Students see slim financial relief in Bush's budget

A college education may become marginally more affordable for low-income students, if President Bush's budget proposal is adopted. Bush's detailed budget request for the 2002 fiscal year, sent to Congress on Monday, contains proposed allocations of federal money, which include initiatives related to higher education. Under Bush's proposal, the funding for Pell Grants -- money provided to low- and middle-income undergraduate students to help them pay for college -- would increase by $1 billion. "One billion dollars for Pell Grants is the best way to give money to students who most need it," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said yesterday. This increase in funding from the 2001 estimate of $8.8 billion to $9.8 billion would increase the maximum possible award for each student by $100. According to the president's proposed budget, over four million low- and middle-income college students would receive Pell Grants in 2002, with the maximum award set at $3,850. The maximum award for 1999-2000 was $3,125. Pell Grants are awarded on the basis of financial eligibility and usually form a foundation to which other financial aid packages can be added. Although the budget will not result in a significant increase in grants, Undergraduate Assembly Chairman Michael Bassik said he feels it is a step in the right direction. "Every bit helps," said Bassik, a College senior. "More needs to be done, but how can you be critical of getting more money for college grants?" While campaigning last year, Bush had proposed increasing the maximum Pell Grants to $5,100 within five years for first-year students only. This received vast criticism from administrators and lobbyists for four-year universities and colleges. Though higher education officials are pleased the grant increases will be distributed to students in all years of college, some feel it is still not enough. "After listening to the president advocate leaving no child behind, it is extremely disappointing that his first budget does little to help the millions of students who rely on federal student aid to attend and complete the college of their choice," David Warren, president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, said in a statement. But Stanzel pointed out that the Higher Education Act does not come up for review for another three years, and thus Bush's other proposals are focusing primarily on elementary and secondary education. "Improving primary and secondary education will have a large impact on higher education," he said. In addition to increasing Pell Grants, Bush's proposal calls for more funding to aid historically African-American colleges, universities and graduate schools, as well as "Hispanic-serving institutions." The proposal calls for a 6.5 percent increase in funding to the historically African-American schools and a 5.8 percent increase in funding to Hispanic-serving institutions. Additional major spending for higher education is proposed for TRIO programs, which provide tutoring and student support services to help disabled, first-generation college and low-income students graduate from college.