Ongoing government shutdown poses challenges for college students
SNHU offers grants for affected students
SNHU offers grants for affected students
SNHU offers grants for affected students
College campuses are the latest places to feel the effects of the partial shutdown of the federal government.
Current and future students are hitting roadblocks when it comes to financial aid, and some are feeling the squeeze of missed paychecks. But some schools are offering additional help to those who need it.
Southern New Hampshire University has set up an emergency fund to assist students or employees who are facing immediate financial crises caused by the shutdown.
"We have students who are federal employees or who are married to federal employees who are affected by the shutdown," SNHU President Paul LeBlanc said.
SNHU has created a $1 million emergency fund to help students and employees who are struggling to make ends meet.
"We don't want to lose them in this," LeBlanc said. "And more importantly, they're in real need."
The money will be provided in the form of direct grants with no repayment expected.
"This would be for any student or employee who is either a federal employee who is not allowed to work or is married to such a person," LeBlanc said.
Those in need can start applying for the grants Thursday.
The shutdown has also created some hurdles for students on campus and across the state who are applying for financial aid.
"So far, the impact has been on students who are selected for verification," said Ken Ferreira of the New Hampshire Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
That includes students who can't get their IRS tax transcripts, preventing them from completing their financial aid applications. The U.S. Department of Education has since stepped in.
"They'll allow us, instead of getting a tax transcript, to get a signed copy of a tax return they've submitted," Ferreira said. "So, either 2017 or 2018."
If the shutdown continues, there could be more problems down the road.
"If this goes on and is impacting the creditworthiness of, particularly, parent borrowers, I think our congressional delegation is going to have its work cut out for them in terms of working with federal student aid," Ferreira said.