Dear all
Here is some feedback from the meeting I attended at the DfEE on
Friday on Hardship Loans. I will send a separate email about the
second meeting on monitoring the new arrangements generally
Hardship Loans
It was made quite clear that HLs would continue next year but also
that the DfEE recognised that they were not popular and that there
might be some changes that could be made for 1999/2000 which would at
least make the scheme more manageable.
I believe that one of the main issues is who HLs should be targetted
at. We therefore discussed the possibility of relaxing the criteria
(so that students do not have to be on the verge of leaving before
they can be considered) and removing the requirement to apply for
a HL before being eligible for Access Funds (so that we do not have
to burden those in the most need with additional debt). In this way,
institutions will genuinely have the discretion to decide, with the
student, whether the best solution for that individual is a Hardship
Loan or Access Funds or both.
The representatives from the DfEE seemed to take these points
seriously but want some additional information. It was agreed,
therefore, that CVCP and SCOP would do a sample survey of
institutions and I am currently working with them to determine what
the best questions are to ask. I hope those colleagues who are part
of the sample feel able to help, despite the extra work.
One question that I think would benefit from a wider airing and
perhaps some discussion on this list will concern the current level
of loan. One suggestion was that the maximum might be increased from
250pounds to 500pounds, but with the same cash limit so, in effect,
fewer loans but for a larger amount. I have mixed feelings about
this but have a nagging fear about the dangers of supporting larger
loans for those in hardship. What do others think? Would your view
be the same if the other changes outlined above were brought in?
Finally, on the issue of allocation procedure, the money for HLs was
distributed on the basis of estimated new entrant numbers.
Institutions were asked for their estimates by the Student Loans
Company last May and the money was distributed on a per capita basis
without any weighting. The figures provided to me recently by a
number of institutions, however, suggest that something has gone
wrong with this process. If you feel, therefore, that your
allocation may not be right you should check back with your Student
Loans Administrator to see what information was given to the SLC in
May.
Hope this is helpful. I look forward to hearing views on the 500
pound question.
Pam
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Pamela Bell-Ashe
University of Liverpool
Chair
Association of Managers of Student Services in Higher Education
Tel: 0151 794 2243
Fax: 0151 794 2249
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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