Many asked to return summer aid

By Sarika Gangar
Daily Bruin Contributor

Though a smaller percentage of students than last year will be
asked to return summer financial aid received for classes they
never took, a higher absolute number of students than ever will be
receiving the notification.

Thirteen percent of 3,000 summer financial aid recipients
““ or 400 students ““ were notified in September that
they must reimburse the Financial Aid Office for a portion of aid
that went toward both tuition and living expenses.

Last year, 28 percent of 300 summer financial aid recipients
were asked to return funds.

“We have never done this before at this scale,” said
Nick Valdivia, assistant director of the Financial Aid Office.

Students on summer financial aid were expected to complete the
units they had applied for, but if they ended up not taking the
class, they had to return the funds given to them.

The large increase in the number of students asked to return
funds was due to overall increased financial aid enrollments. The
university attracted more students when it lowered summer session
fees and opened financial aid to all students.

Previously, only students graduating over the summer and
students with academic disabilities could apply for summer
financial aid.

Applications were accepted throughout the summer, and the
Financial Aid Office began verifying whether students had completed
the units once enrollment for the second session became
official.

The office notified students of the condition for receiving
financial aid through a summer fact sheet newsletter, and it was
also stated on the online application.

But some students still did not know about the policy.

“I was completely unaware of that policy,” said
second-year biology student Melina Duenas, a summer financial aid
recipient. “No one explained to me the financial aid policy
over the summer.”

According to Valdivia, a number of students who were
disqualified from aid complained to the office.

Some students said the policies could have been more
sympathetic.

“I’m sure some of these students had extenuating
circumstances that prevented them from taking these classes,”
said first-year graduate student Amanda Folsom. “Maybe they
should allow some sort of petitioning.”

The Financial Aid Office is expecting more students to be on
financial aid next summer, as news of the lower fees and available
financial aid spreads.

The office is taking steps to prevent this sort of situation
from occurring again.

Next summer, the office may offer financial aid only after
students have enrolled in their courses. Also, it may change the
deadline for the aid application or the date enrollment is official
for students on financial aid.

Office employees also plan to take steps to better inform
students of the policy.

“I don’t think you realize the ramifications until
it happens,” Valdivia said.