Huntington University students join the thousands of others across Indiana who will have the shortfall from their state financial aid package made up by their colleges.

An increase in applications forced the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana to cut the per-student financial aid allocation for this school year.

Huntington officials announced Thursday they will make up the difference between what students originally expected to receive and what they’ll get as part of their financial aid package from the state.

“For most of the Huntington students affected, the SSACI decision meant losing between $2,000 and $4,000 in state aid for the 2009-2010 academic year,” said Nate Perry, director of undergraduate admissions, in a prepared statement. “With classes starting in just a few weeks, the timing could not be worse.”

Hoosier college students previously received an estimate of how much money they could expect from the state and were supposed to be notified this week of the difference – a likely decrease. Even students who qualify for 100 percent assistance will receive a capped amount of money based on limits set by the state commission.

Indiana Tech, Manchester College, Trine University, the University of Saint Francis, Grace College and the University of Indianapolis have pledged to offset the shortfall for students.

Huntington will dip into its $700,000 rainy-day fund to finance the shortfall for the 253 students affected, 14 percent of whom are from Allen County.

“The economic challenges we face are significant,” Huntington College President G. Blair Dowden said. “Yet we want to do everything in our power to help ensure students’ success. Throughout our history, when times were tough, Huntington’s faculty, staff and students pulled together to meet challenges head-on.”

ksoderlund@jg.net