May 24, 2024

Dear ASHE Members-

On May 22, 2024, ASHE joined the American Council on Education (ACE) and 34 other higher education associations, including the National Association of College Admission Counseling and the National Association of Student Financial Aid, in sending a letter to leaders of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce and the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions with recommendations to remedy recent FAFSA delays.

The letter calls for legislative action to:

• Establish A Hold Harmless Protection for Institutions of Higher Education That Processed Original ISIRs 
• Move Up the FAFSA Deadline from January 1 to October 1 
• Require a Comprehensive Assessment of the Family Farm and Small Business Exclusion 
• Allow for Alternate SAIs to Ensure Maximum Aid Eligibility 
• Add the Housing Question Back to the FAFSA Form 
• Allow for Married Students Who Are Separated to be Considered Independent 
• Allow for Increased Usage of FAFSA Data 
• Reduce Income Verification Now that IRS Transfers Data Directly to ED 

In addition to the proposals listed, ASHE has advocated for future letters and advocacy on behalf of higher education to more directly address the disproportionate impacts on broad access and minority-serving institutions.

Sincerely,

Jeni Hart, PhD

she/her

ASHE President

president@ashe.ws