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May 16, 2017
Last week, the budget passed by Congress not only kept the federal government open for the rest of year but also achieved something of vital importance for community college students: It made the Pell Grant program available year-round, rather than just from September through May. Sen. Roy Blunt, chairman of the funding subcommittee that oversees Pell Grants, deserves deep gratitude for his central role in this landmark development.
Pell Grants are the primary source of federal support for the most financially needy college students.
For many community college students, the length of time it takes to achieve their educational goal is all-important because they need an academic credential now, not later, to leverage greater opportunity in the workforce. At present, students who rely on student aid to afford college are often forced to “stop out” of school in the summer months because their federal aid only covers the traditional academic year. For too many of these students, a temporary break in studies becomes permanent because work or family commitments get in the way, or because they simply fall out of the academic mode. Research has shown consistently that staying in school and making continued progress propels college completion.
Increasing the ability of college students to stay enrolled year-round will also help Missouri businesses. The ongoing “skills gap” exists in large part because an increasing number of jobs require some postsecondary education or training, while college completion rates have basically remained flat. Multiple program start times, evening and weekend classes, and year-round programs are just some of the things that colleges are doing to better serve their students and industry partners alike. But all these approaches are for naught if a student can’t stay in college continuously because their federal aid takes the summer off.
The reinstatement of year-round Pell Grants has long received bipartisan support, but until now the stars had not aligned. Declining costs in the Pell Grant program helped pave the way, and indications of support from Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and House Speaker Paul Ryan, among others, also helped. But in the end, it took the resolve of a few well-positioned and dedicated leaders like Sen. Blunt to get this proposal across the finish line. Community college students in this region and across the country could not be more grateful.
Jon Bauer is chairman of the Missouri Community College Association and president of East Central College. Rob Dixon is president and CEO of the Missouri Community College Association.
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