Federal Pell Grant Increase....

Federal Pell Grant Increase.... (Full Version)

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BoiJen -> Federal Pell Grant Increase.... (3/25/2010 8:09:26 PM)
Last year, when the Federal Pell Grant was increased almost every college across the national increased it's cost of tuition. Argosy was no different. This year, and for the next 4 years, the Federal Pell Grant will increase by about $400 a year. The reason this increase occurs is to help students afford college and take out less in loans...not to create an ever increasing tuition cost for students. The grant subsidizes the cost of college for middle to low income students and families. When the Pell Grant first came into effect it covered about 77 percent of college costs. That was thirty years ago. Now the Pell Grant covers only about 35 percent of college costs. This system of student aid is being abused by most colleges every where to the detriment of students and their ability to find affordable education. The Pell grant,as it stands, would generally only cover one or two community college classes a semester. That rate is less than half time for students seeking a four year degree, which invalidates a student's ability to apply for federal tax credits associated with getting higher education (the Lifetime Learning credit and the American Opportunity credit for example). (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/25/eveningnews/main6333459.shtml?tag=cbsnewsTwoColUpperPromoArea) In many cases, there is no way to approach the decision makers of such actions by students at a school. And, frankly, what choice do students have? They either go to college and get a degree to aid in getting a job or getting a better paying job or they face maybe getting a minimum wage job...and in a country where minimum wage doesn't pay the bills or keep people above the country's poverty level, it's a trap. The other problem faced by students is apathy. If you're reading this and you choose not to contact your financial adviser and ask to speak to someone in an effort to prevent an increase in tuition, then it's on you when there's $70,000 racked up in student loans at the end of your education. If you are a student or parent of a student or know someone who is, I urge you all, contact your advisers today. Be preemptive in handling your financial futures. Do NOT allow yourselves to be forced to suck up another tuition increase. Write, call, email. Do something to stop an institutionalized abuse of government funds, YOUR TAX MONEY, meant to make getting an education easier for *you*. Sincerely, Jen Laws

thornhappy -> RE: Federal Pell Grant Increase.... (3/25/2010 9:31:53 PM)
Back in '77, a single student loan of $2400 could cover fees, books, and 7 months rent for an academic year (assume you're sharing a room). In '91, $2400 would cover fees, books, and 1 month of rent. In '93, $2400 would cover fees and books for 2 quarters. Around '98 or so, $2400 wouldn't even cover your fees. And people wonder why students get so far in debt. That wasn't a private school - that was the University of California at Santa Barbara.

BoiJen -> RE: Federal Pell Grant Increase.... (3/25/2010 9:33:34 PM)
Soon, you'll see a suggested note for a letter writing campaign, to state representatives and senators, seeking to create a federal or state level oversight and audit committee for any institution using federal student funds. The goal would be to force institutions using federal aid money for students that increase tuition costs to justify the increase with a proposed budget and have the increase approved. The idea would be to protect students and their financial future and to make sure tax payer grant funds go for a student's education, not some means to rape a students' and tax payers' wallets. I plan to start the letter writing campaign April 15th. Feel free to join. As a tax preparer on the side...I enjoy that date a great deal. boi

thornhappy -> RE: Federal Pell Grant Increase.... (3/25/2010 9:37:57 PM)
They're cutting a lot of positions and class offerings at UCSB, according to the alumni news. I'm glad I got out of there when I did.

Smutmonger -> RE: Federal Pell Grant Increase.... (3/25/2010 9:52:10 PM)
How do they justify the increase now? Inflation? The Dean needs a yacht?

DarlingSavage -> RE: Federal Pell Grant Increase.... (3/25/2010 9:54:23 PM)
What do you say to the advisors? They're still going to increase tuition, they don't care if you don't want it and how it affects you. But I'll be happy to join in on the letter writing campaign.

DarlingSavage -> RE: Federal Pell Grant Increase.... (3/25/2010 9:55:48 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Smutmonger How do they justify the increase now? Inflation? The Dean needs a yacht? Well, one year, I got a letter stating that they were increasing tuition fees in order to pay for the new football stadium I voted for. I didn't vote for any football stadium. Furthermore, our football team isn't worthy of a new stadium, they suck!

Vendaval -> RE: Federal Pell Grant Increase.... (3/26/2010 12:37:47 AM)
Ouch! Thank you for posting this BoiJen. There were student protests happening at the state capital this past week and teachers on all levels are being laid off. Since so many people cannot afford the Cal State and UC prices the community colleges have increased enrollment and that system also has lay-offs and classes being eliminated. thorny, the comparison of how the grants cover less and less every few years is very eye-opening. The fees at my college and the rent off campus increased several times while I was attending.

BoiJen -> RE: Federal Pell Grant Increase.... (3/26/2010 4:32:06 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DarlingSavage What do you say to the advisors? They're still going to increase tuition, they don't care if you don't want it and how it affects you. But I'll be happy to join in on the letter writing campaign. It's not the advisors that need to hear it so much as finding the student advocate or speaking with a student leadership counsel (if your school has one). Most schools have student advocates. Currently, they attempt to justify increases by saying "they're to keep the school competitive". Which is code for "I don't really know." Like with all things in this country, nobody does something until enough people complain. Please feel free to repost or link my OP on any forum you use. The more people who hear about it, the more people will become interested in doing something. We need to overcome apathy (obviously, this is not the only instance in which apathy and lack of motivation are a problem). boi

BoiJen -> RE: Federal Pell Grant Increase.... (3/26/2010 4:35:13 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Vendaval Ouch! Thank you for posting this BoiJen. There were student protests happening at the state capital this past week and teachers on all levels are being laid off. Since so many people cannot afford the Cal State and UC prices the community colleges have increased enrollment and that system also has lay-offs and classes being eliminated. thorny, the comparison of how the grants cover less and less every few years is very eye-opening. The fees at my college and the rent off campus increased several times while I was attending. It comes down to the institutional movement from colleges being a place of higher education to being a bunch of old people on a financial board padding their damned pockets. I, for one, am not ok with it. This and the subsequent letter writing campaign is me doing something about it. I hope other students (past, present, and future) and families and friends of students will choose to do something about it as well. Each of my classes has a full student roster email list. Each of my classes until the end of my education will receive this letter and a the subsequent letter writing campaign information twice while I'm enrolled in each class. boi

cadenas -> RE: Federal Pell Grant Increase.... (3/26/2010 5:24:29 AM)
One of the real culprits is the rise of diploma-mill private "colleges" whose only purpose is to collect as much in tuition as they can - often as much as $300/unit - while spending as little as possible on actual education. I used to teach at one of these schools, and can attest to the quality (or rather, lack thereof). For instance, in the Computer Information Systems department, they taught MS-DOS 6.0 until, I believe, 2005! The school was nominally a non-profit school, but the owner became a multimillionaire from it. Sure, tuition hikes in the UC system hurt, but it's nothing compared to the abuses from these kinds of schools. You can usually identify these colleges by two criteria: - Their credits don't transfer to renowned schools, only to other diploma mills, if that. - Look around the faculty parking lot what kinds of cars the faculty drives. If you see faculty drive cars more than ten years old, run! Diploma mills will pay as little as they can get away with, which is reflected in the age of the cars you will see. The average faculty income in the school I was teaching at was about half of the average income at a nearby community college. To prevent such abuses, I would propose a change in the rules: federal aid (not just Pell Grants, but all federal aid including student loans, Veterans Administration etc.) should be restricted only to schools whose credits transfer to state-operated schools, such as the UC system. quote: ORIGINAL: BoiJen When the Pell Grant first came into effect it covered about 77 percent of college costs. That was thirty years ago. Now the Pell Grant covers only about 35 percent of college costs. This system of student aid is being abused by most colleges every where to the detriment of students and their ability to find affordable education. The Pell grant,as it stands, would generally only cover one or two community college classes a semester.

pahunkboy -> RE: Federal Pell Grant Increase.... (3/26/2010 7:21:01 AM)
back when I was in school-- it went up to $18 a credit hour. This was the 80s. I hear tuition has gone up alot this year. Supposedly inflation is not an issue. None. So it is ALL YOU. The peon pays... and PAYS, and pays.

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