University Business - November/December 2010 - (Page 30)

financial aid “I would be more inclined to support an effort to help undocumented students obtain citizenship while in high school, before reaching college age,” one financial aid administrator writes in a comment to Wolf’s blog entry. Illegal, but Not ForeIgN The bill would allow children who were brought to the United States before the age of 16 to earn citizenship through higher education or military service. In her blog, Wolf stressed that these children have been raised and educated in the U.S. and the DREAM Act would prevent this population from being deported to a country about which they have little or no recollection. While most seem to sympathize with children brought here at an early age, one aid administrator responded to Wolf’s blog that children brought over just before they turn 16 are probably more familiar with their home country than the United States. New opportuNIty or reduNdaNcy DREAM Act opponents often argue that the bill offers amnesty to those who broke the law. Wolf responds to this point by arguing that the bill would not provide automatic citizenship to those who qualify. Instead, the legislation would provide a lengthy path to citizenship. The DREAM Act would establish a six-year conditional permanent residency status for students who were brought to this country before the age of 16, have been here at least five years as of the enactment date, graduate from a U.S. high school or obtain a GED credential, and meet other requirements. DREAMeligible individuals may qualify for permanent residency after six years by completing at least two years of higher education or military service. “The bill would help ensure this pop30 | November/December 2010 ulation becomes productive members of U.S. society instead of existing in limbo,” Wolf wrote. “These children have been raised and educated in U.S. schools and are willing to put on a uniform to defend the country or obtain a college education to contribute to the U.S. economy.” Some argue that the government should provide sufficient funds for citizens before pledging aid to illegals. Those who oppose the DREAM Act responded that the nation should force these individuals to go through the current process to becoming a citizen instead of providing an additional path. “Even if we concede that there was no way for them to impact the parents’ decision to bring them here illegally, once they hit college age (at the latest) they are making a conscious decision to stay here and keep the illegality going,” one aid administrator comments on the blog entry. “They may have been powerless to do something when they were brought here, but they can apply for citizenship on their own through other means. The act does not need to provide a redundant avenue.” dIstrIbutINg lImIted FuNds Several aid administrators argued that there is currently a lack of student aid funding for U.S. citizens. They maintain that the government should provide sufficient funds for citizens before pledging aid to illegal immigrants. “We cannot afford, nor should we aspire, to pay for the education of anyone who happens to be on American soil,” one aid administrator comments. “Our education is declining and no one would dispute that. So why spend the extra money for illegals when our own citizens are not making the grade?” another asks. Other aid administrators argued that we can’t afford to not educate this population. “This attitude that we should invest in educating only those who are worthy will lead our economy to its ruin,” an aid administrator comments. “I fear that this attitude is the residue of the era in our history when higher education was reserved only for the affluent. As a financial aid professional, I am all about expanding access to higher education … and not out of any philanthropic ideal, but as an economic imperative.” NASFAA represents a diverse membership of more than 18,000 aid administrators at about 2,800 institutions. This diversity means that the association can’t always represent the sometimes conflicting view of its members. When it comes to the DREAM Act, NASFAA joins the majority of the higher education community in supporting this legislation because it is consistent with NASFAA’s Statement of Ethical Principles. These principles were adopted in 1999 and provide a common foundation for accepted standards of conduct for aid offices. Among other principles, the statement asserts that aid offices should: • be committed to removing financial barriers for those who wish to pursue postsecondary learning • make every effort to assist students with financial need • support efforts to encourage students, as early as the elementary grades, to aspire to and plan for education beyond high school. For these reasons, NASFAA will continue to support the DREAM Act, but it will also continue to encourage debate about this and other issues. universitybusiness.com http://www.universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - November/December 2010

University Business - November/December 2010
Contents
Editor's Note
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Behind the News
Viewpoint
Financial Aid
Models of Efficiency
An Edible Arrangement
Friend or Foe?
Sense of Place
Independent Outlook
Internet Technology
What's New
End Note

University Business - November/December 2010