The National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities is asking students to sign a petition urging Congress to protect federal student aid.
More than 25,000 people have added their names to an online petition spearheaded by one of the nation’s largest associations representing private institutions of higher education such as Elon University.
The National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities is asking students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents and others with ties to any school, regardless of Carnegie Classification or source of funding, to visit the petition and give thought to showing support for the measure. The Pell Grant is the single most important federal grant program helping low-income students enroll and graduate. Cuts in the Pell grant and federal loans have a direct impact on students at Elon. Currently 517 Elon undergraduates receive Pell grants this year, 10 percent of the student body. This number is rising quickly; in 2006 the number was 330.
The petition reads:
“Our nation sorely needs to power up its economic engine. Work force projections show that by 2018, there will be jobs for as many as 22 million new workers with college degrees, but on our current trajectory, we won’t make that goal—in fact we’ll miss it by 3 million workers.
“Recent budget deals have already cut $30 billion from the student aid programs, sacrificing some students’ benefits to pay for others. States across the country are cutting higher education from their own budgets.
“That’s why it’s more important than ever to preserve, protect and provide adequate funding for the core federal student aid programs—such as Pell Grants and student loan benefits. Together, these programs offer students an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills our nation demands for a strong recovery.
“Tough budget decisions in DC have put pressure on all federal spending, but cutting student aid, a long-term investment in our nation’s future, doesn’t make sense.
“I support protecting federal student aid. Keep college within reach for our nation’s students and families.”
It takes less than one minute to complete and send the statement of support.