The authors first present their views on directions for change. They see the desirable direction for change involving a significant expansion of the Federal financing of education; decentralization of the administration and control of schools; and the creation of centers for education research, training, innovation, and information on a regional…

Federal policy for financing student aid is less equitable today than ever before. If college costs are high, the costs of an expanded uneducated lower class will be higher. College access and choice will become increasingly remote for low-income students unless increased resources can be provided. (MLW)

Federal aid is seen as not only essential to many college students but also as a mainstay of U.S. economic growth and social progress. The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act represents the best chance for reform, and Congress needs to do more than ratify existing programs. (MLW)

This Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education (ACPE) annual report is organized in three sections, each section describes the activities and services related to each of three goals: (1) to increase available student financial resources; (2) to implement strategies to help students and their families plan, enter, and succeed in postsecondary…

The work of the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education (ACPE) is guided by a 5-year strategic plan. The purpose of the plan is to provide focus for the activity of this small agency and its seven staff members in order to increase productivity and impact in the areas of its statutory authority. The mission and goals were accepted by…

This issue of "The Native Scholar" is comprised entirely of the annual report of Catching the Dream (CTD), an organization that awards scholarships to Native American students and grants for improving Native American schools. CTD scholarship programs are described, as are scholarships in general and how to find them. Fourteen scholarship websites…

Though the rise in college student debt often has been blamed on rising tuition, a radical shift in student financial aid--from a system relying primarily on need-based grants to one dominated by loans--has been equally important. Numerous reports have highlighted the burdens faced by students who borrow large sums, but less is known about…

This volume discusses the eligibility requirements for student and parent borrowers from federal financial aid programs. It reviews the factors an aid administrator must consider when reviewing a student's application for a loan and outlines the administrator's responsibilities in checking to make sure that recipients qualify for their aid awards.…

This report describes the activities, accomplishments, and concerns of the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Education, for the 6-month period ending March 31, 2000. The report describes management challenges concerning student financial assistance, including instances of fraud and abuse, concealment of prior defaults, patterns of…

These training materials were designed to be used by participants at a National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) workshop which explains how to use the NSLDS Web site. Following an overview, the guide is organized into four sessions: (1) students' access and use of the NSLDS Web site; (2) navigating the financial aid professional Web site; (3)…

This brief report summarizes trends in student borrowing based on data from the 1992-93 and 1995-96 National Postsecondary Student Aid Studies. Major findings include: (1) between 1992-98 and 1994-96, the percentage of undergraduate students attending four-year institutions who borrowed from federal loan programs during the academic year increased…

President Bill Clinton used the declining default rate on college student loans as a basis for proposing tax breaks for college costs. Reduced defaults have saved taxpayer money and helped reduce the federal deficit. Over 150 colleges and universities, including 25 private institutions, risk losing eligibility for federal grant and loan programs…

Summarizes data from a survey of 54 dental schools concerning dental students' financial aid. Data and analyses include percent of students receiving aid; average annual aid per student; average first-year costs of dental school; aid distribution within private, public, and state-related schools; details on federal loan programs; grant and…

Concerns about cuts in federal student loan and grant programs are outlined, and ways in which institutions can act to influence policy are examined. Basic facts about potential cuts, their effects, federal spending on student aid, aid recipients, public opinion, and aid policy's effects on tuition are discussed. (MSE)

The 1987 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study was used to compare four alternative approaches for assessing the influence of price subsidies on within-year persistence by graduate students. Conclusions include tuition charge has a substantial negative influence on persistence; and comprehensive packages (grants, loans, plus assistantships)…