"This is going to be a year like none other that we've ever seen," said Clantha McCurdy, vice chancellor at the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance. "A lot of parents have lost their jobs." McCurdy said there is no statewide count on re-evaluation applications - requests by students seeking another run at financial aid. But she said she has no doubt financial aid offices are seeing "huge increases" in requests. Financial counselors at the University of Massachusetts-Boston are encountering two petitions per day, up from two per month last year.
Judy Keyes, director of financial aid at UMass-Boston, sent an e-mail this spring telling students there is additional aid available. The e-mail encouraged students facing financial hardship to send the school a letter describing the circumstances, such as unemployment, reduced work hours and or a decreased credit rating.
