Many people are experiencing financial woe as a result of the government’s efforts to reduce the country’s deficit, and if they aren’t feeling the effects already, students could be next.

When Congress reviews spending cuts in March, one thing on the chopping block is federal financial aid.

“Obviously (cuts) would be bad, and depending on what type of student you are, there could be varying degrees of pain,” Kris Roach, director of admissions and financial aid, said.

If passed, federal financial aid would be cut by 8.2 percent. Other student aid programs, including Federal Work Study and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), would also see 8.2 percent cuts to their budgets. In addition, the mandate would impose a 7.6 percent increase to federal student loan origination fees. Overall, the Department of Education would see a total cut of $4.113 billion for the 2013 fiscal year.

Sophomore Susie Wolter said cuts to financial aid could very possibly affect her future at St. Thomas.

“It would obviously depend on how much they are cutting the programs, but any significant cut would affect my college career here at St. Thomas,” Wolter said.

Roach said there are many students at St. Thomas who receive funding in the form of federal financial aid, and many could suffer from the possible cuts.

“A lot (of students) receive federal aid in terms of the Pell Grants and the SEOG and Federal Perkins Loans,” Roach said. “We have students on federal work study, and certainly a number of students who borrow in the subsidized loan program.”

The Pell Grant is protected from cuts during the 2013 fiscal year, but Roach said cutting the SEOG, or imposing future cuts to the Pell Grant, would be a dramatic step for Congress.

“Those two programs are targeted to the neediest of students, and it would be very painful and very difficult for students if those dollars were cut because they simply need them to pay their tuition and their room and board,” Roach said.

Danielle McCartan, a St. Thomas graduate student, said she noticed financial aid was previously cut for many graduate programs, making finances difficult for many students.

“They have already cut a lot of our financial aid for grad programs, which has actually made it really difficult for a lot of graduate students,” McCartan said. “Especially for those of us who are trying to find jobs and be full time students.”

Junior Rich Amundson said he disapproves of the cuts, and thinks education should be considered a priority.

“Personally I think (it would be) a really bad decision (to cut financial aid),” Amundson said. “Education is really important and it’s already underrated.”

Roach said if the cuts pass, it would cause “quite a quandary” when dealing with the future of financial aid at St. Thomas.

“We would have to work with the senior leadership of the institution to have conversations about what options we might have to try to help or to try to mitigate,” Roach said. “But the reality is that there’s a budget and there are only so many dollars available for financial aid at St. Thomas.”

Roach said while it is natural to have a slight lack of confidence in the current economy, she hopes the great opportunities St. Thomas offers can continue to attract students.

“There’s just a lot of value to this experience and I think a lot of people see that. (St. Thomas) is a wonderful place, the facilities are amazing, we’re successful in lots of different ways, so that is all very much in St. Thomas’ favor,” Roach said.

While the cuts may cause some significant changes for both current college students and high school students hoping to enroll in college, the possibility of the cuts actually occurring remains unseen. Roach said she has no idea whether the cuts will occur or not, but she has good reason to hope they don’t.

“Education is vitally important to our country, and President Obama has certainly said many things about wanting to have a very educated populace,” Roach said. “So there’s a part of me that thinks education may be protected a little bit.”

Should the cuts occur, Roach said that the university’s main priority would be to help students as much as possible.

“Certainly St. Thomas is committed to doing everything it can to try and help students not only enroll, but remain at St. Thomas,” Roach said.

Wolter said she has faith that because St. Thomas is a tight-knit community, faculty and staff would focus on helping students should budgets grow tight.

“I’m close to faculty and financial aid workers, so I’m sure everyone involved would work hard to make sure students can continue going to school here in spite of cuts,” Wolter said.

While Congress’ decisions regarding the spending cuts may seem out of the public’s control control, citizens can take action by writing a letter to their congressional representative that explains why they believe financial aid is important, or why they believe it shouldn’t be cut. Roach said even this small step can make a difference.

“There’s a lot of power in us as the people and as the taxpayers,” Roach said.

Gabrielle Martinson can be reached at mart5649@stthomas.edu.