Pell Grant will be reduced if Republican initiative passes through Congress

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Robert Burrum funds his own college experience

The Williamston freshman works two jobs in his hometown, has large student loans to pay and, like 7,688 other Central Michigan University students, he utilizes Pell Grants. But for the 35.5 percent of CMU undergraduates who receive a Pell Grant, life could get just a bit tougher financially.

House Republicans proposed a bill Friday to ax the U.S. Department of Education’s budget by $4.9 billion, including a $845 reduction to Pell Grants. The proposal would reduce the maximum Pell Grant amount of $5,550 to $4,705.

“I really don’t understand why education would be the target of any budget cuts,” Burrum said. “I really can’t afford to lose any grant money. It’s already hard as it is.”

The federal Pell Grant program is operating at a $5.7-billion deficit. Special Education, Title I, and Head Start also would lose funding.

The bill is expected to go to the floor later next week where it could receive some amendments or even further budget cuts.

“I’d definitely say this was a poor decision,” Burrum said. “I really hope the bill doesn’t pass.”

While the bill still has to stay afloat through a Democrat-controlled Senate and nothing has become official, it has done little to ease the nerves of college students struggling to pay for their education.

“Cuts will be made to the federal education programs,” said Diane Fleming, associate director of client services at the Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid, in an e-mail. “It’s unknown at this time which programs will see reductions or be eliminated.”

Fleming said it will have a significant impact on CMU students if the 2011-2012 Pell Grant is reduced.

“Students and families will be forced to borrow more loans, work more hours, and/or enroll in fewer credits,” she said.

Dansville sophomore Michelle Borowski said the last thing she needs to worry about is losing more financial aid.

“Between paying for rent, books, gas and food, it’s already really hard to manage,” Borowski said. “Students have enough to worry about as it is, cutting the few programs that actually help us is ridiculous.”

During the 2009-2010 academic year, 6,629 CMU students received a Pell Grant for a total of $25,553,270, Fleming said. In the 2010-2011 academic year, 7,689 CMU students have received a Pell Grant for a total of $28,550,894.

“As you can see, there was a significant increase in the number of Pell-eligible students from (fiscal year 2010 to fiscal year 2011),” she said. “This increase has a direct correlation to the Michigan economy and our high unemployment rate.”

Fleming said cutting the Pell Grant would only account for a small percentage of the total national budget. In order to achieve significant budget reductions, she said Congress needs to tackle the entitlement programs, including Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and Defense.

She said the federal government must also do something about increasing revenue.

“While the suggested budget cuts are a start, they will not go very far in reducing the national debt,” she said.