Today's print issue of the Daily Cardinal (welcome back, students!) and the online version has a lead story about how the lack of college financial aid is preventing some students from going to school.
There are a total of 3,800 students in the state whose families make less than $27,000 a year and are waiting to know if they will be awarded a need-based Wisconsin Higher Education Grant by the Higher Educational Aids Board, whose total pool of grant money is dependent on the state’s budget.
This year, the board effectively awarded 22,400 UW System student grants, but then froze distribution over the summer because the state budget has yet to be passed by the state Legislature.
The abrupt halt is “really a function of the way the state budget was put together by the state Legislature,” Giroux said.
With different versions of the state budget in existence—one that may increase financial aid with tuition and one that may decrease financial aid compared to last semester, HEAB does not know if enough funding will be available under the finalized budget.
As a result, the board imposed a waiting list—a list that includes some of the state’s lowest-income students.
“A student has to be pretty needy to get a WHEG,” said Susan Fischer, director of student financial services at UW-Madison.
So basically what we have here is the Assembly version of the budget (read: the Republican version of the State budget) cutting financial aid (or as the College Democrats of America say, raid student aid) for those who most need it. Education is not a privilege - it is a right. For those who have already done the necessary work to be admitted to this great University, they should be guaranteed adequate funding to actually attend their classes.
I'm really excited that Governor Doyle and Lt. Gov. Lawton have made higher education a priority for the State. The Wisconsin Covenant, when funded, will cover the unmet cost of tuition for all students who have committed throughout high school to maintain their grades and stay out of trouble.
How do we as a State or even as citizens of a democracy live with ourselves when dedicated students who desire an education can't afford it because the legislators are stalling over petty politics? I ask you, Wisconsin State Legislature, to put aside politics for a few minutes and think about how many people are being affected adversely by the lack of funding for education, especially at the post-secondary level. The Wisconsin legislature in 1848 decreed, with its 4th act, that the State should have a great universty. Now if only students were able to afford it...
There are a total of 3,800 students in the state whose families make less than $27,000 a year and are waiting to know if they will be awarded a need-based Wisconsin Higher Education Grant by the Higher Educational Aids Board, whose total pool of grant money is dependent on the state’s budget.
This year, the board effectively awarded 22,400 UW System student grants, but then froze distribution over the summer because the state budget has yet to be passed by the state Legislature.
The abrupt halt is “really a function of the way the state budget was put together by the state Legislature,” Giroux said.
With different versions of the state budget in existence—one that may increase financial aid with tuition and one that may decrease financial aid compared to last semester, HEAB does not know if enough funding will be available under the finalized budget.
As a result, the board imposed a waiting list—a list that includes some of the state’s lowest-income students.
“A student has to be pretty needy to get a WHEG,” said Susan Fischer, director of student financial services at UW-Madison.
So basically what we have here is the Assembly version of the budget (read: the Republican version of the State budget) cutting financial aid (or as the College Democrats of America say, raid student aid) for those who most need it. Education is not a privilege - it is a right. For those who have already done the necessary work to be admitted to this great University, they should be guaranteed adequate funding to actually attend their classes.
I'm really excited that Governor Doyle and Lt. Gov. Lawton have made higher education a priority for the State. The Wisconsin Covenant, when funded, will cover the unmet cost of tuition for all students who have committed throughout high school to maintain their grades and stay out of trouble.
How do we as a State or even as citizens of a democracy live with ourselves when dedicated students who desire an education can't afford it because the legislators are stalling over petty politics? I ask you, Wisconsin State Legislature, to put aside politics for a few minutes and think about how many people are being affected adversely by the lack of funding for education, especially at the post-secondary level. The Wisconsin legislature in 1848 decreed, with its 4th act, that the State should have a great universty. Now if only students were able to afford it...
