By Matthew Sotlar / The Jambar
With President Donald Trump’s memorandum requiring a freeze to all federal grant funding, many Youngstown State University students were left uncertain as to whether or not their loans, scholarships or grants would be affected.
The memorandum, which was issued Jan. 27, was rescinded two days later. John McDonell Jr., chief judge of the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island, issued an injunction on the order Feb. 10.
The Trump administration has clarified publicly that the freeze would not affect student loans or scholarships.
Melissa McKenney, YSU’s director of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, said the offices were flooded with calls from concerned students.
“We did get a lot of calls that day,” McKenney said. “What we conveyed to any student that contacted us was we have not been given any directives. If we do, you will get an official communication from the university and we will keep you posted on what’s going on.”
While the freeze would target multiple departments, such as the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Education, McKenney said the freeze itself would not directly affect YSU.
“From the standpoint of YSU, what is good is that they immediately confirmed that this would not affect our ability to disperse federal student loans and Federal Pell Grants,” McKenney said.
Although the freeze was blocked by U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan, there are still concerns over the potential reworking and passing of the memorandum.
McKenney said the office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is ultimately unsure as to whether or not funding will be impacted
“If we’re looking and say, ‘Well, what about next year? What about the year after that?’ Right now, we don’t know,” McKenney said. “First of all, we would have to ensure that [funding] is even going to be allowable, if it is determined to be allowable.”
The memorandum, which was issued by the President’s Office of Management and Budget, stated that financial assistance should be dedicated to advancing administration priorities, focusing taxpayer dollars to advance a stronger and safer America.
McKenney said every university in America would be affected by the freeze of student loans, not only YSU.
“If a worst-case scenario were to come down the pipeline and we are told to freeze all aid, then we would not be able to disperse aid as of that date … That would be pretty hefty because it wouldn’t just affect us, that would affect every single college,” McKenney said.
McKenney added students would not be affected by a federal freeze as they are paid the loans directly.
“The [Trump] administration is saying that payments that are made directly to individuals like students are likely not going to be affected by this,” McKenney said. “The likelihood of something like that happening is pretty minimal, but I know it would be concerning.”
McKenney urged any students who are concerned over the freeze or their loans, grants or scholarships to contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
“The one thing that I would hate to have happen is for misinformation to be spread and panic to ensue,” McKenney said. “You’re welcome to contact our office or contact the Penguin Service Center, both of our areas are able to answer your questions and will be able to communicate the best information that we have at that time.”