COHEAO Helps in Saving Student Aid

For many years the Coalition of Higher Education Assistance Organizations (COHEAO) has participated in the Student Aid Alliance, an alliance of 74 organizations, mainly associations, that meet regularly in Washington and work on strategies to preserve student aid. Among the programs long supported by the Alliance is the Perkins Loan Program. (The Alliance website is: studentaidalliance.org.) COHEAO is participating in the latest Alliance initiative, a nationwide campaign to seek signatures on a letter that asks Congress not to make any more cuts to student aid programs. We’ve already seen $30 billion cut from various federal student aid programs. The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the Super Committee, has until Nov. 23 to come up with a plan, a plan that could include additional student aid cuts.

In an effort to head off those cuts, COHEAO is asking you to join in and sign on to a simple statement of support that calls on our elected officials to Save Student Aid.  You can sign on through this link to support: http://action.studentaidalliance.org/5371/save-student-aid-statement-support/?src=campus . This website is for campus professionals. A separate site has been set up for college presidents and chancellors, many of whom have already signed.

It may seem patently obvious to COHEAO members that student aid is important to our country’s future, and you no doubt are familiar with the key components of aid packages, including low-cost Perkins Loans. But Super Committee members and members of Congress need to hear more from as many people as possible. As the Super Committee’s deadline nears, we need your help. Please sign the Alliance statement of support expressing the opinion that for our country’s short- and long-term economic health, student aid funding must be preserved, and please encourage others to do so also.