BALTIMORE — Federal funding to some student financial aid programs would be cut this year under proposals currently being debated by Congress and the Bush administration.
Conferees from the House of Representatives and Senate were scheduled to meet Monday night to begin negotiating a final appropriations bill that includes federal student aid programs. Much of the debate currently centers on the Pell Grant program, which helps low-income families pay college tuition.
The Bush administration announced last week it opposes a Senate bill to increase the maximum Pell Grant by $100 to $4,100. The White House has proposed maintaining the $4,000 limit, while increasing total funding to the program by $1.9 billion to cover its current deficit. Many university lobbyists are working to maintain increases called for in the Senate’s bill, citing increased need brought about by increasing enrollment, tuition costs and the weak economy. An estimated 4.4 million students received Pell Grants in 2002.
“If there is a cutback in the federal student aid programs, the entity that has to make up the difference is the college,” said Mark Lindenmeyer, Loyola’s director of financial aid and a member of the College Scholarship Service Assembly Council.

— Mike Memoli,

The Greyhound, Loyola

College-Maryland (U-WIRE)