Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) joined university presidents from across the country earlier this week in an event to highlight the importance of the Federal Pell Grant Program.
The nine university presidents in attendance represented institutions with high minority populations, including the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University and the University of Missouri, Kansas City.
Also in attendance were several students from universities who came to Capitol Hill to speak with lawmakers about how significant Pell Grants are in maximizing their success and securing America’s economic growth and prosperity.
Pell Grants are a part of the federal financial aid program and provide need-based grants to low-income undergraduate students. In certain situations, students enrolled in post-baccalaureate teacher certification programs are eligible to receive a Pell Grant.
Unlike loans, Pell Grants do not have to be paid back, and money is awarded directly to the universities based on specific financial needs of the students and costs of attendance. Money awarded is also determined by the student’s enrollment status of either a full- or part-time student.
Pell Grants are particularly critical for African-American and other minority students from low-income families who do not have many options for paying for a college education.
With congressional Republicans placing Pell Grants on the chopping block, many students, particularly minority students, will be hit hard.
“They want to cut the Pell Grants enormously. They want to keep tax breaks for the pampered and prosperous and nail the Pell Grants,” said Mikulski. “If America is going to continue to be a super power, it needs to have super-educated young people.”
“I don’t think you can say that you have the best interest of this country at heart and cut Pell Grants,” said University of Missouri, Kansas City President Leo Morton. “I think cutting Pell Grants is like eating seed corn; you’re just cutting off the future.”
University of Maryland Eastern Shore sophomore Melissa Davis is just one of four children in her low-income African-American household. She explained that without Pell Grants and other financial aid, she and her sisters would not be able to attend college.
“I come from a large family, and there just isn’t enough money to send us to college,” said Davis. “I want to be a pediatrician, and my sisters want to be lawyers. To do that, we have to go to college, and if the Pell Grant gets taken away, I don’t know what we would do.”
Mikulski and Cardin, along with the university presidents challenged lawmakers to consider the impact cutting the Pell Grant program would have on young people and the nation.
Morgan State University President David Wilson said, “I call on Congress to certainly not close the door to opportunity, not close the door to progress and innovation. Keep that door open.”
