The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that proposes a 15 percent reduction in the maximum Pell Grant award. Currently at $5,550, the reduction would take effect fall 2011. <\/p>\n
Awarded to almost nine million students in the 2010-11 academic year, the Pell Grant is a federal grant that does not need to be repaid. According to the U.S.<\/p>\n
Department of Education website, eligibility requirements include financial need and satisfactory academic progress. Students must also be working towards a degree at an approved institution. <\/p>\n
In the budget proposal for 2012, President Obama proposes measures that may preserve the current amount, such as eliminating the availability of a second Pell Grant in a single academic year and taking away subsidized loans from graduate, medical and professional students.\u202f The savings from such measures could be enough to prevent reductions in the fall.\u202f
\n\u202f
\nTakeo Kubo, Director of Financial Aid at San Jose City College, gave some pointers to help students who depend on federal grants:\u202f apply for aid early, and complete your classes.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing into the fall semester, get things in order earlier in the summer time (May, June, July), so that you\u2019re receiving financial aid funds in September versus October or November,\u201d Kubo said. \t <\/p>\n
Planning ahead definitely helps when budgeting for the semester. Kubo said \u201cIt doesn\u2019t replace the funds they may stand to lose because of these cuts and everything, but it gets them their funds sooner, so that they can use them at the beginning of the semester for their books.\u201d<\/p>\n
Completing classes successfully can also prevent students from being placed on probation and having to petition for financial aid reinstatement.\u202f<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can let students know about different programs that are available,\u201d said Raymond Porras, Associated Students president and work-study student. \u201c\u2026 But for the most part, students have to actually get out there and find there\u2019s money available.\u201d<\/p>\n
It can be difficult to get students to take advantage of these programs. Porras said, \u201cWe tried to give away 100 book grants for $100 each, and we could only give away 75. Nobody wanted them (the other 25). It\u2019s hard to give away free money.\u201d \t\t <\/p>\n
In regards to scholarship applications this semester, Kubo said \u201cwe need more people to apply.\u201d<\/p>\n
Uninformed students such as 22-year-old nursing major Justina Gomez said \u201cthat (the Pell Grant reduction) doesn\u2019t sound very good.\u201d<\/p>\n
While a 15 percent reduction is a significant amount of lost funds, students can still fulfill their financial needs through scholarships, programs and other grants. Good grades and proper planning never hurt anyone, either.<\/p>\n
Robert Davis, a work-study student working in the counseling office, said \u201cThe ones that are dedicated, they\u2019ll find ways around it.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that proposes a 15 percent reduction in the maximum Pell Grant award. Currently at $5,550, the reduction would take effect fall 2011. Awarded to almost nine million students in the 2010-11 academic year, the Pell Grant is a federal grant that does not need to be…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"staff_name":[584],"class_list":["post-1228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","staff_name-rachel-de-la-torre"],"yoast_head":"\n