Bybee ebcourages students proactivity for Pell Grant funding
Students nationwide affected by Pell Grant are encouraged to telephone, fax or e-mail their congressman to appeal for higher Pell Grant funding to ensure an increase in the maximum will take place as promised.
According to a American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) press release, both the House and Senate passed appropriations legislation for the current Fiscal Year 2002 that includes a $4,000 Pell Grant maximum, which equates to a $250 increase for the current year.
But due to the recent events of Sept. 11, these funds may not be granted after all, said Celestial Starr Bybee, executive vice president of Associated Students of Utah State University.
“If students don’t say they want it right now by contacting members of congress, it won’t be increased,” Bybee said.
David Baime, AACC director of Government Relations urged students nationwide to be active on this issue.
“The situation is dire, and we need to be heard from,” Baime said. “Students need to act very soon, within the next week,” he said.
Baime said the Pell Grant affects more than 4 million students nationwide.
Judy LeCheminant, director of Financial Aid at USU, said 6,054 students at USU received Pell Grant money totaling $12,477,882 in the 2000-01 academic school year.
“The numbers have probably gone up just a little bit [this year], maybe a few hundred,” LeCheminant said. “Our student body is getting larger, more people are applying,” she said.
Baime said the best thing students can do is to individually contact congressman specific to their state and explain why this money is so important.
Bybee and LeCheminant agreed.
“Pell grant covers living expenses as well as tuition and increases in the maximum affects all colleges,” Bybee said.
“Unless Congress hears from us now, it will vanish over the next few weeks and that is why this is so important.” LeCheminant said perhaps one of the best things students can do is to talk to their congressman about why and how Pell Grant money has played an important role in funding their education.
“This is a really good program. The feds should certainly be aware that education is a priority. It certainly couldn’t hurt [for students] to do whatever they can do to talk to congress,” LeCheminant said. “Sometimes that has more impact than anything else.”
Students wishing to take an active part in increasing Pell Grant Funding can e-mail Utah’s Senators at the following addresses: Sen. Orrin Hatch at senator_hatch@hatch.senate.gov, Sen. Robert Bennett at senator@bennett.senate.gov, or Gov. Mike Leavitt at governor@state.ut.us.