Whispering in the Ears of Aid Administrators

Steve Burd has happened to offend a number of people.

Financial aid administrators for suggesting they're robots who lack independent judgment and do what others tell them to do.

Members of the Arkansas delegation and their staff for suggesting they're unable to discern for themselves the merits of constituent communications.

Everyone else's intelligence.

Financial aid administrators are no more likely to do anyone's bidding than Mr. Burd is to do Michael Dannenberg's, Bob Shiremen's and the NY AG office's.

Burd sounds like many of the DL proponents that have drunk the Kool-Aid of those that claim DL will save money. (it won't) or that those involved in the FFEL program are a bunch of money hungry conniving capitalist that will do whatever it takes to secure a loan(they aren't.). "A Higher Ed Watch investigation last year found that 32 percent of individuals serving in leadership positions" really? This is supposed to show corruption or conflict of interest? How would you determine what you customer’s needs were or what improvements they were looking for. Additionally, what is not in the article is that 68 percent of the membership is institutional financial aid people. Try to stop shilling for the DL program and do an unbiased review. If HEW does this there is only one conclusion; both programs have a place but FFEL offers much more to it's partners then DL will or can and that includes participation in the organizations that further the goals of helping students find ways to finance their education

The following is from letters that I ahve written to my Congressional Representatives, based on my experiences:

The purpose I am writing to you is with the hopes that you would reconsider your current budget proposal to end the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL) and to move all loans to a Direct governmental loan program that is set to take place in the near future.

Please allow me to introduce myself. I am a servant of the public much like yourself. I am a Police Officer for the City of Houston, Texas. I am no different than anybody in the fact that I have a story of how I got to this point. My story correlates with your proposal, however of a different nature.

Previous to becoming an Officer for HPD, I had used the services from the FFEL program for both my undergraduate degree from Indiana Institute of Technology as well as my graduate degree from Indiana Wesleyan University. I am an individual who is thankful for the resources that allowed me to become a better person through training which would enable me to help others. Educationally, I currently possess a Masters degree in Community Counseling and am also a Nationally Certified Counselor. What this means is that I get to step out into the streets of Houston everyday and apply the skills I was diligently trained in, to help others. I could create a book in explaining the avenues in which I use the opportunities that have been given to me through my education. These opportunities derived from FFEL programs.

Fortunately, I was taught from a young age that acquiring an education is one of the most important things to life, that it’s something that can never be taken from you. In my memory education has always been viewed as one of the only “investments” that never depreciates in value. Without a program such as FFEL, I would have never had gotten where I am today, nor would I be able to continue to head in the direction I wish to continue to pursue. My dreams are to continue my research at the Doctoral level in the psychological field of Trauma, thus helping officers, soldiers, as well as citizens with unforeseen occurrences seek healing. That is the hope for the later chapters in my story. However, let me share what brought me to this point.

Upon graduating with my masters degree, I was in contact with my student loan lender and guarantor as I was instructed during the exit interview session given by my loan organization just before I graduated. Both organizations advised me that if I pursue a career as a public servant, as I am now, I may be eligible to a “Public Service” cancellation for my student loans. Though, my lending agency would lose my business, they told me that the only way I could possibly take advantage of this program is if I consolidated my loans to Direct lending. Therefore, I attempted to look into this “amazing opportunity”.

My story can be summarized as I type this letter to you, after acquainting myself of your current proposals on this topic. While I was in contact with the Direct lending servicer, I was very disappointed. First I tried to get information on the Department of Education web site about the Public Service program. That “research” took large amounts of my time and didn’t tell me anything more than my lender and guarantor had already told me within a five minute human to human interaction. I proceeded by attempting to call and verbally speak to a representative. My pursuits were seemingly just as wasteful in both time and energy. I received nothing in return but what we all label as a “runaround”. Either they were unwilling or unable to answer my questions. After several days and hours of this endeavor to research this “amazing opportunity”, I re-examined my options.

I have decided that I would rather pay my loans through my current FFEL servicer than take advantage of the Public Service cancellation possibility. This decision was not an easy one for an ideal candidate for such a program by being a hard working, middle class, single, female. But my decision was clear. If working with the direct lending program meant having to deal with the incompetence I encountered, leaving me more confused with a taste of dissatisfaction in my mouth than when I first began, I did not want to be a part of it. I would rather spend my time working and serving others than playing the limitless paperwork and voice recorder games. I will simply say that if your proposal goes through, borrowers like myself would not have a choice as to whom their servicing agency will be.

I believe that there may be other options than what you are presenting in your proposal. Please don’t mistake me for attempting to badmouth you or your team. However I want you to be aware of the many services that my FFEL servicer has provided over my lengthy educational journey. I would not be able to be as efficient in my job in serving others today if I had not had programs available to me, such as: educational training in financial aid, default prevention, loan and debt management counseling etc. As you can see these FFEL programs provide more than a simple “dollar figure” in a budget plan that they have been reduced to. Nothing but these types of programs that these service lenders provide can replace the package that they provide hundreds of thousands of people like me. In fact, its programs like these that can help prevent the state our economy is currently in from originating in the first place.

I appreciate your time and consideration in viewing this letter. I would willingly state that I represent thousands who have walked paths similar to mine, as well as thousands who have yet to walk their educational paths, in asking you to reconsider this proposal. I would not be able to be where I am today without the services that have been provided to me. I often remember this as I walk throughout my daily life interacting with the problems and emergencies I face as a public servant to the American Citizens. I would hope your children would be able to maximize on the same opportunities that I have been blessed with.

Sincerely,

Heather E. Ceo