Thank policymakers for increasing need-based aid

Send a note today to five key policymakers — to thank them for increasing State Grant funding this legislative session. The new legislation will lead to a $70 million increase in State Grant awards over the next two years. The changes will make more than 9,000 Minnesota students newly eligible for government aid.

Please modify the message below so that it reflects your thinking and send it to these five policymakers today.

Note: When legislators require use of Web forms, messages are automatically posted to the forms.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Thanks for your support of need-based aid

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Thank you for your leadership in helping college students. Increasing State Grant funding by $70 million over two years will make a big difference for more than 80,000 college students across the state. Awards will increase and thousands more students will become eligible - all because of the bipartisan support at the state and federal levels for improving both Pell and State Grant funding.

Given the challenging economy, this is a particularly welcome step. It has never been more important to act to keep the door to higher education open wide.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
June 23, 2009

Background Information

Action by policymakers will boost aid for college students
While the 2009 legislative session ended with plenty of acrimony and disagreement, there was bipartisan support for helping keep college accessible through need-based aid. Legislation that was finalized and approved in the closing days of the session will lead to a $70 million increase in State Grant awards over the next two years.

The changes will:

Make more than 9,000 students newly eligible for government aid,
Increase the average grant by 17 percent, raising it to $1,712, and
Help eligible students who are not able to complete a bachelor’s degree in four years by awarding the grant for an additional semester.

“With today’s economic hardships, expanding Minnesota’s need-based aid was more important than ever,” said Pam Jolicoeur, president of Concordia College and board chair at the Minnesota Private College Council. “Our policy leaders saw the need to act now to build the educated workforce that will be required in the future as we move into recovery. We thank them for their leadership.”

Grants through the State Grant program help 83,000-some students afford college educations at two- or four-year institutions that are both public and private. Most recipients’ families have incomes below $40,000. The State Grant’s impact is felt strongest at public institutions, which enroll most of the recipients. But the program is also important for students at nonprofit private colleges and universities, where State Grant awards are received by about a quarter of the undergraduate student body.

At $70 million over two years, this will be the largest increase in State Grant awards in more than a decade. While the majority of the funds will help students at public institutions, more than $16 million is likely to benefit students at nonprofit private colleges.

State and federal governments take action
Governor Tim Pawlenty signed the Omnibus Higher Education Appropriations Bill into law on May 16. The Senate and House had negotiated and agreed on the legislation (SF 2083) earlier in the month.

The first step was taken earlier this year by the President and members of Congress when they put $15.6 billion of new funds into the Pell Grant program, as part of the stimulus bill. Since the State Grant program is linked to the Pell, the new federal funds made the increase in State Grant awards possible. But to secure that increase, Minnesota policymakers had to keep current state funding stable, despite the budget deficit. And on that front, all branches of state government agreed.

“After years of helping students less and less, state and federal governments are stepping up and doing more,” said David B. Laird, Jr., president of the Minnesota Private College Council. “There is a significant shift, one that recognizes that we need to act now to strengthen our economy for the long haul.”

As the legislative session ended this spring, the state still faced a $1 billion deficit that Gov. Pawlenty had announced he would address through his “unallotment” authority to make necessary cuts. In June he released his plans and financial aid was not included in any of his lists of unallotments; it appears that the increases in available State Grant funding will stand.

Students and supporters made a difference
The voices of college students and their advocates were clearly heard this legislative session. More than 500 students from private colleges and universities participated in a Day at the Capitol event in February, March or April. Students advocating for the State Grant Program met with virtually all legislative representatives. This was the biggest number of student advocates we have ever had. Legislators heard first-hand about the difference that need-based aid makes to keeping college affordable.

While the Minnesota Private College Council has been an ongoing champion for the program, other groups have urged policymakers to be supportive this session, including the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans, the Chicano Latino Affairs Council and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Policymakers also heard directly from college board members and other supporters of our students. Combined, all these outreach efforts made a difference, building understanding of the importance of need-based aid.