Some Student Debt Forgiven At Saint Elizabeth University

Morristown NJ

02 August, 2021

3:02 PM

Description

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, NJ — One-quarter of Saint Elizabeth's University students will get some debt forgiven. The university announced Monday it would eliminate $347,266 in balances for 118 full-time students. The university used money from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, which was part of the American Rescue Plan — a federal COVID-19 relief package passed earlier this year. Average savings come out to $2,940 per student. That comes out to about 9 percent of the university's $32,900 annual tuition — not counting $12,744 in room and board for on-campus students. But university President Dr. Gary Crosby said the forgiveness would make a difference for much of the student body. "Life has been a struggle for many of us," Crosby wrote in a letter to the school community, "and by clearing these balances, which average $2,940 per student, these undergraduates will get a new lease on their education. It's a way to help get back on track after a challenging year." >>>Want to win Six Flags Great Adventure Season Passes? Here's how. Additionally, the school received more than $1.6 million in emergency grants for student housing, food, childcare and technology through the CARES Act — the coronavirus relief package signed into law in March 2020. More than 66 percent of Saint Elizabeth students are Pell-eligible and often come from underrepresented, underserved populations that were among those hardest hit during the pandemic, according to the university. "Paying off this balance is particularly significant for our students because they come from families who typically may not even be able to afford an unexpected $500 bill," says Dr. Anthony Santamaria, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. "Imagine the impact of one or both of a student's parents losing their job as a result of the virus. That student would be forced to work full-time or fall behind on their tuition entirely." Rising senior Waliner Perez said in a press release he wouldn't have been able to continue his education without the tuition forgiveness. "I'm very grateful for the support I received from Saint Elizabeth University," Perez said. Several other New Jersey colleges have recently announced they will erase some student debt with part of their federal allocation. Bergen Community College will devote about $5 million toward what institution leaders estimate will impact more than 2,000 students. Hudson County Community College used $4.8 million to assist nearly 4,800 students. Thanks for reading. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip? Email [email protected]. Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter and follow the Morristown Patch Facebook page.