Appendices
Sample Communication From Individual to Member of Congress (Senate - House)

SAMPLE

April 17, 1997

The Honorable (First Name) (Last Name)
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator (Last Name):

My University strongly supports the NASFAA Reauthorization recommendation which would: "Permit schools to impose, at their option, 30-day delayed disbursement for first-time, first-year borrowers." This would take away the requirements that schools must delay disbursement, yet leave it in place for those schools who would choose this option.

Section 428 G (b)(1) of the Higher Education act currently requires a 30 day delayed disbursement for first time, first year borrowers in both the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) and Direct Loan (FDSL) programs.

Evidence on our campus shows that imposing the requirement has done little to prevent defaults. Instead, it causes hardship for our student borrowers, during this period, as some are unable to purchase all the books and related educational materials necessary to keep up with their studies. The initial educational experience for them is thus more difficult and some are even forced to drop out of school. In fact, 75% of all first-year, first-time students who have been awarded student loans and drop out before completing the first term at WYU, cite delayed delivery of loan dollars as the reason.

Please lend your support to include the NASFAA recommendation in your committee's reauthorization bill. I will be happy to provide additional information if needed.

Sincerely,

Althea Director
Director of Financial Aid
Western Yosemite University
104 Fremont Hall
Redwood, MY 598xx
(406) 243-xxxx

SAMPLE

April 30, 1996

The Honorable (First Name) (Last Name)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative (Last Name):

I am writing to express my concern with the presidential Honors Scholarship as outlined in President Clinton's 1997 Budget Request for Education.

As long as our goal is to improve access for students capable of doing post-secondary academic work but lacking the personal resources to pay for the education, the Honors Scholarship (which fortunately is not currently funded) is not an efficient use of public funds.

This financial aid director asserts that there will be more affluent students in the upper 5% of their graduating class than in the whole high school population. Furthermore, those 5% already garner a disproportionate share of private and institutional scholarships. Public policy does the most good when it assists capable, financially needy students to enter and remain in the higher education environment.

We have a State Scholarship Program in Kansas in which academically high achieving students are identified, but they cannot receive state scholarship funds unless they demonstrate financial need. It makes upperclass (>$60,000 income) families annoyed. However, we explain to them that if their fortunes take a downturn they they will receive funding . The designation is forever; the funding is conditional on financial need. We always try to remind them that they are earning nearly twice the average income of needy scholars and that they are indeed fortunate to have such relative financial affluence.

Federal and state taxpayer funded student financial aid should focus on access and choice for capable students who lack the private resources to pay their college costs.

Sincerely,

Randall Associate
Director of Financial Aid
Kansas Independent
123 Sunshine Hall
Brightness, KS 666xx
((913) 222-4444

DO...

• Address your Senator/Representative properly.
• Write legibly, (Handwritten letters are fine if they are readable).
• Be brief and to the point.
• Use your own words and your own stationery. Personal letters that show how something affects you or your school are more effective than formal letters. Be sure to include your return address on your letter.
• Include your complete address and sign your name legibly. (This will help members to communicate back to you).
• Be courteous and reasonable.
• Begin your letter by introducing yourself and your specific interest. Be certain to indicate whether you are a constituent, a representative of an institution in the representative's district or state, or representing the interests of a group who will be affected by the legislation or regulations you are addressing (if this information is obvious from your title, your letterhead, and your comments showing who will be affected and how, it is not necessary to reiterate all that in the body of your letter).
• Be constructive.
• Say "thank you" or "well done" when it's deserved and remember to write when you approve of a particular action, rather than just to complain or oppose an action.
• Establish your interest and concern in education and in young (and sometimes non-traditional) people (constituents).
• Be clear about what you are requesting.
• Be honest.
• Offer your assistance after the relationship with the Congressional office has been established.
• Send a note of thanks to the Congressional office when it is appropriate.
• Send personal letters.
• Point out the effects on students. Specific examples from your own institution will carry the most clout.

DON'T...

• Don't make threats or promises.
• Don't berate your Congressional representative or aide.
• Don't pretend to wield power and vast political influence.
• Don't become a constant "pen pal", writing on every issue being considered.
• Don't demand a commitment before the facts are in.
• Don't threaten loss of votes.
• Don't ramble or wander back and forth among several topics.
• Don't lie or skew the truth. This could end up embarrassing the aide or the Member of Congress.
• Don't send mimeographed letters and petitions.
• Don't over exaggerate the impact.
• Don't ask for something impossible.
• Don't villainize your opposition. Name calling directs attention from your point and undermines your credibility.

Informational Resources

1. NASFAA's Index of Legislation contained in NASFAA's Electronic Encyclopedia of Student Financial Aid. This is regularly update to provide a current list of laws governing student financial aid.
   
   
2. NASFAA's Special Reports provide aid administrators with copies of important laws along with guidelines on how to implement laws. You can also obtain copies of laws from your Representatives or Senators. You should have copies of all laws related to the student financial aid programs.
   
   
3. NASFAA's Index of Regulations contained in NASFAA's Electronic Encyclopedia of Student Financial Aid. This lists all current regulations by program, prior year information for Pell Grant and the Guaranteed Student Loan Program, and an alphabetical index by topic. This also has the numbering structure for federal student financial aid legislation and an example of regulation format.
   
   
4. NASFAA's Federal Monitor. previously proposed regulations were printed on yellow paper and final regulations were printed on white paper. Now, with same-day publication on NASFAA's Web Site, if an NPRM has a 30-day comment period, you'll have 30 days in which to develop and submit your comments. And the Federal Register NPRM, Notice, or Final Regulation will be available in a format that permits you to print out the document exactly as it looks in the published Federal Register.
   
   
5. NASFAA's Newsletter. The newsletters alerted you to upcoming regulations and NPRM's. They also gave a general summary and highlighted areas of interest and concern. Now, student aid articles will appear daily. Also, a weekly electronic NASFAA Newsletter will be published in place of the current semi-monthly paper edition. It will feature all the articles published the previous week including regulatory and legislative news and interpretations. It will also provide links to the full text of Federal Register (Federal Monitor) and other Department of Education documents available elsewhere on the NASFAA Web Site.
   
   
6. NASFAA's Hotline. This service provides the latest information about federal legislation, regulations and sub-regulatory "dear colleague" letters.
   
   
7. The Chronicle of Higher Education. The Chronicle has general articles on laws, regulations, Higher Education and student financial aid issues and events in Washington. It also provides lists of key Congressional Committees.
   
   
8. Higher Education Professional Association. Your institution's professional association can usually provide general information about laws and regulations that will affect your institution.
   
   
9. The Almanac of American Politics. Michael Barone and Grant Ujifusa. This reference guide provides geographic, biographic and statistical information about U.S. Senators and Representatives, their legislative interests and districts. The guide can help you tailor your lobbying efforts to individual member's interests.
   
   
10. The NASFAA Web Site (www.nasfaa.org). Available after July 1, 1997. The NASFAA Web Site will provide immediate access to NASFAA publications, letters, action items, "Higher Education" and student financial aid issues, and events in Washington. It will also provide the latest information about federal legislation, regulations and sub-regulatory "dear colleague" letters.
    
    
11. The Department of Education places selected legislation and regulatory information on their web site, www.ed.gov/offices/ope/.
    
    
12. Other Web Sites. Most regional and state financial aid associations now have web sites of their own as do the other Higher Education Professional Associations, guarantors, servicers, secondary markets, the Department of Education and others.