WASHINGTON, D.C. — In hopes of increasing federal aid and loans for University students, a selected group of student ambassadors embarked yesterday to the nation’s capital for Student Advocacy Day.
The group met with the state’s elected representatives in Congress to discuss more funding for federal aid programs, including Pell Grants, Work Study, Perkins Loans and other forms of direct loans to help students pay for their education. The University selected the group, all of who accepted some form of financial aid.
“Rutgers is definitely not a rich kid’s school,” University President Richard L. McCormick said. “Right now, about 70 percent of Rutgers students qualify for some sort of financial aid to help pay for their education, so it is essential that we continue our presence [in Washington].”
McCormick said the University is the only one in the country that puts together a committee of students and sends them down to Washington, D.C. to meet with the congressmen on these issues. As this is the 10th year the University has been doing this, McCormick believes it is important for the financial aid issue.
The key to the success of the advocates in Washington were the knowledgeable students that met with the various congressmen and were able to put a face to the successful stories of federal aid in education, McCormick said.
“[The advocates] send a terrific message. First, [that] Rutgers students are so smart and so committed to become experts on financial aid,” McCormick said. “Every one of these [advocates] is an actual recipient of these programs, which makes these stories real. It shows that it’s not just a politics thing, but it’s a human thing.”
According to the University’s Financial Aid Office fact sheet, University undergraduates receive more than $143 million in federal aid programs, which help students afford their educations. An additional $72 million is also made available for graduate students.
“Rutgers students are really dependent and appreciate these programs [for financial aid],” McCormick said. “These are their tickets for opportunity.”
Rutgers College senior Chris Keating said all of this financial aid seems like a lot, but more can be done to help students be ensured of receiving a college education.
“The whole point of [Student Advocacy Day] is to explain that there is a need for more federal and financial aid,” said Keating, who has two younger brothers at the University and uses direct loans to pay for school. “It’s an investment in our future and all the young minds in our state and country.”
A major topic the advocates were pushing for was support of President Barack Obama’s new Pell Grant plan, which will raise the maximum amount of possible aid received by $200 to a total of $5,500.
This minimal raise will help include nearly 250,000 more students for the grant and give more students the opportunity to attend college. Currently, 28 percent of University students require the aid that the grants provided, in order to attend school, said Rutgers-Newark sophomore Davendra Beni.
He said money is given to banks to insure the money given to students through private loans. Also, the amount of money allocated to the Pell Grants is voted on every year, so a student can never be sure exactly how much aid they will be able to receive.
Legislative Assistant Jason Tuber spoke on behalf of Sen. Bob Menendez about the senator’s support of increasing federal aid, including Pell Grants.
“[Sen. Menendez] has always been a supporter of student aid, and we want to focus on more public loans [for students],” Tuber said. “It’s unfortunate to see people have to wait for appropriations to see how much aid they can get. If we get more students in school with high-paying jobs, it will help stabilize the economy.”
Another blow to the federal aid students have been receiving is in the work-study program.
Students have seen their allotted hours cut, which for many is their only source of income, said Douglass College junior Elyla Huertas.
“When I was a [first-year student,] I was given $2,000 dollars a semester, but this year I’m only able to receive $800 for the whole year,” Huertas said. “I would like to see work study return to the levels [it was] at.”
Rep. Donald M. Payne, D-10, said it is important to allocate more money for federal aid, but it is proving difficult working with some conservatives during such trying economic times like these.
“I certainly agree with the importance of student grants, and I hope we can provide the budgetary support we need, but it is difficult,” Payne said. “With people losing their homes they are saying, ‘Why should I pay for that kid to go to school?’ Hopefully, we will be able to prevail and keep increasing the grants.”
Through the day, the advocates spoke with all of New Jersey’s congressmen, and they believe their message was acknowledged and proved to be a great experience.
“I think it went very well and was a great experience,” Huertas said. “It was definitely important that we put a face to the issues, and I think that we accomplished that.”
Students lobby to congressmen for more federal aid
Published: Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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