In January 2025, the Office of Management and Budget issued a memo, M-25-13, stating that federal loans and grants were to be frozen. Tom Oliver, vice president for enrollment and senior director of student financial services at Quincy University, was interviewed to discuss the topic and how it related to students.

What was QU’s initial reaction?

Oliver:  Well, always like any institution concern, but with respect to Title IV financial aid, which is where we draw most of our federal grants, we had a pretty good sense that Title IV financial aid, which are the Pell grants and student loans, those were not immediately going to be jeopardized.

It was pretty clear right off the bat that federal aid or like financial aid wouldn’t be affected for students. After the initial announcement, we got some guidance pretty quickly that financial aid for students was not going to be affected, primarily because financial aid for students isn’t given to the institution.

It’s given to the individuals and in the executive order it was written that grants that were given to individuals were going to be exempted from the freeze.

Could QU have done anything for its students if they were impacted by the change?

Oliver: If there had been something that would have had a direct impact to students, that would have been a conversation that would have been at the cabinet and the board of trustees level in terms of how the institution would respond to protect students to the best of our ability. But thankfully, we didn’t have to have those conversations.

Are there any plans or ideas in case something like this were to happen again?

Oliver: Well, anything can happen and it’s hard to prepare for the unknown. But the best thing we’re doing right now is just making sure we stay abreast of what we’re hearing from various professional associations, what we’re hearing from colleagues at other institutions.

We’re always looking forward and trying to anticipate what’s on the horizon.

Where can students be directed so they can stay updated?

Oliver: I would encourage students, particularly those who received Title IV financial aid, Pell Grant, student loans to look at the Department of Education website. Students can go to fasfa.gov. They can log into their account and actually get news, updates, and see what’s going on.

Do you have any advice or reassurance for any students who may have been worried?

Oliver: The most important thing is, I would tell students, continue to file the FAFSA. Follow deadlines, that’s one of the best ways students can always protect themselves is to do their paperwork as soon as possible.

So, don’t wait until summer to file the FAFSA for next fall. When students get their financial aid paperwork, turn it around quickly so that they lock in their awards as quickly as possible.

That’s one of the best things students can do right now and then continue just to be students. There are a lot of organizations out there in higher ed that are advocating for students and their financial aid.

But anytime a new administration comes into power, there can be changes in policy. So organizations of all types watch for where the direction of the new administration will go.

The memo was rescinded days after its release. Here is the M-25-13: