[nfbmi-talk] Update on College Policy

Elizabeth lizmohnke at hotmail.com
Thu Jul 15 01:53:05 UTC 2010 

Hello Mary Ann,
 
Thank you so much for your kind words. I have already presented these arguments to the Commission Board, and they seem to be rather adamant about keeping the new DELEG financial needs form as part of the new policy. I know Fred presented a no harm clause to the student if the financial aid office fails to follow through with the completion of this form during the last phone conference, but I do not see this clause included in the most recent draft of the policy. At times it feels like I’m just beating my head up against a brick wall. But I don’t know, perhaps enduring persistence is the key here.
 
Elizabeth

 > From: brightsmile1953 at comcast.net
> To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:25:00 -0400
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Update on College Policy
> 
> Excellent points Elizabeth
> 
> Not everyone who is interested in the college policy was able to attend the 
> meeting when this form was discussed.
> If the commission is truly sincere about improving relationships with 
> constituents and providing quality services, your points will be taken 
> seriously and feedback will be provided in a timely manner. Let's see if 
> this is the case..
> 
> Mary Ann
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Elizabeth" <lizmohnke at hotmail.com>
> To: <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 4:00 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Update on College Policy
> 
> 
> 
> Hello Christine,
> 
> Thanks for your question. The DELEG financial needs form is a separate form 
> that students will be required to fill out in addition to filling out the 
> FASFA. It is a form that is already being used by Michigan Rehabilitation 
> Services which uses a means test for providing services to college students. 
> In my opinion, it appears as though the Michigan Commission for the Blind is 
> looking to move in the same direction without being upfront and honest about 
> it. I understand other people may have a different opinion about it, but 
> this is my opinion.
> 
> You will find a copy of this DELEG financial needs form attached to this 
> message. If it is approved as part of the new policy, students will be 
> required to sign a release form which would permit the Michigan Commission 
> for the Blind to send the DELEG financial needs form to the financial aid 
> office of the college or university. Once financial aid office fills out 
> their portion of this form, they send it back to the Michigan Commission for 
> the Blind who then shares this information with the student.
> 
> The problems I see with this new DELEG financial needs form is that it would 
> create a means test for providing services to college students. It was 
> explained during the work group meeting that this form would not create a 
> means test, but I simply do not trust what they said. Other arguments I have 
> used against the use of this new financial needs form is the undue burden it 
> places on the financial aid office to process the paper form. Many colleges 
> and universities are posting most of this information online, and the 
> Michigan Commission for the Blind could receive this information in a more 
> timely manner if they would work with the student to access this information 
> through their online account.
> 
> Additionally, with the increase of student enrollment, especially at the 
> community college level, there is no guarantee that the financial aid office 
> would complete and return this form in time for students to receive services 
> from the Michigan Commission for the Blind. In essence, there is a 
> possibility that a student could receive a delay in the services they 
> receive from the Michigan Commission for the Blind if the financial aid 
> office does not complete and return the financial needs form on time. Why 
> should the student suffer from a delay in services if they were not the 
> person responsible for completing and returning this form? If the counselors 
> are advocating the importance of the relationship between the college 
> student and their counselor with the Michigan Commission for the Blind, then 
> why would they want to involve a third party that would hold the potential 
> of getting in the way of this relationship? If the client counselor 
> relationship is as important as they claim it to be, then would it not be 
> better for the counselor to work with the student to obtain this information 
> if it is needed at all? And if the students are already filling out the 
> FASFA form, then why is a second form needed for something other than 
> implementing a means test?
> 
> I am by no means an expert on this issue, so if others see things 
> differently, then I would like to hear your opinion. The trust I once had in 
> the Commission Board member who was appointed to work on this issue has 
> slowly eroded over tim., And as long as this financial needs form is a part 
> of the policy, I cannot trust that the Michigan Commission for the Blind has 
> the best interests of college students in mind when passing such a policy.
> 
> Respectfully,
> Elizabeth
> 
> > From: Christine_Boone at comcast.net
> > To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> > Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:11:47 -0400
> > Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Update on College Policy
> >
> > Elizabeth,
> >
> > You mention that the DELEG financial needs form is still a part of the
> > proposed college policy. Is that the same thing as the FASFA, which is the
> > general federal form that all students are required to complete if they 
> > are
> > seeking financial aid? or is it something different?
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> > On Behalf Of Elizabeth
> > Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 12:02 AM
> > To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> > Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Update on College Policy
> >
> >
> > Hello List,
> >
> > I have been told that the July 1 draft of the college policy could not be
> > found on the Michigan Commission for the Blind website. Therefore, I have
> > attached it to this message for anyone who is interested in reading it. I
> > received this attachment from a message I received today, and have not 
> > been
> > able to check to make sure that it reads the same as the attachment that 
> > was
> > sent out on July 1, 2010.
> >
> > There have been several emails about the timeline issue which are 
> > summarized
> > in the message that appears below. If you would like me to forward the
> > emails where the discussion took place, I would be more than happy to pass
> > them along for anyone who might be interested in reading them. Also, the
> > deadline for submitting comments on the July 1 draft has been extended to
> > July 19, 2010 as indicated in the message that appears below.
> >
> > I have briefly looked over the newly revised policy, but have yet to 
> > really
> > comment on it. I know the DELEG financial needs form is still a part of 
> > the
> > policy, and in my opinion, that is the only major difference between this
> > policy and the policy they are currently using. I know that it was 
> > explained
> > during the work group meeting that this form is not a means test, and the
> > language of the policy has changed a bit about financial participation, 
> > but
> > I still see this form as a way to implement a means test for college
> > students. I am deeply opposed to the use of this new form, and I cannot
> > support any policy that includes this form as part of the policy.
> >
> > I believe that covers everything for the moment, but if you have any 
> > further
> > questions or comments, they are always appreciated. I forgot how busy
> > convention can be, so I apologize for the delay in getting back into the
> > swing of things here in Michigan.
> >
> > Elizabeth
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ----
> > From: geri.taeckens at isahealthfund.org
> > Subject: Modification for colege policy for July 19
> > Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:51:55 -0400
> >
> > Hi to all! Important modifications.
> >
> > First, the deadline for responding on the July 1 policy draft attached 
> > here
> > has been extended to Monday, July 19. All comments must be in by noon on
> > that day so I can get the final draft out for editing to get to the board.
> >
> > Second: I will recommend to the board on 8-27, that the final draft be
> > accepted for 1 year, with a plan to review it after data is collected on 
> > key
> > factors in this policy.
> >
> > Third, Virginia from MSU office for disabled students has brought to our
> > attention some very pertinent mandates by the federal government regarding
> > timelines. I did send you what she wrote and have modified policy A
> > essential elements number 4 and 5 for your review. I personally feel much
> > better aligning these 2 statements with something tangible.
> >
> > Fourth, There has been concern voiced by a few folks about the statement 
> > in
> > policy B, regarding non-accredited colleges. Some feel this option should
> > not be available to MCB consumers. Unless anyone has a good reason why
> > non-accredited colleges should be sponsored by MCB, I recommend we delete
> > that segment from the policy.
> >
> > I have placed examples of how these 3 segments might be written.
> >
> > Policy A.
> >
> > 4) The timeline for completing a post-secondary training or college
> > program is established by the training or educational institution and
> > federal mandates related to financial aid. Financial aid recipients must
> > complete their degree program within 150% of the educational institutions
> > expected time for completion. Example, a student working on a 4-year 
> > degree
> > would be eligible for financial aid for 12 semesters or 6 years. A student
> > working on a 2-year associate's degree would be eligible for a maximum of 
> > 3
> > years (6 semesters. MCB students are encouraged to complete their training
> > or degree based on these timelines. Students with additional disabilities,
> > medical issues, family situations, job duties, and or who are
> > non-traditional students are encouraged to engage their counselor in
> > developing a timeline for completion suitable for their needs; keeping in
> > mind that the educational institution will require a student to complete 
> > an
> > application for appeal/extension with the college's financial aid office.
> > Requests/appeals are carefully reviewed prior to a student receiving an
> > extension and if the extension is granted, the extension is closely
> > monitored to assure the student is making progress. Go to www.ED.gov for
> > complete details on college-university timeline mandates.
> >
> > 5) If a student's attendance at training is interrupted for a period of
> > time and classes cannot be attended for one of the reasons referenced in
> > Policy A - 4, the period of time the student is absent does not count
> > against the identified timeline according to MCB and the educational
> > institution. A written, dated, request, including the reasons for this
> > break in attendance shall be submitted to the MCB counselor. It is
> > important to note however, that the timeline for students receiving
> > financial aid still applies as described in policy A-4, requiring a 
> > student
> > to complete a 4 year degree in a total of 12 semesters, with a maximum of 
> > 18
> > semesters, unless an appeal has been granted. MCB Students and counselors
> > should also be aware that some programs require a continuum of attendance
> > such as degrees that include rapid advancements like computer sciences,
> > medicine, and education. A break in such programs could require a student
> > to take additional classes to fulfill new requisites.
> >
> > Policy B. Accreditation
> >
> > MCB cooperates with colleges, universities, and other degree-granting
> > institutions, including correspondence, home-study and vocational training
> > programs that are accredited by a regional accrediting body recognized by
> > the U.S. Department of Education.
> >
> > Note... Delete this next section.
> >
> > Exceptions may be made where accreditation is pending or conditional and 
> > the
> > course of study is sufficiently unique to justify use of the institution.
> > Students and their MCB counselor should discuss the risks and benefits of
> > attending a non-accredited training program or university as it could
> > negatively impact a student's ultimate vocational goal.
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
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