Over six million dollars have been cut out of the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students budget for over 4,000 students that are enrolled. Students and their families may struggle with the financial situation as there is an estimated $1,700 deficit per student.

“When costs rise, there is always a possibility that students and their families cannot assume the additional financial responsibilities,” said Erin Cowser, Executive Director of Public and Governmental Affairs.

The difference in the financial aid is more significant in the 2017 spring semester than it was in the 2016 fall semester. Students received 93 percent of their TOPS for the previous fall semester, and only received 41.8 percent in the spring semester. 

This is one of many budget cuts that the university has faced recently, and will not be the last.  

“The mid-year cut that Southeastern received prior to the Christmas break was the eighteenth budget cut that Southeastern has suffered in the past nine years,” said Cowser. “State leaders have indicated that there will be another state deficit recognized in the coming weeks. Higher education is expected to receive a second mid-year budget cut in order to help make up that deficit.” 

The cuts are not permanent and are subject to change with the Joint Legislative Committee on the budget’s decisions. 

“The Legislature can make changes to the TOPS program,” said Cowser. “There are a myriad of changes involving funding rates and qualification requirements that have already been proposed for legislative discussion during upcoming Legislative Session.”

A letter from university President John L. Crain said that the administration’s plan to address the shortfall included a $440,000 cut mid-year. Crain also mentioned that there are more concerns in the current fiscal year state budget and that it may result in a shortage of several hundreds of millions of dollars in the upcoming education budget for the entirety of the state and its universities. 

As the third highest TOPS student enrollment university in Louisiana, the university shares information and assistance with students and their families to help them prepare for the financial toll. An available resource for students to cope with any monetary struggles are the payment plans. Students receive more time by using the payment plan, as it spreads the payments across three equal installments. Scholarships and aids qualify to pay the installments so students have until the last installments are due to obtain the money necessary.

Students have been informed that they must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, for the university to determine the aid that they qualify to have.

The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance offers students the opportunity to choose not to have TOPS during this semester in hopes that the cuts will be reversed and students receive full financial aid in the future. For more information on LOSFA payment options, visit osfa.state.la.us.