More than $3.6 million in student debt will be wiped away for San Joaquin Delta College students after the Board of Trustees voted this week. All debt of past and present students will be eliminated with the help of federal COVID-19 relief money, according to the college.”Delta has also distributed more than $7.5 million in emergency grants, and loaned out hundreds of laptops and textbooks free of charge,” the college said in a news release. Students who have holds placed on their records because of outstanding debt will now be able to re-enroll in classes to finish their education. Sixty percent of Delta students reported in a recent survey that they were struggling to meet one or more of their basic needs, the college said.”Many of our students struggle to pay their bills and put food on the table, which makes it all the more difficult for them to reach their educational goals,” said acting Superintendent/President Dr. Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson. “We absolutely must do everything we can to help them persevere.”This year, the Federal Reserve estimated that student loan debt in the United States hit a record $1.7 trillion. | RELATED | Department of Education looks to overhaul the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program The college has not finalized when the process will happen, but says no action will be required by students. College leaders are now encouraging students to register for Spring semester classes. The new semester begins the week of Jan. 17.
More than $3.6 million in student debt will be wiped away for San Joaquin Delta College students after the Board of Trustees voted this week.
All debt of past and present students will be eliminated with the help of federal COVID-19 relief money, according to the college.
“Delta has also distributed more than $7.5 million in emergency grants, and loaned out hundreds of laptops and textbooks free of charge,” the college said in a news release.
Students who have holds placed on their records because of outstanding debt will now be able to re-enroll in classes to finish their education.
Sixty percent of Delta students reported in a recent survey that they were struggling to meet one or more of their basic needs, the college said.
“Many of our students struggle to pay their bills and put food on the table, which makes it all the more difficult for them to reach their educational goals,” said acting Superintendent/President Dr. Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson. “We absolutely must do everything we can to help them persevere.”
This year, the Federal Reserve estimated that student loan debt in the United States hit a record $1.7 trillion.
| RELATED | Department of Education looks to overhaul the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
The college has not finalized when the process will happen, but says no action will be required by students. College leaders are now encouraging students to register for Spring semester classes. The new semester begins the week of Jan. 17.
