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The professional area of education I plan to pursue is in academic advising for TRIO programs. TRIO programs serve low-income, minority, and first-generation (FG) college students on the secondary or transitional level. I will receive my Master of Education degree in Student Development and Leadership in Higher Education. This Legal Guide Padlet is a resource guide for academic advisor professionals to help them in understanding the current legal and ethical requirements related to financial assistance for FG’s. I chose this topic because educating FG’s and their families on financial knowledge and resources regarding their decision whether to attend college because of cost, remains relevant and at the forefront of our professional duty.

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I talked with my former Upward Bound Advisor who currently resides as the Upward Bound Director at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.

Why is educating FG’s and their families on financial knowledge and resources important?

Mrs. Carnegie-Diaz explained that the first doubt FG students typically share is "How am I going to pay for college?"  Many FG students come from low-income families and may lack financial knowledge and resources.  She shared that if families and students believe the cost of college is out of reach, they will be less likely to apply or will choose the college that is more financially affordable such as community colleges rather than a four-year college that could provide equal financial support in the form of scholarships.

Best Practices in Educating FG’s and Their Families

Mrs. Carnegie-Diaz mentioned what she thought were three best practices related to educating FG’s and their families on financial knowledge and resources for academic advisor professionals:

·  Build rapport and trust with families at the early stages of high school through parent meetings, programming, etc.

·  Group parent meetings prior to FAFSA and financial aid award seasons to explain the time frame and milestones for receiving financial aid.

·  Individual family appointments offered in Spanish and English to explain the tools created by Acts.

Emerging Issues

·  Net Price Calculator Improvement Act - S.889 (Net Price Calculator Improvement, 2017).

· Understanding the True Cost of College Act - S.888 (Understanding the True Cost of College, 2017).

Mrs. Carnegie-Diaz goes on to say, so many times in her work, she assists families in overcoming fears related to the cost of college.  Having never been to college themselves, the financial aid awarding process can be an obstacle for FG families and simply understanding the components of financial aid (grants, loans, and scholarships) can be intimidating.  These legislative acts lead to greater transparency in the financial aid award process. This transparency is the key to effectively educating students/families and empowering families to make educated decisions regarding financial aid.

Interviewee

Simone Carnegie-Diaz, MA, LMSW // Upward Bound Director // Trinity University // Department of Education // https://inside.trinity.edu/directory/mcarnegi

(S. Carnegie-Diaz, personal communication, September. 22, 2019).

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Council for Opportunity in Education is a nonprofit organization achieving the expansion of college opportunities for low-income, FG’s, and students with disabilities. At COE’s 38th Annual Conference held on September 9, 2019, Freshman House Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) addressed the members about two bills that she hopes will become apart of the Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization. The first bill will relieve students who qualify for Pell Grants of the need to resubmit the FAFSA each year. The second bill will provide funding for TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) participants to cover one-time, emergency expenses.

This resource was a helpful insight into current legislation discussed amongst politicians and stakeholders regarding financial knowledge and resources that will impact FG’s and their families.

Council for Opportunity in Education (COE), (2019). Rep. Lauren Underwood addresses higher education at COE’s annual conference. Retrieved from http://coenet.org/annual_conference.shtml.

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Slide #4 Federal-State partnerships for college affordability

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Slide #4 Federal-State partnerships for college affordability

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This article discusses a proposed federal-state partnership to increase college affordability.

· Funding should go to states to add to the overall investment to higher education.

· Federal funds should be attached to requirements for states to assess funding inequities for racial and socioeconomic groups, and to develop strategies to address those inequities.

· Free college and debt-free college proposals from Democratic lawmakers also have included state matching requirements.

Kreighbaum, A. (2019, October 3). Federal-State partnerships for college affordability. Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2019/10/03/federal-state-partnerships-college-affordability

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Slide #5 College Affordability Diagnosis presents sobering picture of higher ed 

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Slide #5 College Affordability Diagnosis presents sobering picture of higher ed 

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This article discusses the College Affordability Diagnosis’s investigation of how affordable public and private nonprofit higher education is across the states.

· Higher education is among the top five policy issues in just seven states.

· Legislators are pushing for college affordability through changes to higher education appropriations, financial aid policy, and tuition policy.

· Policymakers and institutions need to inform college affordability when setting tuition policy.

The crucial step in approaching students to attend college is emphasizing the actual cost of college, based on student circumstances. Many students may remain fearful of even applying to college, but understanding how financial aid can work for them, will make their experience a successful one.

Mathewson, T. G. (2016, May 6). College Affordability Diagnosis presents sobering picture of higher ed. Education Dive. Retrieved from https://www.educationdive.com/news/college-affordability-diagnosis-presents-sobering-picture-of-higher-ed/418788/

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Statutory (Federal) SB: Net Price Calculator Improvement Act of 2017

· It authorizes the Department of Education to develop a universal net price calculator that enables users to answer one set of questions and receive net prices for any institution of higher education (IHE) that is required to have a net price calculator (Net Price Calculator Improvement, 2017).

Net Price Calculator Improvement Act of 2017, Tex. S.B. 889, 115th Cong., 2017. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/889

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Statutory (Federal) SB: Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2017

· It requires institutions of higher education to use a standardized form that meets specified requirements, regarding: the cost of attendance; aid that does not need to be repaid; scholarships; etc. (Understanding the True Cost of College, 2017).

Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2017, Tex. S.B. 888, 115th Cong., 2017. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/888

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Statutory (Federal) Law: Higher Education Act of 1965

· It was designed to strengthen the educational resources of colleges and universities and to provide financial assistance to post-secondary students (20 USC § 1070).

Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. § 1070. Retrieved from https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=The+Higher+Education+Act+of+1965&f=treesort&fq=true&num=108&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title20-section1070

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Statutory (State) Law: Student Financial Assistance Act of 1975

· It provides financial assistance to post-secondary students in the State of Texas (Tex. Educ. Code § 56.001).

Student Financial Assistance Act of 1975, 64th Leg. § 56.001 (1975). Retrieved from https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.56.htm#56.001

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Slide #10 Local Administrative Law/Policy/Rule 

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Slide #10 Local Administrative Law/Policy/Rule 

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· Aldine ISD states that they “will provide a rigorous and enriching educational experience that prepares every student for success in college, career, and life” (Aldine ISD Board Policy Manual, 2019).

Aldine ISD (2019, July 26). Board Policy Manual, Educational Philosophy, AE (LOCAL) 101902. Retrieved from https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Code/583?filter=AE

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In the College Student Educators International (ACPA) Statement of Ethical Principles and Standards (2006) finds four ethical standards related to academic advisor professionals. The chosen ethical standard that best relates to financial knowledge and resources for FG’s and their families is Student Learning and Development. It involves cognitive, physical, moral, social, emotional, career, spiritual, personal, and intellectual aspects (ACPA, 2006).

College Student Educators International, Statement of Ethical Principles and Standards. (2006). ACPA Statement of Ethical Principles and Standards. Retrieved from file:///D:/EDG%206305/Ethical_Principles_Standards.pdf

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The Southwest Association of Student Assistance Programs (SWASAP) is affiliated with the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) nonprofit organization. Serving the State of Texas, SWASAP targets TRIO professionals, including academic advisors, who cultivate guidance and support for FG’s and their families to strive in achieving their educational goals.

Southwest Association of Student Assistance Program. (2019). Wild Apricot. Retrieved from https://swasap.wildapricot.org/

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According to Mrs. Carnegie-Diaz, these were three best practices she mentioned in educating FG’s and their families on financial knowledge and resources. Having never been to college themselves, the financial aid awarding process can be an obstacle for FG families and simply understanding the components of financial aid (grants, loans, and scholarships) can be intimidating.

· Build rapport and trust with families at the early stages of high school through parent meetings, programming, etc.

·  Group parent meetings prior to FAFSA and financial aid award seasons to explain the time frame and milestones for receiving financial aid.

·  Individual family appointments offered in Spanish and English to explain the tools created by Acts.

These legislative acts lead to greater transparency in the financial aid award process. This transparency is the key to effectively educating students/families and empowering families to make educated decisions regarding financial aid.

·  The Net Price Calculator Improvement Act of 2017 authorizes the Department of Education to develop a universal net price calculator that enables users to answer one set of questions and receive net prices for any institution of higher education (IHE) that is required to have a net price calculator (Net Price Calculator Improvement, 2017).

·  The Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2017 requires institutions of higher education to use a standardized form that meets specified requirements, regarding: the cost of attendance; aid that does not need to be repaid; scholarships; etc. (Understanding the True Cost of College, 2017).

·  The Higher Education Act of 1965 was designed to strengthen the educational resources of colleges and universities and to provide financial assistance to post-secondary students (20 USC § 1070).