30 Ways in 30 Days: College Aid

Dreams Would Be Dashed by Reduced College Aid

With jobs in short supply in today's economy, more and more young Pennsylvanians are pursuing post-secondary and graduate education to increase their marketable skills. In this climate, even small cuts in state support for higher education have a huge impact, especially a 14% reduction in PHEAA funding approved by the state Senate.
 
HARRISBURG (June 16, 2009) -The raw numbers tell much of the story: $41 million less in state aid to Penn State, Pitt and Temple Universities; $71 million less in state grant funding for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA); and medical education grants zeroed out at a cost of more than $34 million.  Senate Bill 850 would reduce funding for these programs in 2009-10 from current year funding levels. What can't be measured as easily is the impact these cuts will have on the hopes and dreams of thousands of college students in the state.
 
The PHEAA cut alone equals 25,800 fewer students assisted this fall based on last year's average grant of $2,750. Cuts at Pennsylvania's state-related schools - PSU, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln University - create the fear of increased fees and charges.
 
The biggest hit in Senate Bill 850 comes for the Commonwealth's medical training programs where all funding has been cut. This affects physician training programs in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie and Scranton.  Still in the state budget - although reduced from $37.3 million to $35.7 million - is a state appropriation for the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine.
 
Governor Ed Rendell proposed in February to increase support for Pennsylvania's community colleges by $5 million, to $241 million.  Senate Bill 850 cuts support back to last year's $236 million - at a time when a number of community colleges are offering free tuition to unemployed workers to help them improve their employability.  Also cut was $8.6 million in educational assistance for the disadvantaged through the state Department of Education.
 
"We all know times are difficult," said Diane Bosak, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges. "One thing is for certain, however. Strategic investments in Pennsylvania's community colleges will help our citizens and our state emerge from this economic downturn stronger and better prepared to help Pennsylvania better compete in the global marketplace."
 
You can contact Diane Bosak, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges, at 717-232-7584 or by email at dbosak@pacommunitycolleges.org.

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