Sunday, July 24, 2011
Financial Crisis
I think one of the biggest problems the student community faces is a lack of financial stability especially in this climate. I have personally gone through it so I can talk for my self when I say that not having a sound financial backing can make college a very difficult experience. Right before I started college I didn't even know if I would be able to go to college. My father had just lost his job and I did not know of any other way to pay for my college. The lack of information and the lack of choices or options I had was frustrating until I learned of things like financial aid or student loans. Many students go through the same thing who are responsible for figuring out college expenses on their own. With the increased college fees, it has become a serious for most people because they can no longer continue school, not because they choose not to but because they cannot afford to do so anymore. Within the CPO walls these kinds of problems are dealt with everyday, students come into the office everyday with retention issues simply because they cannot afford to go to school anymore. This space works to ensure that students, especially underserved students are retained in the university and they work at several factors including financial aid. A committee was set last year as a way to fight the increased school fees and the economic conditions outside. This committee was created as a way to deal with students in critical financial need and who are struggling to stay in school simply because of financial reasons. These are students fighting to save other students in this university. Many people simply do not even know of the resources available to them through CPO but it is a space that is designed to offer any kind of help in order to see a student through his or her years in college.
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I admire very much the purpose of the retention center. As a member of a unrepresented community, I know that accessibility is one of the most important things that can help us get an education. Just knowing that you have open doors in this committee at UCLA really motivates us to keep moving forward. As a former AB-540 student, I know that we are always looking for support at our University. It is important for us to know that we have options. I am now in love with the work that the CPO does here at UCLA. I think that in order to make an impact in the world, we first have to change ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI understand where you are coming from. Like you right after I graduated high school I knew I could not afford attending to a four-year university which is why I went to El Camino College for two years and completed all my lower division classes. Not only did my two years in college cost me around $3,000 but being a transfer student open the doors to more financial opportunities such as grants and scholarships. Nevertheless, I am thankful to God because if it was not for the help I have received I would not be here at UCLA. I agree with both of you in saying how helpuful the Retention Center is and which is why we should promote it more often and I am not saying we should go out of our way is we do not have the time for that then we can just recommend the Retention Center and its resources to our peers in the classes we take; in addition, as the come into SAC they will learn more about what goes on in CPO!
ReplyDeleteStudents come from all kinds of backgrounds, culturally and financially. Although I have been lucky enough to not have to worry too much about financial obligations, I understand the burden and wish that there were more institutions in place to aid students in making the best decisions for their futures. Yes, they probably all exist; but, the fact that they are not in one place at one time becomes challenging for students. I think that the university itself should be more understanding and encouraging to those students who cannot afford or struggle with tuition. At times, i feel like students are just left out alone to dry because of financial matters. I think the financial aid office needs to be branched out and improved tremendously in order to help students. Financial aid should be a priority of the school for its students and i agree that the SRC should promote these things.
ReplyDeleteI too have felt the burden of financial problems on my pursuit of a higher education. I came to ucla thinking that financial aid would be able to take care of me or at least be available for any concerns. I found that the financial aid office isn't the best place to go if you have major concerns. Places such as the retention center are a blessing for so many people, regardless of financial backgrounds. It's a great place to meet people who open up about their own issues so that you can feel comfortable to look for help. That's so hard to find nowadays. I appreciate this place and hope that many more students come to learn of this place.
ReplyDeleteI think it is one of the most admirable thing that the UCLA campus has such a committee. It further empahsizes the goals and intentions of the people that work within the CPO. The fact that a committee was formed for the sole purpose of retaining students from underrepresented communities here on our campus shows that it is a matter of making sure that people of all backgrounds are able to continue getting higher education regardless of the hardships that come with it. The CPO truly is a safe haven for all.
ReplyDeleteI am very glad to know that ucla has such committee to retain students from underrepresented communities. It is just sad to see students who have much potentials drop out of college because of financial reasons. But i want to know how what methods CPO uses to retain these students. Is it by creating more jobs or more scholarships for these students? But i am wondering if those are enough. I have heard before in other places, some companies make contracts with potential students at school to support their education, and students in return have to work at those companies after they graduate for several years. In this way, they don't have much pressure to make money. And the another way is that the government gives funds to qualified students without letting them to pay much, but after they graduate, students need to work at assigned places for few years without getting too much. Although it is pretty same as borrowing money, i guess students do not have much burden under such situation because they know how and when to pay back.
ReplyDeleteI also had heard about companies promising a job to students before graduating college, but not like Qian mentions it on her post. It would be nice if companies would outreach more to colleges and invest in the education of youth, but I don't think that anyone would be able to get this form of financial aid. Students would definitely work harder to land their dream job, but I ask myself, " what would happen if a student decided to switch his major in the middle of his college career, after signing with the company?". I also don't think that companies would look at struggling students. Usually students who are in academic deficiency are also in some sort of financial need. They worry about this too much, having to work or drop courses, and I don't think the system would tend to their needs. And another forgotten group would be undocumented students. Yet another service denied, due to their immigration status.
ReplyDeleteWith the way the California economy's going, it's very likely that they'll keep on increasing tuition at state universities to try to get money from somewhere. Thankfully, the retention center gives students resources on how to get additional money for education. Education is one way for students to make their lives and those in their communities better.
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