Photo Courtesy of SCSU.edu
South Carolina State University recently announced on their website that the school will be eliminating $9.8 million in student debt.
President Alexander Conyers announced Thursday that the university will clear account balances of over 2,500 students.
Thus action will provide students with financial help who were unable to return to college or afraid of not continuing due to financial hardship caused mainly by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are committing to providing these students with a clear path forward so they can continue their college education and graduate without the burden of financial debt caused by circumstances beyond their control,” Conyers said.
“Our university was founded on the tenet of providing students with access to a quality affordable education. That’s exactly what we intend to do. No student should have to sit home because they can’t afford to pay their past due debt after having experienced the financial devastation caused by a global pandemic,” he added.
This aid will relieve account balances for nearly 2,500 students.
The university is aware and has taken into account the demanding financial burdens that come to students as a result of the global pandemic.
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Moreover, the school wishes to focus on the student debt disparities that disproportionately impact students at HBCU’s and hoped to provide help for those need it.
Many of the students who have been given financial support have before this, been unable to register for classes due to outstanding balances.
Student leaders think the financial help will give students and their families a change to relive their monetary induced anxiety.
“This news means so much to our student body and their families,” SC State Student Government Association President Javonni Ayers said.
“We are grateful that our administration decided to put the concerns of our students first and relieve the stress and burdens that most families experienced during this pandemic. We are giving our students another opportunity to chase and realize their dreams; and that’s what we call Bulldog tenacity.”
According to NewsOne, Delaware State University also pledged to cancel over $700,000 in student loans for over 220 students through the American Rescue Plan Act that put in place by the Biden administration.