With the economy suffering and the price of higher education growing, students depend on financial aid and grants to help fund their education now more than ever.
In 2009, there were 1,109 students at Plattsburgh State who received a Pell Grant, assistant director of Institutional Research Pamela Munson said.
Yet some students, like Jaclyn Weinrib, don’t even know what a Pell Grant is.
A Pell Grant can range from $100 to $5,350 in what director of Student Financial Services Todd Moravec called “free money” — money the student doesn’t have to pay back.
To be eligible for a Pell Grant, a student must be enrolled at least half time — six credit hours per semester. Other stipulations are based on a student’s financial need, cost of tuition and the student’s intent to remain enrolled for a full academic year, according to studentaid.gov.
“Congress has proposed (legislation) to encourage students to progress toward their degree faster … There is a concern around the country about how long it’s taking students to graduate,” Moravec said.
In an effort to propel students toward graduation, those eligible can now receive an additional Pell Grant for the summer 2010 semester. In the past, students could receive only two Pell Grants per year.
Moravec said providing this additional grant could “help students graduate faster.”
Congress raised the maximum Pell Grant for the 2010 academic year by $500. In 2010, Congress could increase the Pell Grant by $1,500, or another 37 percent.
According to whitehouse.gov, President Barack Obama’s administration plans to strengthen Pell Grants for future college students. His goal is to keep the value of the maximum Pell Grant and ensure it grows faster than inflation, while also eliminating the budget shortfalls that have previously occurred.
If a student is eligible, he or she is encouraged to apply for financial aid for each year in which he or she will be enrolled.
According to the United States Department of Education, some schools had refused to provide Pell Grant summer funding even when students still had remaining eligibility.
Moravec said it’s a little early for students to be thinking about summer.
However, if a number of students take advantage of the additional Pell Grant, it would allow “more revenue for the institution, which will help with the budget,” he said.
The college would then be able to cut costs and increase revenue, which would allow for fewer budget cuts down the road.
Moravec said students can also benefit by getting some of their classes out of the way before the fall semester — they just have to be moving toward their degree.
Still, some students are unaware of this option or don’t want to spend their summer behind a desk.
“I don’t want to use up my summer to try and graduate,” PSUC student Jon Friedman said.
He would much rather enjoy his break, he said.
Still, those who are already receiving grants now have the opportunity to take advantage of the summer semester. And for those who don’t know about the grants, bulletins will be displayed and e-mails distributed, two to four weeks before registration opens, Moravec said.
“Maybe they (students) will find out too late,” Moravec said. “Hopefully each year more and more students will want to do it.”
Be the first to comment on this article!