Alert

Saved by the Pell

Friday, June 10, 2016

Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bipartisan funding bill that will make The College Years more affordable for Missouri students by restoring year-round eligibility for Pell Grants. As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, Blunt successfully fought for restoration of year-round Pell in this year’s committee-passed bill.

Here are a couple of reasons we’re… SO EXCITED: 

• Making College More Affordable: The bill will provide an estimated one million students an average of $1,650 more during the 2017-18 school to help pay for college. (Senate Appropriations Committee, 6/7/16)

• Accelerating Progress Toward Graduation: Year-round Pell “will help students stay enrolled and graduate faster,” says David Baime, senior vice president for government relations and research for the American Association of Community Colleges. (Inside Higher Ed, 1/19/16)

• Increasing Flexibility for Non-Traditional Students: “Year-Round Pell offers students much-needed flexibility in accessing financial aid. This is particularly important for nontraditional students,” says Association of Community College Trustees President and CEO J. Noah Brown. “Research has shown consistently that staying enrolled and making progress in college are important for completion. This is especially true for the neediest students who are often served by community colleges.” (Press Release, 6/7/16)

• Working in a Bipartisan Way to Address Students’ Needs: This is “the Senate’s first bipartisan bill to fund labor, health and education programs in seven years.” (Inside Higher Ed, 6/8/16) 

From the PrinciPAL’s Office:

“Pell Grants are a vital tool for making college more affordable for students in Missouri and across the nation. By allowing full and part-time students to receive an additional Pell Grant during the year, usually for a summer session, we’re helping them stay on track for graduation, enter or re-enter the workforce sooner, and graduate with less debt. This bill will provide an estimated one million students, on average, an extra $1,650 to help pay for college. As a former history teacher, I couldn’t be more pleased that we were able to work in a bipartisan way to expand access to higher education.” – Senator Blunt

We’re Not the Only Ones Cheering:

•  Jon Bauer, President, East Central College in Union, MO: “Great news from @RoyBlunt that year-round #Pell is included in committee draft of FY17 budget. so important for our students! @Comm_College” (Tweet, 6/7/16)

• Hal Higdon, Chancellor of Ozarks Technical Community College System in Springfield, MO: “@TheSalemNews @RoyBlunt Special thanks to a true friend to Higher Ed, Senator Blunt, for his leadership on Year Round Pell!” (Tweet, 6/8/16) 

• The Association of Community College Trustees: “Providing pathways for part-timers to get Year-Round Pell is key for community college students. Thank you @RoyBlunt @PattyMurray” (Tweet, 6/7/16)

•  Dr. Deborah L. Floyd, Editor, Community College Journal of Research & Practice: “Does Year Round #Pell has a positive impact on student #timetodegree? Yes, enter #workforce sooner #yearround educ” (Tweet, 6/9/16)