The AS/EOP Grant program supports students by reimbursing unusual and or unforeseen educationally-related and emergency expenses incurred by all enrolled EOP students (roughly 35-40% of the undergraduate student population). AS/EOP grants are available to EOP students eligible to receive need-based financial aid through the UCSB Office of Financial Aid in accordance with nationally approved need analysis standards and UCSB deadlines and awarding procedures. The proposed fee increase will allow us to meet the needs of students in all the areas currently supported by the existing AS/EOP Grant program. Currently, the fund is insufficient to meet the needs of students (over 270 students receive the grant annually) as it is typically exhausted well before the end of the academic year thus creating additional hardship for our most vulnerable students. Examples of such qualifying expenses funded from the existing fee include (this is not an exhaustive list):
Medical, dental or optical expenses not covered by Student Health or private insurance.
A financial emergency as a result of receiving an eviction notice or other unusual and/or extenuating circumstances when rental costs have exceeded the financial aid allowances for any given quarter.
Grants for textbooks and/or supplies (including laptops) related to the student’s attendance at UCSB in the event of lost, damaged or stolen items.
An annual report on grant disbursements will be provided to the Associated Students and is overseen by the EOP Director, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the AS Executive Director.
Do you approve a fee increase of $1.80 per undergraduate per quarter ($1.67 for summer) for EOP emergency grants, from $1.25 to $3.05 (from $0.83 to $2.50 for summer)? Of the $1.80 collected, $0.45 is for a 25% return to aid, $0.09 is for a 7% administrative assessment collected by the campus on all non-capital expenditures, $0.01 is for the 1% AS recharge fee and $1.25 will go to the EOP. If passed, the fee increase would begin Fall 2023 and the entire fee (the base fee and the fee increase) would be subject to reaffirmation every two years thereafter as mandated by the AS Constitution.
Pro Statements
The AS/EOP Grant program supports students by reimbursing unusual and or unforeseen educationally-related and emergency expenses incurred by all enrolled EOP students (roughly 35-40% of the undergraduate student population). Examples of such qualifying expenses include
1. Medical, dental or optical expenses not covered by Student Health or private insurance.
2. Transportations expenses incurred due to the death or severe illness of an immediate family member.
3. A financial emergency as a result of receiving an eviction notice or other unusual and/or extenuating circumstances when rental costs have exceeded the financial aid allowances for any given quarter.
4. Grants for textbooks and/or supplies (including laptops) related to the student’s attendance at UCSB in the event of lost, damaged or stolen items.
5. Grants to fund any Graduate Preparatory Exam (e.g., CBEST, GRE, GMAT, MCAT & LSAT).
6. Grants for Graduate Program Testing Fees (e.g., CBEST, GRE, GMAT, MCAT & LSAT).
7. Grants to Offset Graduate/Professional Program Application Fees.
8. Grants to fund expenses for attending academic and research conferences and academic memberships.
The proposed fee increase will allow us to meet the needs of students in all the aforementioned areas. Currently, the fund is insufficient to meet the needs as it is typically exhausted well before the end of the academic year thus creating additional hardship for our most vulnerable students. Supporting this fee initiative will permit EOP to continue supporting students experiencing financial hardships. Please VOTE YES for the AS/EOP Grant!
Recent Comments