In order to answer the increasing demand for better higher education support, President Bush proposed last week to increase the Pell Grant maximum to $4,600 per student in the 2007 federal education budget with increased availability.
Nevertheless, there are whispers of skepticism concerning the source of this funding.
The average U.S. college student owes $15,500 after graduating from a four-year public college or university, according to the U.S. Department of Education. At the same time, state funding growth for higher education has fallen to its lowest level in more than two decades, according to the Department of Education. Additionally, the average public university’s tuition and fees rose 51 percent from 1995 to 2005.
Pell Grants, which are similar to scholarships because they require no repayment and are generally awarded to undergraduate students based on financial need, help to alleviate some of that debt. Eligibility is determined by the student’s FAFSA information.
Elizabeth Bickford, director of the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, stressed the value of the Pell Grant and its importance to so many needy students.
“I’m sure that our 3,800-plus Pell Grant recipients on campus would agree,” said Bickford, “that the Pell Grant is sort of a foundation in terms of the need-based grant assistance that students receive across the nation.”
In order to pay for the Pell Grant increase, Bush would cut the entire Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) program, an $880 million award pool that provides need-based aid of up to $4,000 to low-income students. Bush’s plan would also result in cutting lender subsidies by $18.8 billion.
Students receiving money from the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program, the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program and the widely known Perkins Loan Program will also be hit by Bush’s proposal. All three will be eliminated, resulting in more than $100 million in cuts.
Bickford said increased funding to some students shouldn’t come at the cost of others.
“When you take from one grant program to increase another grant program you’re not necessarily going to increase the total grants to the student,” said Bickford, “so I hope that they’re going to look at other ways.”
Additionally, the maximum award for the Academic Competitiveness Grant would increase by 50 percent. The grant is designed to reward low-income freshmen and sophomores with impressive high school academic records. The grant is awarded in addition to Pell Grants.
Students at the University were skeptical of Bush’s motives.
“Maybe if our president took some of the money from the war and used it for schools it would help out,” said senior Brynn Gomez.
Shana Simpson is a senior graduating in June after four years at the University. Her mother works in education so she has strong feelings regarding higher education funding. She isn’t a Pell Grant recipient and doesn’t depend on scholarships, but said she recognizes the importance of the budget.
“Higher education as a whole isn’t supported enough, especially since we put so much emphasis on it,” said Simpson. She thinks that funding is important “not just at the collegiate level but at all levels.”
Contact the higher education reporter at [email protected]
Bush proposes Pell Grant raise
Daily Emerald
February 12, 2007
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