AccessUVa program

For almost a decade, the University of Virginia (UVA) has been a leader in college access for low-income students with its AccessUVa program. This program enabled students who have the brains, but not the bucks, to attend the institution without having to rely on hefty student loans. Just last week, UVA's governing board, the Board of Visitors, voted to overhaul the program and scale back funding. Students who already have trouble paying for college will now have to take out nearly $30,000 in student loans to attend UVA, saddling these students with far too much debt once they graduate. Sign our petition to tell the University of Virginia to restore funding to AccessUVa and ensure students don't graduate with massive debt! The next Board of Visitors meeting is scheduled for September 19th, giving us little over a month to raise our voices and let UVA know that they are making a HUGE mistake by decreasing funding for this groundbreaking program. We can all agree that with an endowment of over $5 billion, UVA should not be deferring thousands of bright, prospective students from attending because of student debt. Tell UVA's Board of Visitors: Don't shut the door on future students! Don't cut the AccessUVa program! A high-quality education does not have to mean high student debt. With our nation facing a cumulative student debt of over one trillion dollars, it's time for colleges to accept responsibility for their role in our college affordability crisis. Stand with me, members of the I AM NOT A LOAN campaign, and fellow students: Tell UVA's Board of Visitors to look out for its students and restore funding to AccessUVa. Forward, Iris Maria I AM NOT A LOAN P.S. To help us get as many signatures on this petition as possible, please forward this email on to at least five people in your network.

Student Loan Rate Hike on July 1st !

If you take out a student loan before July 1st, your interest rate will be 3.4%.

If you wait until after July 1st, it will DOUBLE to 6.8% !!

The only power that stop it from happening is Congress and it doesn't look likely that they will stop it. The didn't stop the sequestration earlier this year. So, I doubt this will be any different.

So, if you thinking on getting a student loan, NOW - THIS WEEK is the time to get it.

Update on Student Loan Programs

Before July 1, 2010, Stafford, PLUS, and Consolidation Loans were also made by private lenders under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFELSM) Program. As a result of the SAFRA Act, which was part of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, no further loans will be made under the FFEL Program beginning July 1, 2010. All new Stafford, PLUS, and Consolidation Loans will come directly from the U.S. Department of Education under the Direct Loan ProgramSM.

Students who have previously received a federal student loan from a private lender under the FFEL Program will need to complete a new promissory note to receive loans under the Direct Loan Program. Please check with the financial aid office at your school for specific instructions.

If you’re a student attending an institution located outside of the United States, your school is now able to participate in the Direct Loan Program. Please check with the financial aid representative at your school for specific instructions on how to obtain a Direct Loan for your next term.

This change does not impact the process of applying for federal grants, loans and work-study or the amount of federal aid that students are eligible to receive. Students interested in receiving federal student aid should continue to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSASM) for each school year that they wish to be considered for aid. If you have any questions about applying for federal student aid, please contact
1-800-4-FED-AID.

(Source: http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/studentloansupdate.jsp)