Lack of funds keeps some from participating in AAP programs

By Rachel Makabi
Daily Bruin Contributor

Twenty-seven students, eligible for financial aid, were unable
to attend summer school this year due to a lack of financial aid
funds.

The students would have attended the Academic Advancement
Program’s Freshman Summer Program and Transfer Summer Program
had they received financial aid.

“My friend couldn’t come because his parents
couldn’t afford it,” said FSP participant Erica
Magallon, predicting that her friend will feel left behind.
“I feel like I’m getting a jump-start by living here
for 6 weeks.”

FSP began in 1976 and TSP began in 1978 to ease the transition
to campus for entering underrepresented students. During the
six-week sessions, students take two rigorous classes for
university credit.

Jeff Cooper, the coordinator of AAP’s summer programs said
that every person who is on the waiting list would be accepted to
the program if the program had sufficient funds.

“If the students could pay their own way, we would let
them in,” Cooper said.

Last year, the Financial Aid Office allocated only $500,000 for
the programs. Consequently, AAP did not have the funds to provide
financial aid to 54 financial aid eligible students who were
admitted to the program.

After repeated requests for information, no official from the
UCLA Office of Financial Aid could be reached for comment.

Although the programs are unable to provide aid to all admitted
students, the increase in funds from last year has allowed the
programs to grow. This year, FSP admitted 25 more applicants for a
total of 255 students and TSP added 34 additional spaces for a
total of 137 students.

Cooper said he is uncertain whether the situation will get
better or worse next year.

“We have to take it on a year-by-year basis,” Cooper
said. “Next year could be a completely different
ballpark.”

David Morfin, a fourth-year political science student and TSP
participant in 2000 said something should be done to prevent the
situation from reoccurring next year.

“I think it’s horrible,” Morfin said, adding
that students should lobby state government for more funds if
necessary. “Especially because FSP and TSP are geared to
underrepresented groups, and they are the ones that the funds
should go to first.”

But Cooper said that he has to operate within his budgetary
limits, adding that most universities do not offer a program for
transfer students at all.

“To say that the program is counterproductive because a
few people don’t get in is a narrow way of looking at
it,”Cooper said. “It ignores the fact that we actually
are bringing in almost 400 students.

He added that the amount of money does not affect the quality of
the program but only determines the number of students
admitted.

“They should do as much as possible for other
students,” said Cynthia Pineda, an economics student
currently attending FSP. “I feel so much more advanced than
other students. I know my way around.”