In just a few months, the U.S. has seen what some economists are calling the “worst economic downturn since the great depression.” Over 30 million Americans have filed unemployment claims since mid-March, and millions of students have lost employment or have parents who have lost theirs.
While the CARES Act will certainly alleviate immediate financial strain for many, students are only eligible for funds if they are eligible for Title IV aid, shutting out undocumented and international students. Regardless of any short-term government aid, students are likely to face long-term financial strain, and institutions need to be prepared.
How can my institution mitigate the increased financial strain on students?Use this audit to evaluate the policies and practices in place at your institution to support historically underserved students. Please note, across the entire audit, “student success staff” refers to any individual charged with supporting students and may include advisors, financial aid staff, or student workers.
Consider which practices your institution has already adopted as you go through the statements below. If many of the statements are not reflective of your institution's current practices, we recommend you focus your efforts in this area by downloading the PDF or sharing this page with colleagues to start implementing change on your campus.
Quick winsRead this case study and learn about bursar hold and registration reform
See section one of EAB’s expert advice
Omit semesters affected by COVID-19 from GPA calculations used to determine scholarship eligibility
All emergency grant applicants are connected with a staff member who can help students find alternative forms of support if they do not receive any…