We, the undersigned, urgently call upon the U.S. Department of Education to prioritize timely disbursement of student cost of living refunds prior to the commencement of classes. This initiative seeks to alleviate financial burdens, such as food, rent, childcare and transportation, to ensure academic success from day one.

Currently, there are no clear laws which state when an educational institution must refund a student’s loans for cost of living and personal expenses to their account. So long as a school refunds the student within 14 days of tuition being paid, it is considered legal. However, institutions may make their tuition due dates for any day during the quarter or semester. Thus, prolonging the disbursement of living expenses and causing students to be without means to pay for basic necessities.

Some Universities claim this is to deter students from dropping out, so that the tuition is not able to be refunded after they receive the loans for their cost of living, and the school has ensured its own payment. This tactic leads to students being forced to attend classes for weeks at a time without any access to their loans, which for many students is their and their family’s sole source of income while they are in school.

We propose the U.S. Department of Education implement policy which ensures students, who take out excess loans in order to pay for their cost of living, are entitled to receive those funds prior to the commencement of classes. We do not oppose academic institutions withdrawing the cost of tuition only, prior to refunding the student with cost-of-living funds. We urge the U.S Department of Education to write an amendment to the current rules and guidelines for student loans, and ensure that the student’s wellbeing and access to funds to pay for essential living expenses be prioritized.

To achieve this goal, we call for collaborative efforts between students, faculty members, and university administrators. Through widespread advocacy, including social media campaigns, campus outreach initiatives, and collaboration with student organizations, we aim to raise awareness and mobilize support for this vital cause.