Students Services Within Higher Education - Research Paper Example

Running head: SERVICES IN HIGHER EDUCATION Students Services Within Higher Education Abstract This paper analyses four selected student services in higher education in the State of California and analyzes the differences in the programs with respect to attributes previously determined. STUDENTS SERVICES WITHIN HIGHER EDUCATION This paper investigates student services within higher education as they exist in the United States with particular reference to the state of California. Relevant information for each of the services selected has been documented. This forms the basis of the analysis which has been finally tabulated for easy reference. Four student services or instructional support programs within higher education have been selected and the differences in their programs analyzed with respect to: funding population, served, eligibility criteria and Title 5 regulations. The student services selected are: Financial Aid (FAFSA), Extended Opportunity Programs and Services(EOP&S), CalWorks and Cooperative Agencies Resources in Education (CARE) A. FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID This is essentially an application made annually for federal financial aid for students. The FAFSA form is used to determine the student’s eligibility for federal aid on the basis of the information given by the student or parent(s) regarding their financial status. Expected Family Contribution (EFC) for the student is determined and results sent electronically to the schools/ colleges listed in the application. The information provided in the FAFSA forms is also used by most state and schools to award non-federal aid. In other words the FAFSA application is also used to determine state and college-sponsored aid, namely grants, scholarships, loans, work-study benefits and so on.  Eligibility Criteria To be eligible for federal financial aid the student should be/ have: 1. A U.S. citizen, or an eligible non-citizen 2. A valid Social Security number 3. A high school diploma or GED 4. Registered with the U.S. Selective Service if you are a male between 18-25 years of age. 5. Completed a FAFSA promising to use any federal aid for education purposes 6. No dues on any federal student grants or student loans 7. Not been found guilty of the sale or possession of illegal drugs during a period in which federal aid was being received. B. EXTENDED OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES (EOP&S) The EOP&S was created in January 1969 for the State of California and Community College districts to encourage enrollment, retention of students who are disadvantaged socially, economically or educationally also including those academically underprepared. The program assists those eligible in the successful completion of their post secondary academic goals. These goals could be either transfer to a university or even learning a vocational skill. Candidates are determined eligible for assistance under the EOP&S program if they fulfill the following criteria.  Eligibility Criteria The following criteria must be met for candidates to be eligible for the EOP&S program: 1. Must be a resident of the state of California 2. Must be or plan to be a full time student 3. Must qualify to receive a Board of Governors Waiver A or B. 4. Must not have completed 70 (or more) units of degree-applicable college course work including courses taken at other colleges. 5. Must be determined to be educationally disadvantaged by any one of the following criteria: a. Does not qualify to enroll for the minimum level English or mathematics courses required for degree. b. Have not received General Education Development or passed high school equivalency exam. c. High school grade point average (GPA) is 2.5 or less on a 4.0 scale. d. Have been enrolled in a remedial Math or English course e. Have been enrolled in an English as a Second Language (ESL) class or program f. The EOPS director determines candidate to be educationally challenged. The above is based on the criteria as laid out by San Diego City College. This is generally common to most colleges with some specifying further detail for example: San Diego College requires 9 of the 12 units for full-time enrollment to be taken at City College Folsom Lake College determines candidate as educationally disadvantaged if s/he is the first of the family to attend college. Golden West sees as eligible also those who are from the low income group according to State of California Financial Aid Criteria or have a 2.0 GPA ("C") or better . C. CalWORKS Folsom Lake College describes the CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids) program as one that is designed to assist students to complete their education and vocational training with respect to county guidelines and requirements. It is state-funded and envisaged as a support for the period of transition between welfare dependency and self-sufficiency. The services students could receive under this program is opportunity for work-study, career counseling and placement, educational, academic and personal counseling, childcare, community support, financial aid and transportation.   Eligibility Criteria Generally, those students are considered eligible for CalWORKs who are/ have: 1. CARE students 2. TANF recipients receiving cash aid 3. Dependent children with one or both parents absent, deceased, incapacitated or unemployed 4. Resident of the county 5. U.S. Citizens 6. Valid photo identification (ID) 7. A Social Security Number (SSN) 8. School age children enrolled and attending school 9. Current immunization records for children below the age of 6 10. Personal property not exceeding $2,000 (or $3000 for families who have a member age 60 or older) 11. Income not exceeding program limits 12. In good standing with the County Department of Human Assistance 13. Cooperate with child support requirements 14. Participate in welfare-to-work activities 15. Self initiated participants (SIP) 16. Perform 32 hours of work related activities per week for a single parent household or 35 hours per week in a two-parent household Ineligibility to enroll in the CalWORKs program includes: 1. Sanctions imposed prior to enrolling in school 2. CalWORKs students not receiving cash aid or on SSI 3. CalWORKs students receiving only food stamp services 4. CalWORKs recipients "timed-out" of the welfare system 5. Tribal TANF D. COOPERATIVE AGENCIES RESOURCES IN EDUCATION (CARE) CARE is an additional program under EOP&S designed for those who are recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF-formerly known as AFDC) but who wish to attend college. CARE services have been designed to meet the unique needs of single parents.  Under this service eligible students receive academic / personal counseling; assistance in educational planning, vocational assessment and accounts; accessibility to workshops; meal services and grants in the form of financial assistance..   Eligibility Criteria The following criteria must be met for candidates to be eligible for the CARE program: 1. Must be determined to be eligible for EOP&S 2. Must be enrolled in at least 12 units 3. Must be receiving TANF 4. Must have at least one child under the age of 14 5. Must be at least 18 years old and single head of household 6. Must have been determined to lack marketable skills. 7. Must have applied for financial aid (FAFSA) and the Board of Governor’s fee waiver. 8. Must be pursuing a course or program that will result in a certificate, degree or transfer to higher education. 9. Must have attended a self-directed CARE Orientation. ANALYZING THE DIFFERENCES IN THE SELECTED PROGRAMS It is observed all of the student services selected aim to encourage and assist students to study and become self sufficient. Thus a range of services from financial aid to academic, professional and personal counseling, assistance for children and even the disabled exist. Broadly the services target different stages or aspects of student life from selecting courses and transfers to college, encouraging them to complete their courses, to finally becoming independent earners. Thus notwithstanding some overlaps the programs are fairly distinct in themselves. Title -5 regulations overarches all these groups and classification in servicing those students who are determined to be disabled under their various definitions. Aid and student services as required for the unique needs of each student are provided by the college through federal aid. A. FAFSA is a federal aid and serves a very broad population. Any bonafide resident of the United States is eligible to apply provided s/he has not any outstanding dues against grants for education previously awarded and has not been found guilty of being associated with illegal drugs. Information from the FAFSA applications is regularly used by other colleges to determine amount and eligibility for non-federal and college or state sponsored aid. B. EOP&S is a state concern effective in the State of California and Community College district and assists those eligible in the successful completion of their post secondary academic goals. It is for students who are enrolled as fulltime students as well as residents of the state and are determined to be disadvantaged socially, economically or educationally and those academically underprepared. One of the conditions for eligibility for this program is a valid FAFSA application. C. CalWORKs may be seen as a program that assists the eligible to make a successful transition from welfare dependency to self-sufficiency. Thus, it targets a group that is generally older than that under the EOP&S program. Hence, childcare and related family-welfare services are included here. It is a state-sponsored program and targets the low-income group ( TANF recipients) but caters to state residents only. CARE students are eligible too. D. CARE is an additional program under EOP&S designed for single parents who are determined to be in the low-income group (TANF recipients) but who wish to attend college full-time. This is also a state-sponsored program and is available to state residents only. Applicants must have applied under FAFSA and be eligible for EOP&S. COMPARATIVE TABLE Name of program Funding Population served Eligibility Title-5 1 FAFSA Federal Students across the US Wide - almost every aspiring student in the US on the right side of the law Non-US citizens eligible too Services available through Disabled Student Program and Services over and above those offered by college for those determined to have disabilities. Examples of support services rendered: interpreter for hearing-impaired, note-taker, reader, transcription services, transportation, specialized instruction, counseling etc. Federal funding. 2 EOP&S For post-secondary educational goals. State Students of the State Fulltime educationally, socially, economically, disadvantaged students. Must have applied through FAFSA 3 CalWORKs For transition from welfare to self-sufficiency. Family-welfare. State Students of the State. Low income/ socially disadvantaged Resident of the county and US citizens CARE students TANF recipients 4 CARE Additional program under EOP&S for single-parents. (Family-welfare) State Students of the State Single-parents Low-income socially disadvantaged. EOP&S eligible. Must have applied for FAFSA TANF recipients References: Ann Gorman, General Eligibility Requirements for CalWORKS Aid. Retrieved March 14, 2009 from http://hcom.csumb.edu/welfare/resources/content_frame.html CalWORKs Eligibility. Retrieved March 14, 2009 from http://www.ladpss.org/dpss/calworks/eligibility.cfm County of San Diego HHSA: Eligibility CalWORKs. Retrieved March 14, 2009 from http://www2.sdcounty.ca.gov/hhsa/ServiceDetails.asp?ServiceID=512 Disabled Students Program and Services (DSPS) , California Community Colleges System Office. Retrieved March 19, 2009 from http://www.cccco.edu/SystemOffice/Divisions/StudentServices/DSPS/tabid/616/Default.aspx EOPS, Santa Monica College. Retrieved March 14, 2009 from http://www.smc.edu/apps/comm.asp?Q=194 Extended Opportunity Programs and Services at San Diego College. Retrieved March 14, 2009 http://www.sdcity.edu/studentresources/eops/ Karen Waska, Your DSPA Students, Cuesta College, FYI from DSPS, Vol 1, Issue1, March 27, 2006. Retrieved March 19, 2009 from http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/DSPS/Newsletter/Newsletter032706.pdf Student Aid Resources, Folsom Lake College. Retrieved March 14, 2009 from http://www.flc.losrios.edu/Student_Services/Student_Aid.htm Student Services at Golden West College, Huntington Beach. Retrieved March 14, 2009 from http://www.goldenwestcollege.edu/fao/# / Title 5 Regulations, Chancellor’s Office, California Community Colleges, DSPS Title 5 regulations, Disabled Students Program and Services, Revised 1993. Retrieved March 19, 2009 from http://www.chaffey.edu/dps/docs/PDF/8._Title_5_Regulations.pdf What is FAFSA?, Student Financial Aid Services. Retrieved March 14, 2009 from http://www.fafsa.com/Forms/Ajax/fafsa/what-is-fafsa.aspx Read More