Treatment of the Self-Supporting, Independent Student in the National Alternative System of Need Analysis.

The increasing prevalence of college students who are not financially dependent upon their parents for anything is discussed. Three basic issues are addressed: (1) the identification of an independent, self-supporting student; (2) the determination of how much money is needed to educate such a student; and (3) the delivery system for needed funds. It is recommended that these students be defined in a completely separate category, with the source of his funds for all purposes being the determining identification factor. The offering of partial financial assistance is seen as the most feasible solution for support, and it requires accurate projections of real costs and available resources. Priorities must be established to guide the distribution of funds. Suggestions are offered for developing budgets. The delivery system issue would be resolved by an option that concentrates funds for education on strictly educational costs in a descending order of priority. The proposed solution calls for utilization of a separate, two-step need analysis involving determination of Basic Opportunity Grant eligibility as well as Supplemental Financial Assistance awarded on the basis of projected yearly income. (LBH)