President Bush´s proposed budget would increase Pell Grants by $100 in each of the next five years.

Proposed budget would increase Pell maximum by $100

By: Steve Young

Posted: 2/15/05

President George W. Bush released his 2006 budget to Capitol Hill, government agencies and the press last week. His proposed budget will cut education funding by $530 million, while it increases maximum Pell Grants by $100 in each of the next five years. Out of the 150 programs cut, 48 are education department programs that total $4.2 billion in costs.

"While increasing the maximum Pell Grant is an important part of college affordability, the current proposal is misleading." said United States Student Association (USSA) President Ajita Talwalker in a press release. "A modest increase to the Pell Grant while simultaneously attacking the other parts of a student's aid package that are necessary for a student to go to school is not an educational success."

The Undergraduate Student Government (USG), along with the USSA, is supporting a resolution in support of the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA), which was signed into law to strengthen the ability of all U.S. citizens to attend schools of higher education. According to information provided by USG, in 2004 the 108th Congress said it would be able to approve a reauthorization in time for the 2005 budget; a temporary extension was given to the act through September 2005. It is presumed to be reviewed for permanent stay during the 109th session of Congress this year. The act's main goals are to expand access to higher education, ensure the correct use of federal funds and the quality of education provided, promote educational opportunities, respond to rising costs in tuition, reduce complications in aid and institutional aid programs and promote student academic preparation for post-secondary education.

John Jevitts, an 8th-semester Latin American and Caribbean studies and political science major, said USG is "working with the UConn Public Interest Research Group and meeting with Connecticut legislators, U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro, Rob Simmons, Christopher Shay and Sen. Chris Dodd, and working on campus by hosting a forum of panel members who are yet to be announced, distributing literature to students concerning the issue and compile a catalog of student testimonials who have chosen to tell their story as proof of the necessity of this act."

In addition, Jevitts said he will be going to Hartford on March 28 to lobby congressmen on this issue. USG has proclaimed March 14 to March 18 the "Higher Education Act Awareness Week."

"I am very disappointed. These grants allow many students to have greater access to higher education. It is necessary to improve our state's economic and social competitiveness," Jevitts said referring to the President's recently-released budget,

According to the USSA statistics records, the strength of the Pell Grant has declined from covering 84 percent of tuition at a four year public institution in 1975-76, to only covering 34 percent today. Jevitts said that this is because, "its purchasing power is not as strong because its value has not been adjusted since the time it was instituted."

USG supports the USSA's proposal to make the Pell Grant a fully-funded program. But, because of the HEA drug condition during its three-year period, 128,951 students have not been able to receive aid.
"Rapists and molesters can receive financial aid, but those who are convicted of a minor charge can never receive financial aid even if rehabilitated. Education is the best way for someone to be rehabilitated," Jevitts said.

The organization wants full repeal of this provision. The USSA would like Congress to provide more funding for the Gear Up program, which is, according to information provided by USG, vital in improving the lives of many low income students, providing access to mentorship and other support services so as to ensure admittance into college. Under the current law, students are forced to pay fees up front in order to get loans. This law cuts the student's funds for actual education costs and requires them to pay interest on the loans.

According to information provided by USG, financial obstacles have prevented 48 percent of college-qualified, low income high school graduates from attending a four year university. Seventy-five percent of UConn students receive some sort of financial aid.

"UConn was my only option for college because I did not get enough aid from other schools. A lot of my friends are well-qualified, but they did not get as much aid as me and could only afford to go to community colleges. If I didn't get this aid, I would not have gone to college," said Joseph Cherian, a 2nd-semester pharmacy major.

To add to the current budget proposal to cut aid, colleges now have an eight percent tuition hike each year across the country. Gov. M. Jodi Rell recently proposed a tuition freeze be put into place across all state colleges including UConn. It is not yet clear if this proposal will materialize.

Jevitts said this is a good step for creating conversation between Connecticut residents about the problem.

USG, along with other associated USSA chapters across the country are getting support for the reauthorization of this act early in the game, Jevitts said.

"By the time Congress is ready to review this act, they will already know where we stand," he said.