San Antonio--Higher education is in jeopardy of returning to its more elitist past when only the most affluent could afford to attend college, reveals a new policy research report released this week by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) to the 535 members of the 104th U.S. Congress. The policy research report, Statement of Principles for Student Financial Assistance, advocates principles upon which our national student financial aid policies should be based as Congress and the Clinton administration deliberate on which programs to eliminate or reduce from the federal budget.

The report highlights the environment of scarce resources for Hispanic and those institutions that enroll them; barriers inherent in the federal aid process; chronic underfunding of the Pell Grant; increased loan aid and debt burden; and lack of information and access to higher education for Hispanics.

Presidents and financial aid officers representing 127 Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) are concerned that reducing or eliminating programs that assist Hispanic students pursuing a college education will result in fewer Hispanics going to college.

"In the face of escalating college costs, a growing college-going Hispanic population, and federal budget cuts, it is imperative that aid programs and national policy continue to promote equal access for all Americans," said Laudelina Martinez, president of HACU. "We must safeguard the future of our nation's youth for our economic and social well-being."

College costs have risen steadily over the past decade, but aid levels, particularly federal grant dollars, have failed to keep pace with these increases, the report states. As a result, students and their families have had to assume a larger share of the cost of obtaining a higher education. Hispanics have been particularly affected because many come from low-income families.

As a membership organization that is concerned with promoting educational opportunities for the Hispanic population, HACU advocates the following principles upon which national student financial aid policies should be based. They are as follows:

1. Student financial assistance should ensure access for all Americans who have an interest in, and an ability to benefit from, postsecondary education.

2. Student aid should be a predictable and reliable source of support for students.

3. Simplicity should be promoted in the process of determining student eligibility and delivery of aid.

4. Federal and state aid should emphasize grant assistance first, loan forgiveness and work study opportunities second, and loans and other repayable aid last.

5. Student aid should emphasize grant assistance first, loan forgiveness and work-study opportunities second, and loans and other repayable aid last.

6. Student aid is only one of several essential strategies that must be pursued to ensure access to, and success in, postsecondary education.

7. Oversight of government aid programs should distinguish between student needs for consumer information and institutional responsibilities to serve as effective stewards of taxpayer resources.

The last in a series of HACU policy research reports, Statement of Principles for Student Financial Assistance was funded in part by the AT&T Foundation.

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