Efforts to forgive student debt during the pandemic was part of national discussion

Cheyney University was featured during the Nov. 9, CBS News Network’s “CBS Mornings” show with coverage by co-host Nate Burleson.

With the national discussions around student debt and loans, CBS featured Cheyney’s efforts to help students and families during an extremely challenging time by forgiving student balances from the spring 2020, fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters. President Aaron A. Walton spoke to Burleson about the university’s decision to utilize the American Rescue Plan funding to help students.

“The last thing we wanted to see is our students’ education at Cheyney interrupted because of issues related to the pandemic,” said President Walton, during his on-campus interview with Burleson. “I know many of our students’ families suffered as a result of the pandemic, and some students were thinking about dropping out of school because they needed to help at home.”

President Walton continued, “I know that our decisions don’t’ just impact our students. We impact their families.”

Chamar Palacio, a junior studying graphic design, also had the opportunity to tell his personal story and how eliminating the debt helped him continue his studies and to provide his living arrangements.

“You don’t know the relief that it gives to students. I see Cheyney as a family and they have given me so much,” said Palacio, when speaking with Burleson.

Watch Cheyney’s story by viewing the CBS news segment here.