First-generation, low-income students-of-color have a right to financially accessible education and a supportive environment in which we can thrive. However, the university failed to fully meet our demonstrated financial needs.

This remains one of the greatest barriers of the undeniable systemic inequalities that are prevalent at USC, especially during this pandemic. President Folt once said, “I believe if you’re a low-income student or a wealthy student, there should be no difference in your opportunity.” 

FGLI students at USC experience added stress, anxiety, and isolation as a result of their socio-economic status. We came together and built a list of demands for the university to expand financial aid, decrease tuition, and provide more adequate accommodations for low-income students. 

Expand and increase financial aid

1. Extend the free-tuition policy for families making under $80k to all current and incoming transfer students.
   
   1. Families covered by this expansion should not be expected to pay more than their EFC determined by FAFSA or DREAM Act.
   2. Eliminate minimum payment requirements for low-income students.
2. Cover room and board costs for families making under $80k.
   
   1. This includes current students, transfer students, and incoming first-year students. 
   2. Provide funds that allow students, who choose not to live on campus and remain with parents or relatives due to COVID-19, to create an adequate living and studying environment that equates on-campus dorms.
3. Remove home value/equity from financial aid calculations for current students and incoming transfer students.
4. Meet 100% of demonstrated need through gift aid, without the use of federal loans and federally required work-study.
   
   1. Work-study should be guaranteed to qualifying low-income students who choose to participate.
   2. For the 2020-2021 academic year and duration of this pandemic, students unable to work remotely from home should receive their total work-study award via direct deposit or check.
5. Establish year-long emergency grants available for low-income students in case of a financial emergency.
6. Ensure consistent and proportionate gift aid throughout the undergraduate experience.
   
   1. Student’s gift aid should not be reduced if they choose more affordable housing options off-campus.
   2. Scholarships and other awards should not reduce university gift aid but allow stacked awards so the student receives the maximum aid possible.
7. Expand financial aid to Undocumented Students
   
   1. Create and gift undocumented graduate students grants
   2. Create more scholarships open to undocumented students.
   3. Create a program similar to work-study that caters to support undocumented students unable to work.

Decrease tuition

1. Decrease tuition by 35% for the duration of this pandemic
   
   1. Reverse tuition increase for the academic year of 2020-2021. Tuition should not increase during a pandemic.
2. Adopt a tuition model that prevents a student’s tuition from increasing after they begin attending USC. Tuition increases should only apply to the incoming class, not current students at USC.
3. Cap tuition increases at 1.5% per year. 

Provide Accommodations for Low-Income Students

1. Communicate transparently and more efficiently about how financial aid is calculated and applied to students’ bills. 
2. Publicize community resources available to students on the financial aid website.
   
   1. Ex.  uninsured students should be informed on applying for Medi-Cal so that they are not required to purchase student health insurance. 
   2. Ex. students should be made aware of the process of applying for CalFresh.
3. Assign one financial officer to each student to act as a resource for every semester the student spends at USC.
4. Provide a designated financial aid officer for undocumented students and a direct phone line at USC Financial Aid office.

Instagram: @affordable.sc   Twitter: @AffordableSC   Facebook: @AffordableUSC