Whether it’s been officially announced or not, most experts believe that the U.S. economy is in recession. Technically, a recession occurs when the nation’s Gross Domestic Product has declined for at least two successive quarters. But to millions of Americans, the effects of recession are far less academic. Recessions usually mean layoffs, inflation, stagnant wages, and decreased net worth as markets (including retirement and college savings portfolios) tumble.

The 2008 recession is punctuated by a looming student loan credit crunch, which could make college access even more difficult during this recession. At the time this article was written, nearly 60 lenders dropped out or limited their participation in the federal student loan program. Sallie Mae—by far the largest student loan provider—announced that top executives are holding “daily deliberations” on whether the company will have enough capital to continue offering federal student loans.

Fortunately for most families, Congress, the Department of Education, colleges and universities, higher education associations, guaranty agencies and lenders are working diligently to ensure there are no disruptions in students’ access to loans.

But many families may still face an uphill battle in paying for college during a recession. A report from Illinois State University’s Center for the Study of Educational Policy found that during times of recession, state appropriations for higher education falter and financial access to college diminishes.

The report – Recession, Retrenchment, and Recovery: State Higher Education Funding & Student Financial Aid – examined the effects of recessions on financial access to college during recessions over a 25-year period from 1979 to 2004. During that period, the U.S. experienced four distinct recessions. The analysis found that during these recessions:

This all adds up to a double whammy for families who are experiencing the effects of the recession and being denied college access by decreases in state appropriations and financial aid funding. College enrollments also tend to increase during recessions, as many nontraditional and adult learners return to college to retool their skills or change career paths following a layoff. This places an additional strain on college budgets and financial aid resources, compounding an already difficult situation.

Still, the report found that there are steps colleges and states can take now to provide continued access and support to struggling families. Here are a few.

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan predicted in his book, The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World, that the U.S. and world economies would continue to see cycles of recession, perhaps on a faster rate than we’ve been used to in the past. The good news for schools—and ultimately families—is there are steps that can be taken at the state level to ensure continued access to student aid despite economic unrest.

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 14,000 financial aid professionals at nearly 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. Each year, financial aid professionals help more than 16 million students receive funding for postsecondary education. Based in Washington, D.C., NASFAA is the only national association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and training for financial aid administrators. In addition to its member Web site at www.NASFAA.org , the Association offers a Web site with financial aid information for parents and students at www.StudentAid.org.