[nfbmi-talk] Update on College Policy

Wed Jul 14 20:00:09 UTC 2010

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.
> 
> _________________________________________________________________
> The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with
> Hotmail. 
> http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multicalendar&ocid=PID28
> 326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_5
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nfbmi-talk mailing list
> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nfbmi-talk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/lizmohnke%40hotmail.com

_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your inbox.
http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_2
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: financial need form draft july 2009.doc
Type: application/msword
Size: 49664 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20100714/bdf12b36/attachment.doc>