Access Mo. bill returns
Matt Korn
Issue date: 1/27/10 Section: News
The Access Missouri grant program once again faces legislative action that would cut aid to students at private universities and colleges, including 1,400 Lindenwood students.
Lindenwood President Dr. James Evans released a memo to all faculty and staff members last week asking that they contact local state senators in opposition of Missouri Senate Bill 784. Senate Bill 784 would cut the maximum grant funding for a student attending a private institution by $1750.
"The terms of SB 784 would put Lindenwood University and our students at great risk," Evans said in the memo. "Co-sponsors Senator Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, and Senator David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, want to put a cap on the maximum amount awarded to eligible students attending independent four-year institutions at $2,850 per academic year."
Last year the Missouri Department of Education announced a 22% cut in the Access program, citing a bad economy and a surge of eligible applicants as reasons for the reduction. Students in public schools are awarded up to $2,150 in grant money, while students in private schools are eligible for up to $3,590.
"While these new limits would hurt students at private universities across Missouri, students attending four-year public institutions would enjoy a $700 per academic year increase on maximum aid," Evans said in the memo.
Last February, senators Schaefer and Pearce co-sponsored a similar bill, but the legislative session ended before the bills could be moved out of committees.
Lindenwood President Dr. James Evans released a memo to all faculty and staff members last week asking that they contact local state senators in opposition of Missouri Senate Bill 784. Senate Bill 784 would cut the maximum grant funding for a student attending a private institution by $1750.
"The terms of SB 784 would put Lindenwood University and our students at great risk," Evans said in the memo. "Co-sponsors Senator Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, and Senator David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, want to put a cap on the maximum amount awarded to eligible students attending independent four-year institutions at $2,850 per academic year."
Last year the Missouri Department of Education announced a 22% cut in the Access program, citing a bad economy and a surge of eligible applicants as reasons for the reduction. Students in public schools are awarded up to $2,150 in grant money, while students in private schools are eligible for up to $3,590.
"While these new limits would hurt students at private universities across Missouri, students attending four-year public institutions would enjoy a $700 per academic year increase on maximum aid," Evans said in the memo.
Last February, senators Schaefer and Pearce co-sponsored a similar bill, but the legislative session ended before the bills could be moved out of committees.
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