Because of a decrease in state funding, a large number of Oregon students did not receive the Oregon Opportunity Grant in their 2002-03 financial aid package.
The Oregon Opportunity Grant was created in 1971 to give low-income students access to higher education. At its inception, the grant was designed to cover tuition, books and additional costs. According to the Oregon Students Association, the grant is currently covering less than 11 percent of annual educational costs for the eligible students who receive it. It is estimated that nearly 10,000 students were turned away in 2001-02.
Director of Student Financial Aid Elizabeth Bickford said the grant provided students with $1,254 for the 2001-02 school year. The amount of money students receive from the grant usually increases every year but for the first time in at least 20 years the grant did not increase, she said.
With a rising number of students attending Oregon schools, the number of students receiving assistance from the grant decreased. Some students who received the grant for 2001-02 year did not receive it for next year.
Bickford said most of the students who turned in the completed financial aid application form by mid-March received the grant, but many students who applied later were not as fortunate.
Whether the grant will increase for the 2003-04 school year largely depends on the economy and the state’s budget. However, Bickford advises students who will be applying for 2003-04 school year to submit their applications early.