Package Two: "Government Shutdown"

Script

VO: DC may be shutting its doors

Sot: We have no yet reached an agreement

VO: And although the Federal government may seem a world away from students here in Iowa City, the possible shutdown could impact their future enrollment

Stand-up: I'm here in front of the financial aid office at the University of Iowa where officials are saying they are monitoring the situation with the government shutdown very closely.

SOT: I would not worry in the short term, we will continue dispersing financial aid to students as usual

VO: But the director says a long-term shutdown isn't that far away. If the government is closed for more than 3 to 4 weeks, the University of Iowa student financial aid office may also be forced to lock its doors forcing some students to find other ways to pay for school.

SOT: If they do have to go into a long-term shutdown, we'll have to re-evaluate our process. And at that point determine if we can continue dispersing loans to students. 

VO: But one University of Iowa student fears a loss in federal support could hold him back from receiving his diploma.

SOT: I have student loans and with graduation next year, it will be really tough

VO: And funding from outside sources that's already scarce for Iowa students, graduates of the state's three public instituions graduate with the highest amount of student debt, nearly 10 thousand dollars more than the nation's average student.

SOT: You know, going to college today you basically have to have a college education to get a job out of college

VO: Now while the government has less than seven hours to a possible close, these students may not have anything to worry about— at least not for another month.

Nicole Karlis, Daily Iowan TV