Colleges Offer Extra Aid to Strapped Students

By BECKIE SUPIANO

Among all the uncertainty colleges face in this recession, they are sure of one thing: Families are feeling less than confident about their ability to pay for higher education. And many colleges are not sitting idly by.

Colleges are creating more student-aid programs or expanding existing ones. Others are offering students additional counseling or a grace period for paying their tuition bills. And even some that haven't seen an increase in student need are preparing for one next