Students Need Relief

When Barack Obama announced his pick of Arne Duncan for secretary of Education earlier this week, much of the discussion focused on early education, with programs like No Child Left Behind and Head Start taking center stage.

But advocates for higher education are pushing for some immediate changes, namely, help for students struggling to get by in this economic downturn.

Campus Progress, United States Student Association, and US PIRG'S, along with many other groups, sent a letter to Congress on Monday asking that relief for colleges and students be included in the forthcoming economic stimulus package. They ask for an increase of the maximum Pell Grant from $4,700 to $7,000; more funding for the Federal Work Study Program, and the creation of an "emergency access" student loan pool for colleges who are committed to providing need-based aid. The letter points out that these changes could be made quickly, since they mostly augment existing programs.

The problem in a rough economy isn't merely students' ability to pay, it's also schools' ability to provide. New York, California, Virginia, Nevada and Massachusetts, just to name a few, Higher Ed Watch. Disproportionately, the burden falls on low or middle income students who may have to take on more loans or drop out entirely. This mini-bailout for higher-ed certainly won't solve all of these problems, but it could make a major difference for many students.

Comments (22)

1. Ms Currier,

   EVERYBODY wants their cut.

   Posted by Mask at 12/19/2008 @ 07:22am

2. I think students do need a helping hand from someone, everybody else is getting it. These poor kids are out there working all manner of jobs trying to make ends meet and put themselves through school in a lot of cases. I think it is high time they got a break especially if we can bail out all these power hungry, money grabbing other companies who have asked and been given money already. Time to invest in the young people now, these other folks have had day in the sun and if they have failed...oh well!!!

   Posted by Caj at 12/19/2008 @ 09:21am

3. Posted by Caj at 12/19/2008 @ 09:21am

   I didn't say they didn't need help, Caj...

   I'm just saying we've got priorities and everybody's "pet project" (in Ms Currier's case, it's college students) has to be ranked in importance.

   I want NASA fully funded and a lunar base program...but realize it's not like job creation, healthcare, reducing debt, infrastructure, etc.

   Posted by Mask at 12/19/2008 @ 09:31am

4. I think he actually said something true for a change...

   "Hell, I Need Relief for my down portfolio...."----Posted by HAPPYLonghorn at 12/19/2008 @ 10:28am

   HAPP, how much have you lost on paper now?

   Posted by Mask at 12/19/2008 @ 11:11am

5. whether we want to admit it or not a college degree these days amounts to a high school diploma from thirty years ago. it is simply necessary to have for many fields. yet when i graduate i will have nearly $90,000 worth of debt for this "high school diploma" all because i wish to become a teacher. don't get me started on graduate school which is becoming more and more necessary for teachers. to ask for a few extra thousand of need based assistance doesn't seem like too much. colleges and universities shouldn't be about who can best afford them, but rather who amongst the applicants is most qualified to attend them.

   Posted by melloyello1917 at 12/19/2008 @ 11:26am

6. I have a unique idea that appears to have never been given its due...

   Do the words...

   PART TIME JOB...

   ring any bells?

   My God.....things must be different at the poverty farm known as higher education...

   Maybe the tenured guys woiuld be willing to give up a little of their guarenteed cash? Naw.........

   Any chance?..

   I suggest some of these students learn the words..."you want fries with that"...

   after all, as soon as you graduate you will be ready to run the world as good liberals everywhere...and a little job experience, even at McDonalds might look good to a policy think tank....so you can better understand the "working poor"...

   Posted by YourJomamma at 12/19/2008 @ 1:25pm

7. whether we want to admit it or not a college degree these days amounts to a high school diploma from thirty years ago.

   bull-bleep. unlike you I was in high school and college 40 some years ago. there is no comparison.

   Posted by emile duBois at 12/19/2008 @ 2:24pm

8. To second "melloyello"'s sentiments: a college degree is essentially necessary in today's workforce.

   And we're not even talking about a free education: notice that one of the things that the letter asked for was increased funding for Federal WORK-study. Even a maximum Pell grant will barely cover tuition and textbooks at most community colleges. The real issue is that college costs are rising far faster than incomes of most American families, let alone students working as many part-time jobs as possible.

   Posted by CoraCurrier at 12/19/2008 @ 2:44pm

9. To second "melloyello"'s sentiments: a college degree is essentially necessary in today's workforce.

   And we're not even talking about a free education: notice that one of the things that the letter asked for was increased funding for Federal WORK-study. Even a maximum Pell grant will barely cover tuition and textbooks at most community colleges. The real issue is that college costs are rising far faster than incomes of most American families, let alone students working as many part-time jobs as possible.

   Posted by CoraCurrier at 12/19/2008 @ 2:44pm

10. I worked full time while going to college and while also raising 2 of our 5 children. No college loans, no pell grants.

    Too many young people today lack a sense of personal responsibility. Instead they are part of these "entitlement" generations that seem to feel that everything should be given to them. It's no wonder we have bailouts. It's what they teach these young people by example.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 12/19/2008 @ 10:45am

    I admire what you did and you are quite right in some cases young folks just want it all given to them on a silver platter and that I don't agree with. But there has to be balance for those who maybe need a helping hand, it may not have happened for you but I would like to think we could help them out in some way. Some of these young people are responsible but they are still finding it hard and I don't think we can shut the door on everyone.

    Posted by Caj at 12/19/2008 @ 3:31pm

11. From the article...

    They ask for an increase of the maximum Pell Grant from $4,700 to $7,000; more funding for the Federal Work Study Program, and the creation of an "emergency access" student loan pool for colleges who are committed to providing need-based aid.

    .

    Typical wing-nut responses...

    Do the words...

    PART TIME JOB...

    ring any bells?

    Posted by YourJomamma at 12/19/2008 @ 1:25pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    Now everybody wants free education.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 12/19/2008 @ 1:34pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    .

    So John, when you when to college, did you miss the 'reading comprehesion' class that might have helped you grasp the concept that a 'work study' IS 'a "PART TIME JPB"?

    And Larry, maybe it's been quite some time since you actually went to college (and you've already admitted you're too tight to have helped your own children with their education expenses) but here's a shocker for you...

    ...increasing a Pell Grant from $4,700 to $7,000 DOESN'T equate to "free education". The costs associated with a modern college education are quite a bit more than that.

    Posted by Lillian at 12/19/2008 @ 3:55pm

12. free education. what's wrong with that?

    after WW2 the US gave its soldiers a free education. worked out well, I'm told.

    here's what others do:

    Free Education in Europe

    Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Belgium and Austria

    full disclosure. I am the recipient of a totally free college education by the City College of NY, known then as the Harvard of the proletariat. class of '64

    while City Universities are no longer free, alas, my son is getting a free education there, thanks to Pell, Tap and other grants. a mixture of federal and state.

    Posted by emile duBois at 12/19/2008 @ 5:54pm

13. It wasn't free. I received college funding as a result of fighting for my country and exchanging full liberty for submission to authority, restriction of movement, restricted living quarters, etc.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 12/19/2008 @ 6:13pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    .

    Well actually, no.

    You received room and board, training, and a paycheck for those things Larry.

    The GI Bill benefits were a gift to WWII veterans - a gift that apparently, you took advantage of as well.

    It's essentially the same thing as what you'd call 'welfare' or 'the government teat', if anyone else does it.

    (Kind of like when you take those tax writeoffs for your 'expenses' - while the rest of us pay our fair share.)

    Posted by Lillian at 12/19/2008 @ 11:11pm

14. Posted by lvliberty1 at 12/19/2008 @ 11:31pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    So, you knew exactly what you were signing up for. That means you can't cry now about the low pay, the cold baracks, or anything else. You got exactly the compensation you were promised. And you know full well you didn't enlist for the 'free education' benefits - that you would gleefully deny every other American.

    The GI Bill WAS crafted for WWII veterans Larry and try as you might, you don't get to re-write that bit of history.

    And my analogies are absolutely dead on the mark - especially the one that has you 'sucking at the welfare teat' every time you write off stuff like your 'travel' expenses (hiding behind your 'religious' tax status) while the rest of us pay.

    It's YOUR hypocrisy Larry. Sorry but...

    ...you own it.

    Posted by Lillian at 12/20/2008 @ 12:10am

15. Posted by Lillian at 12/20/2008 @ 12:10am

    Doesn't sound like he's crying to me. He's just laying out the contract he agreed to. It's actually a pretty good deal. But, it's not a "free education". Nor should it be.

    Posted by twillie at 12/20/2008 @ 12:54am

16. a free education for all qualified citizens is the best investment a country can make.

    that is something not even the troglodytes here can dispute.

    Posted by emile duBois at 12/20/2008 @ 10:18am

17. funny how people rant against a free education. we never hear complaints about free police or free fire departments. you call the cops, they come, and it's free. same with the firefighters. our court system too is free.

    Posted by emile duBois at 12/20/2008 @ 10:24am

18. Bush said the other day he has been a strong supporter of education. If you disagree, I recommend that you send Bush an old shoe or flip flop. He can still be reached at: The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington DC 205000

    Posted by BushCamWildlife at 12/20/2008 @ 1:48pm

19. I worked full time while going to college and while also raising 2 of our 5 children. No college loans, no pell grants. Too many young people today lack a sense of personal responsibility. Instead they are part of these "entitlement" generations that seem to feel that everything should be given to them. It's no wonder we have bailouts. It's what they teach these young people by example.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 12/19/2008 @ 10:45am

    america imports engineers from india.

    a society that doesn't educate is doomed.

    two or three CBU-87's pay for an undergrad degree at u of m.......

    Posted by frosty zoom at 12/20/2008 @ 7:16pm

20. america imports engineers from india.

    a society that doesn't educate is doomed.

    two or three CBU-87's pay for an undergrad degree at u of m.......

    Posted by frosty zoom at 12/20/2008 @ 7:16pm

    Australia imports physicians and surgeons as well as engineers from India, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria and anywhere else properly trained professionals can be sourced.

    Although it has become politically incorrect to mention the average national differences in IQ, some of us here know that the Japanese and Chinese score higher than Anglo Saxon Australians (noticed the top student, this year, who perfect scored in mathematics and physics at the University (College) entrance exam was a 17 year old Afghan refugee who couldn't speak English when his family came to Australia 8 years ago).

    Given the size of the pool of students, with the potential to be outstanding academically, in Asian countries, expect to see a lot more professionals from that region working in our countries. That realisation also blunts a bit the mantra that education will guarantee we keep our place in the modern technological world.

    One problem in Australia and I guess it is similar in the States is that there is a dearth of students wanting to do maths-science. To change this our government is offering incentives to get elite teachers, in these fields, into our secondary schools.

    Our universities are full of mediocre students who would be more useful members of society working in factories rather than wasting their time and the public's money in mickey mouse university courses. That I suspect, if recent maths-science testing comparative results of students in the US is any guide, is also what is happening there.

    Posted by lrjones4 at 12/20/2008 @ 8:26pm

21. "america imports engineers from india. a society that doesn't educate is doomed. two or three CBU-87's pay for an undergrad degree at u of m......." Posted by frosty zoom at 12/20/2008 @ 7:16pm

    The first sentence contradicts the second. why spend capital to educate engineers, when we can import cheap ones who have been educated elsewhere?

    Posted by twillie at 12/20/2008 @ 8:42pm

22. What is required is highly qualified teachers to start with in schools across the country. We all know that some of them shouldn't even be teaching to start with...how can a child grow and absorb knowledge from someone who really doesn't have the full qualifications for the position. Some of these teachers may squeak through the system and that is the problem, that should not be the case...they should all be 100% qualified and not just have a passing grade so to speak!!! Like PE Obama has mentioned we need highly qualified teachers who earn good wages for their efforts...the future starts with the very young so it's worth the investment up front to make sure they get a quality education. No child should be excluded no matter what area they come from or how much their family earn or what race they are, that is all irrelevant. It's time to really get serious about education in this country, it's for all children not just the favoured few.

    Posted by Caj at 12/21/2008 @ 08:56am