Written by Jalish Dawes
If Congress does not come to agreement in the near future, the sequestration will affect the number of students receiving federal work-study positions, the federal supplemental educational opportunity grant recipients and loan borrowers.
The sequestration is a term from the Budget Control Act of 2011 that was passed in August of 2011 as an “across-the-aboard” Federal budget cut in both defense, domestic, and education in order to decrease the debt deficit. The sequestration became the law of the land because Congress and the Obama Administration did not come to an agreement within weeks before the March 1 deadline.
Mary McKinney, executive director of the student financial assistance, has commented about the sequestration impacting federal assistance programs, particularly the federal work- study program and the federal supplemental educational opportunity program.
“We are not reducing the amount per student because it is not a large amount,” McKinney said. “We are reducing the amount of students that will be able to serve.”
The sequestration has limited the funding for the FWS program. McKinney said approximately $138,000 will be reduced from the FSW program.
There are approximately 30 work-study position will no longer available for the 2013-2014 academic year due to sequester cuts on education. The annual award for 30 potential work
study students are $4,600.
Dayna Brooks is a four year- work-study students at the College of Science. Brooks is among one of 800 work-study students at UCF’s campus.
“If I was not a senior, I would be a little upset,” Brooks said. “I am not affected by the budget cut, but it makes me upset. I know that the future students who qualified for FWS will be affected because it is really hard to find a job.”
McKinney also mentioned the sequestration has reduced money from the FSEOG program.
McKinney said approximately $120,000 will be reduce from the FSEOG program. There are approximately 150 students will impacted by the sequester tax cut for the 2013- 2014 academic year. The annual award for 150 potential FSEO recipients are $800.
Amir Sadeghi, a senior in the philosophy bachelor’s degree program, is disappointed about the reduced amount of funding for potential FSEOG recipient.
“I think these social programs are affecting people in need,” Sadeghi said. “The middle and wealthy people are not being affected by these social cuts; it is the poor people.”
Andre Compagno, electric engineer major, strongly favor for additional help to be given out to students who do not have enough to pay for college.
“If they are not able to afford it, somebody should give them opportunity to help these students pay for college,” Compagno said.
After the sequester went into effect on March 1, the loan fees for Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized loan increased from 1.0 percent to 1.051 percent. David Bergeron, acting assistant secretary for Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, has sent an Electronic News Announcement letter to all the universities across the globe about the sequester changes in federal assistance programs.
“The loan fee on a loan for $5,500 will increase by $2.80 from $55.00 to $57.80,” Bergeron said.
Brooks is also a senior student majoring in the undergraduate interdisciplinary studies program, she feels the two loan increases are going to affect her last semester in college. I am going to pay more in college to balance out my country’s debt,” Brooks said. “I understand the reasons for the increase, but I am paying more in terms of tuition for being an out-state student.”
Sadeghi also has mixed feelings about the increase $ 2.80 charged to Direct Loan borrowers. Sadeghi has loans for his entire education at UCF because his parents are not able to pay for his tuition.
“I guess it is necessary neither Congress nor Barack Obama could not agree for the amount of spending,” Sadeghi said. “I do not like it, but it is a necessary measure to decrease the deficit.”
On the other hand, Malik Johnson, a freshman student majoring in computer science, is upset about Congress and Barack Obama’s decision to increase loan fees for Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans. He creates game tutorials for a YouTube channel and receives $20 every thousand viewers.
“I am not really happy,” Johnson said. “It is more money I will have to pay. I now have to put more effort in working harder to produce more money.”
