Post Classifieds
Students encouraged not to "Stop out"
By Sade McKenzie
On May 4, 2012
Buffalo State College's financial aid office is in the process of running a campaign that will help inform
students on how to finance their education.
"Stop in Stop out" is intended to help educate students on the financial aid process in order to help
prevent students from dropping out of college.
"I think if we can educate them on the advantages of going to school and getting a degree early, they
will have opportunities to pay their debt," said Mark Petrie, associate vice president for enrollment
management.
Petrie said he believes that a big reason students discontinue their college education is because of the
amount of money they owe. He said that many students who refuse to take out loans are typically the
students dropping out of school, and if students had more knowledge about financial aid they would be
more willing to apply for loans.
"Less than half are aware about the financial aid office and the process, more so freshman," said Jaquilla
Vinson, a junior education major.
According to Petrie, students need to understand that loans, like subsidized and unsubsidized, are not all
the same.
"Financial aid is a very complicated foreign thought for students and parents," Petrie said.
The campaign is also made to inform students about the disadvantages of withdrawing from school.
Petrie believes dropping out of college is more expensive than continuing and taking out loans.
"Every semester that you 'stop out' is one more semester it will take you to graduate and one semester
lost of earning power," Petrie said.
He compares the "Stop out" process to a ripple effect.
"Every time you drop out, it keeps adding," he said.
A student dropping out of college also affects the college's graduation rate. According to Petrie, schools
only base graduation rates on students who were in school for a consistent four years, or however long
it takes a student to graduate.
He hopes for the campaign to help assist students to stay in school and increase Buffalo State College's
graduation rate.
"It is a real issue, not something that we can overlook," Petrie said. "I believe financial aid literacy, or
getting information on financial aid to parents and students is the key to increasing our graduation
rate."
The campaign is not in effect yet, but will be starting as soon as administration finalizes promotion
plans. Petrie hopes to have the word spread through student web pages, workshops and information
sessions during orientation.
"Integrating financial aid into classroom settings would get the message across to students," said Lynn
Chilson, associate director of financial aid. "We are more than happy and willing to help students."
Sade McKenzie can be reached by email at mckenzie.record@live.com.
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