Archive

• April 2013
• February 2013
• December 2012
• November 2012
• October 2012
• September 2012
• March 2012
• February 2012
• January 2012
• December 2011
• November 2011
• October 2011
• September 2011
• August 2011
• July 2011
• June 2011
• May 2011
• April 2011
• March 2011
• February 2011
• January 2011
• December 2010
• November 2010
• October 2010
• September 2010
• August 2010
• July 2010
• June 2010
• May 2010
• April 2010
• March 2010
• January 2010
• December 2009
• November 2009
• October 2009
• September 2009
• July 2009
• May 2009
• April 2009
• March 2009
• February 2009
• January 2009
• December 2008
• November 2008
• October 2008
• September 2008

Pell Grants In Jeopardy

Although the budget deal reached by Congress to avoid a government shutdown preserved Pell Grants for the current fiscal year, the existing program is still in jeopardy.

Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a budget resolution to roll back the maximum Pell Grant award to 2008 levels for 2012-2013. This could means hundreds of dollars less for the neediest of students.

Although the resolution is non-binding and there is still more committee action before such an action might be taken, any downward changes to Pell Grant funding would have an especially profound effect on the Old Dominion community. Some 24 percent of Old Dominion students are Pell-eligible. For many of them, a change would very likely mean the difference between being able to stay in school and not.

Two student groups at ODU - the Student Government Association and the Government Relations Student Advisory Board - have begun letter writing campaigns against cuts to the program. I applaud their proactive approach and concern for their fellow students.

While I think we all recognize the need to reduce our national deficit, it would be counterproductive to make cuts that affect the future success of our knowledge-based economy.

This article was posted on: April 19, 2011