Inventory of the Records of the California Student Aid Commission 1955-1996

California State Archives

1020 "O" Street

Sacramento, California 95814

Phone: (916) 653-2246

Fax: (916) 653-7363

Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov

URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/

Inventory of the Records of the California Student Aid Commission

Collection number: R346, R215, F3940

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California

Processed by:: Jason Sarmiento
Date Completed:: April 2014
Encoded by:: Ignacio Sanchez-Alonso

Descriptive Summary

Title: Inventory of the Records of the California Student Aid Commission 1955-1996

Dates: 1955-1996

Collection number: R346, R215, F3940

Creator: State Scholarship Commission, 1955-1965; Scholarship and Loan Commission, 1966-1974; Student Aid Commission, 1975-1996

Collection Size: 23 cubic feet

Repository: California State Archives

Sacramento, California

Abstract: The Student Aid Commission administers various financial aid programs for postsecondary schooling. The original commission, then known as the State Scholarship Commission, consisted of nine members, with representatives from private institutions, public universities, and members of governing boards of school districts. The records of the Student Aid Commission (SAC) comprise 23 cubic feet of textual records reflecting the various scholarship and loan programs of the Student Aid Commission and its predecessors. The collection covers the years of 1955-1996.

Physical location: California State Archives

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Administrative Information

Access

While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.

Publication Rights

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Student Aid Commission Records, [ID number].[series number], [box and folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Biography

The State Archives received these records in a series of transfers according to state law.The Student Aid Commission administers various financial aid programs for postsecondary schooling. The original commission, then known as the State Scholarship Commission, consisted of nine members, with representatives from private institutions, public universities, and members of governing boards of school districts. The State Scholarship Commission was created during the 1955 Regular Session of the Legislature (Chapter 1846) to administer a competitive college assistance program for California undergraduates, known as the State Scholarship Program. Eligible students for the State Scholarship Program were selected on the basis of a number of criteria, such as outstanding grade point averages, favorable scholastic aptitude test scores, and a demonstrated financial need via financial statements. The first scholarships were awarded in spring 1956, resulting in 600 state scholarships. By 1959, 1,600 scholarships were made available.

During a 1960 Legislative Special Session, the Legislature approved a budgetary increase for the Plan for Higher Education, which increased the number of award recipients to 5,120. During the same session, the awards amount increased from $300 to $900. In 1966, the commission was renamed the Scholarship and Loan Commission and expanded to include broader financial aid programs. The name change was in accordance to Chapter 1405, Statutesof 1965, which authorized the expansion of the original commission. The commission included two additional financial assistance programs: the State Graduate Fellowship Program and the State Guaranteed Loan Program. The State Graduate Fellowship Program was similar to the State Scholarship Program, as it financially assisted academically eligible students with tuition and fees. However, the fellowship program was only a year long program, reserved for students planning to teach at California colleges. The State Guaranteed Loan Program coincided with the authorized federal funds appropriated by the Higher Education Act of 1965. While eligible students were enrolled in college, the federal government covered the interest of the student loan in its entirety and half the interest upon graduation.

By 1971, the Scholarship and Loan Commission created two additional programs: the College Opportunity Program and the Occupational Education and Training Program. The College Opportunity Program was specifically targeted to disadvantaged students, who had potential for college success and community leadership. Selection into the program was determined by basis of need, grades, and letters of recommendations. Grant recipients received tuition funds after the first year, along with living allowances. Occupational Education and Training Grants provided skilled workers with post-secondary occupational education aid to talented disadvantaged students.

During the 1975-1976 fiscal year, the commission was renamed the Student Aid Commission. In accordance to Chapter 1270, Statutes of 1975 (AB1031), the commission expanded membership to eleven members, along with adding additional financial aid programs. After the 1975-1976 fiscal year, the Student Aid Commission implemented the Supervised Clinical Training Program, Student Financial Aid Information Program, Medical School Contract Program, and Bilingual Teacher Development Program.

For the 1977-1978 fiscal year, the Student Aid Commission implemented the Cal Grant Program. The Cal Grant Program was divided into three categories: the State Scholarship Program (Cal Grant A); College Opportunity Program (Cal Grant B); and Occupational Educational and Training Program (Cal Grant C). Chapter 113, Statutes of 1978, authorized the creation of the Student Opportunity and Access Program, which seeks to increase the accessibility of postsecondary education to both disadvantaged high school students and community college students. The goal of the program is to provide helpful information to postsecondary education, along with raising academic achievement levels of the program's candidates.

By the 1980s, various programs were either added, consolidated, and discontinued. During the 1984-1985 fiscal year, the Supervised Clinical Training Program was discontinued as it was determined to be unconstitutional. The various teacher programs were consolidated under the California State Work Study Program, including the Assumption Program of Loans for Education (APLE); Federal Congressional Teacher Scholarship Program; and Bilingual Teacher Grant Program.

During the 1990s, the Student Aid Commission established additional scholarship programs, such as the Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship and the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship. The Paul Douglas Scholarship provided academically eligible students with a $5,000 year scholarship for students pursuing a career in teaching. The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship granted exceptionally able students a $1,500 scholarship, renewable for at least four years. Consolidation and dissolution of programs also occurred during this time, as the California State Work Study Program and Bilingual Teacher Grant Program were discontinued,the APLE was established as an independent program, and the Paul Douglas Scholarship replaced the Federal Congressional Teacher Program.

Scope and Content

The records of the Student Aid Commission (SAC) comprise 23 cubic feet of textual records reflecting the various scholarship and loan programs of the Student Aid Commission and its predecessors. The collection covers the years of 1955-1996. The records are organized into 15 series and two subgroups. The first group is organized into two series: Administrative Files, 1955-1982; College Correspondence, 1985-1990. The Specialized Programs subgroup is organized into thirteen series: Student Aid Commission Special Program Reports, 1987-1993; Student Aid Commission Meeting Files, 1993-1994; Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program (PDTSP) Program Files, 1986-1996; Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program (PDTSP) Government Correspondence, 1986-1989; Assumption Program and Loans for Education (APLE) Meeting Files, 1983-1986; Assumption Program and Loans for Education (APLE) Reports, 1984-1992; Bilingual Teacher Grant (BTG) Correspondence, 1986-1989; Carl Perkins Program Files, 1986-1989; Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) Program Files, 1989-1990; State Work Study Correspondence (SWS), 1982-1986; SWS Meeting Files, 1987-1990; SWS Program Files, 1986-1988; SWS Reports, 1985-1990.

Found within this collection are program management materials, final reports, and meeting agendas and minutes, along with correspondences between university administrators, Department of Education officials, and Commission members. Although files are organized by department of origin, in many instances files overlap between the California Grant Programs and the Specialized Programs. The Administrative Files feature both aspects of the California Grant Programs and the Specialized Programs. The Administrative Files contains information pertaining to the administrative history of the SAC, State Scholarship Commission, and State Scholarship and Loan Commission. In the Specialized Programs sub-group, strengths of the collection include series pertaining to the development of the various scholarship and loan programs, such as the PDTSP Program Files (1986-1996), the Carl Perkins Program Files (1986-1989), APLE Reports (1984-1992), and the State Work Study Program Files (1986-1988).

Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Student loans

Student aid

California. Department of Education

F3940

Series 1 Administrative Files 1955-1982

Physical Description: 528 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically thereunder.

Scope and Content Note

Administrative files of the Student Aid Commission covering correspondence between the commission and various agencies affiliated with education and/or financial aid. Files cover a range of subject matter, including individual programs governed by the commission; federal, intercollegiate, and out-of-state programs; laws and other considerations affecting financial aid; and study reports.

See Appendix A in Additional Series Information for a complete list of folder titles in the Administrative Files.

Additional Series Information

Appendix A: List of Administrative Files

R346.001, Box 1, folders 1-15

Series 2 College Correspondence 1956-1967

Physical Description: 15 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by name of university.

Scope and Content Note

College Correspondence includes letters received and written by members of the commission and university administrators. The correspondence documents the status of scholarship award winners from each participating university, scholarship award status for each participating university, and schedules of tuition and fee charges.

Specialized Programs Unit 1979-1996

Scope and Content

The Student Aid Commission Specialized Programs focus on the various teacher scholarship awards and loans programs administered by the commission, including the Assumption and Loans for Education Program, Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship, Bilingual Teacher Grant, and Carl Perkins Scholarship. Additionally, the Specialized Programs Unit oversees the Law Enforcement Dependent Program and the State Work Study Program.

R215.001, Box 1, folders 16-24

Series 1 Student Aid Commission Specialized Program Reports 1987-1991

Physical Description: 9 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by program title.

Scope and Content

Contains various administrative reports pertaining to the program development of the specialized programs, including application and selection statistics, payment projections, legislative bills, policy bulletins, needs analysis, and proposed amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965. Files include Assumption Program of Loans For Education status reports, 1987-1991; Bilingual Teacher Grant, 1988-1989; Commission on Teacher Credentials, 1990; Financial Aid Processing System, 1989; Higher Education Amendments of 1992; Information Practices and Needs Analysis, 1988-1989; Paul Douglas and Robert Byrd, 1990-1991; and Policy Bulletins, 1989.

R215.002, Box 2, folders 1-5

Series 2 Student Aid Commission Meeting Files 1993-1994

Physical Description: 5 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by date of meeting.

Scope and Content

Meeting Files contain agenda and minutes pertaining to the overall administrative efforts for the Assumption Program of Loans for Education Program, Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program, Bilingual Teacher Grant, Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Program, and State Work Study Program.

R215.003, Box 2, folders 6-21

Series 3 Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program (PDTSP) Files 1988-1996

Physical Description: 16 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content

The Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program (PDTSP) Files contain information pertaining to the program management and development of the Paul Douglas scholarship. Subjects discussed in this series include: Application Procedures, 1988-1989; Audit Trails, 1989-1991; Collections, 1987-1989; CSAC and Program Policy and Operations Materials, 1987-1994; CTC Materials, 1987; Federal Legislations, 1991; GPA Requirements for CSU, 1986; Letters and Phone Calls, 1986-1990; Miscellaneous, 1987-1991; Participation Application Files, 1993-1996; Program Manuals, 1993-1994; Regulatory Actions, 1986-1996; and Selection Procedures, 1988-1989.

R215.004, Box 2, folders 22-23

Series 4 Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program (PDTSP) Government Correspondence 1986-1987

Physical Description: 2 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by correspondence date.

Scope and Content

The Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program is not a state program, rather a federally-run program administered through the California Student Aid Commission. California Education Code Sections 69741 and 69742 provide authority for CSAC to promulgate regulations. As such, the Government Correspondence includes letters sent and received by federal Department of Education officials and SAC members. The subjects discussed in the correspondence include federal program requirements, special grant terms and conditions, certification policies, scholarship program models, and teacher commitment agreements.

R215.005, Box 2, folder 24 - Box 3, folder 8

Series 5 Assumption Program and Loans for Education (APLE) Meeting Files 1983-1986

Physical Description: 11 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by committee name.

Scope and Content

APLE (Assumption Program and Loans for Education) Meeting Files contain agendas and minutes from the various overseeing groups of the APLE, including the APLE Advisory Committee 1985-1986; APLE Advisory Council, 1983-1986; Teacher Shortage Loan Assumption Program (TSLAP) Advisory Committee, 1983-1984; and Student Aid Commission, 1990.The topics found in the Meeting Files include program progress reports, amendments to enabling legislation, and the APLE Advisory Council's implementation and management of the Carl D. Perkins Scholarship.

R215.006, Box 3, folders 8-20

Series 6 Assumption Program and Loans for Education (APLE) Reports 1984-1992

Physical Description: 13 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Scope and Content

Files include various reports pertaining to the Assumption Program and Loans for Education (APLE) and its subsidiary programs. Subjects include: APLE Program Review, 1984-1985; APLE and Joint Review, 1986-1987; Joint Legislative Budget Committee, 1984-1985; Legislature Reports, 1985-1995; Phone Surveys, 1984-1989; Program Evaluations, 1984-1985; and Regulatory Actions, 1986-1988.

R215.007, Box 3, folder 21

Series 7 Bilingual Teacher Grant (BTG) Correspondence 1979-1980

Physical Description: 1 file folder

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by date of correspondence.

Scope and Content

Correspondence includes letters sent and received by California Department of Education officials, Student Aid Commission members, and members of the Legislative Budget Committee. The subjects discussed include the appointment advisory council members, the integration of the Bilingual Teacher Corps, and supporting legislation.

R215.008, Box 4, folders 1-2

Series 8 Carl Perkins Scholarship Program Files 1986-1989

Physical Description: 2 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by document date.

Scope and Content

Contains draft and finalized policies for the Carl Perkins Scholarship Program. Subjects discussed include new applicant criteria, rulemaking processes, selection procedures, and finalized regulations.

R215.009, Box 4, folder 3

Series 9 Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) Program File 1989-1990

Physical Description: 1 file folder

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by document date.

Scope and Content

LEPD Program Files include correspondences, template forms, and program information sheets. Subjects discussed include application procedures, scholarship eligibility information, and notification forms for potential award winners.

R215.010, Box 4, folders 4-6

Series 10 State Work Study (SWS) Correspondence 1987-1990

Physical Description: 3 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

Scope and Content

Correspondence includes Attorney General Correspondence, 1986; Meeting Notices, 1984; and Supporting Legislation Correspondence, 1984. The subjects discussed include the State Work Study institutional eligibility, funding, employer eligibility, and student eligibility.

R215.011, Box 4, folders 7-14

Series 11 State Work Study (SWS) Meeting Files 1987-1990

Physical Description: 8 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by date of meeting.

Scope and Content

State Work Study Meeting Files contains agendas, minutes, and correspondences from the SWS Advisory Committee and the Student Aid Commission. The subjects discussed in the Meeting Files include program responsibilities, statistics and year end reports, the history of the SWS, and the independent program evaluation mandated by the Office of the Legislative Analyst.

R215.012, Box 4, folders 15-21

Series 12 State Work Study (SWS) Program Files 1986-1988

Physical Description: 7 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Scope and Content

The SWS Program Files contains information pertaining to the management and development of the State Work Study program. Files include bill files, correspondence, news articles, operations reports, and scholarship manuals. Subjects discussed in this series include: Background Materials, 1982-1986; Cooperative and Intern Materials, 1986; Fact Sheet, 1987-1988; Operations Manual, 1986; Programs in Other States, 1982-1986; State Work Study Cooperative Manual, 1986.

R215.013, Box 4, folders 22-27

Series 13 State Work Study (SWS) Reports 1985-1990

Physical Description: 6 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Scope and Content

Contains various reports pertaining to the State Work Study (SWS), including: Final Reports, 1990; Interim Reports, 1989; Program Statistics, 1987-1989; Reallocation Requests, 1988-1989; SB417, 1985-1986, and Year End Reports, 1988-1989. Subjects discussed in the SWS Reports include scholarship development, budgetary matters, legislative analysis, and correspondence with program participants.