97-05-15 Forum on Student Financial Concerns

TOWN HALL MEETING TO ADDRESS STUDENT FINANCIAL CONCERNS

     COLUMBUS -- Students at The Ohio State University are
invited to a public forum with Ohio State administrators
Wednesday (5/21) to discuss student concerns and questions about
state funding, financial aid, budget cuts and the state tuition
cap.

     The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) and The Office of
Student Affairs will sponsor the meeting which will begin at 8:30
p.m. in the North Dining Room of Morrill Tower, 1900 Cannon
Drive.

     “It is important that we offer a venue where students can
voice their opinions and concerns on financial issues that affect
the university,” said Michael Duga, director of legislative
affairs for USG.  “We collaborated with students and university
administrators because we felt that if it is student money that
is at issue, then students should have a voice.  This is a good
opportunity for students to be heard.”

     David Williams, vice president for student affairs, will
host the meeting, which will be in a town hall format with
students addressing members of the panel.  He said a meeting of
this sort is beneficial to both parents and students.

     “We want students to gain a better understanding of what is
happening in financial aid on a national as well as a state
level, to better inform them so they can have more input,”
Williams said.  “We want this meeting to be educational and
instructional for students and their parents -- to propel their
understanding of how the process of financing college can be
thought through.”

     William Shkurti, vice president for finance, and Colleen
O’Brien, director of state relations, will begin the session with
a presentation on the tuition cap and how it affects Ohio State,
followed by a question and answer period. Richard Stoddard,
director of federal relations, and Tally Hart, director of
financial aid, will then address the federal financial aid
process in relation to students at Ohio State. A question and
answer period will follow.

     Student members of the panel will include John Carney,
president of USG; Eric Reeves, president of the Inter-
Professional Council; and Kellie Hay, president of the Council of
Graduate Students.

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Contacts:
Michael Duga, Undergraduate Student Government, (614) 292-2101
David Williams, vice president for student affairs,
(614) 292-9334.


[Submitted by: Von Vargas  (vargas.12@osu.edu)
               
Thu, 15 May 1997 15:36:21 -0400 (EDT)]
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