from a University of Nebraska
Lincoln sorority, police said.
The jewelry, stolen from the
Kappa Alpha Theta house at
1545 S St., belonged to one stu
dent, Sgt. Bill Manning said.
The theft occurred when the
student was moving back into
the house, he said.
University police have no sus
pects, Manning said, but the in
vestigation is continuing.
Theft in fraternities and so
rorities is a continuing problem,
he said, but there hasn’t been an
increase this year.
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Comhusker Hotel Ballroom
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