Don’t Restrict the Assistance

Written by The Shorthorn editorial board

Tuesday, 18 November 2008 07:32 PM

Editorial Roundup The issue: Maverick Promise raised the income level cap to $65,000 for those receiving aid. We suggest: Change the criteria for qualifications to help more students. The new Maverick Promise program offered by the university seems to be more of a publicity stunt than a promise. The program pays tuition for students who make less than $65,000 a year — but there’s a catch. To be eligible, students must qualify for the Pell Grant. Financial Aid director Karen Krause anticipated an additional 125 students being helped when the program raised its income cutoff from $40,000 to $65,000. This number pales in comparison to the estimated 1,500 students that Texas A&M University will help in the first year of its Aggie Assurance program. So why the difference? Senior media relations officer Sue Stevens says the difference in aid is due to the size of the school. UTA’s enrollment is about 25,000, while A&M tops out at 48,000. She said more students could qualify simply because more students attend Texas A&M. However, the real difference lies in the program’s qualifications. Aggie Assurance requires that students be Texas residents, and enter as full-time freshmen with adjusted gross incomes under $65,000 and have completed the FAFSA with demonstrated financial need. Students at UTA don’t have to be freshmen — merely undergraduate students and Texas residents who qualify for the Federal Pell Grant. UTA will pay the difference between what the Pell Grant covers and the actual cost of tuition. The Pell Grant eligibility limits the UTA program too much. Although the program helps a few with the increase, many students who fall in the $40,000 to $60,000 bracket will still be left behind. Department of Education statistics in 2007 on the distribution of Federal Pell Grant recipients by income level show that 4.7 million of the over 5 million that received some type of Pell Grant make less than $40,000 a year. UTA should focus on expanding the program to actually meet the needs of the students left without Pell Grants, but still making less than $65,000 a year. President James Spaniolo said he plans to allocate gas drilling revenue to scholarships and aid. For other sources of income, the university could scratch its plan to build a $500,000 diversity fountain. Promoting diversity could be better served helping diverse students afford college. Either way, the university should realize that by having the Pell Grant requirement for its Maverick Promise program, students and their families with incomes under $65,000 remain without aid — from the government or their university. — The Shorthorn editorial board Views: 1049 | E-mail   Be first to comment this article Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6 AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com All right reserved

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