Wellness: Helping those on the fringe

Last Thursday, I spoke to counselors at the New England conference of Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC). EOC's are part of the federal Trio programs which provide services in preparation and attainment of higher education. These drop-in centers are located all over the country and there are six or more in Massachusetts. Although they will turn no one away who requests service, they are specifically targeted to serve low income populations.

When Sally Daniels, from an EOC at the University of Maine, asked me to give an update on new federal regulations and default rehabilitation procedures, I was a bit skeptical. I've worked with these counselors before and I know them to be well informed and savvy. I was not sure I could add much to their well developed skills. And I was right. Although they listened politely to my presentation, they followed up with a lot of questions... very specific and detailed situations which their clients experience.

You see, EOC counselors work with people on the fringe. Their clients often receive low incomes, are often single parents, and quite frequently have prior defaulted student loans. Their clients are often looking at higher education as a second chance or a new start. They don't fit the mold of the standard financial aid process. So they challenged me with their questions. "Does a 22 year old divorced woman really have to apply as a dependent student?", "Why do independent students who have no other dependents have higher than normal student contributions?". And at one time, I gave an incorrect answer to one of their questions and they quickly pointed out my error to me. Not rudely, just an indication that they really know their stuff. I had a great interaction with them!

What does this all have to do with Wellness? After the program I got to thinking that Wellness also deals with borrowers on the fringe. With ASA's default rate at only 1.5 percent, it proves that most students successfully repay their college loans. But the 1 or 2 percent who default, or the 8 percent who are consistently delinquent, do need the support that ASA's Wellness programs provide. As we go forward, it is important to try to identify those borrowers who show characteristics of potential for default or delinquency and to proactively offer them the support services they will need. We have already identified borrowers who do not complete their program of study as an "at risk" group, and offer them our "Transitions" services (see blog entry 5.22.06).

So tell me, are there any populations you have identified as "at risk" for delinquency or default?

Best, Duane

Posted by Duane Quinn on November 07, 2006 at 08:56 AM EST

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