Finding a Better Pell Grant
MARK NYCZ | THE HARBINGER
By Kayla N. Tyler
EAST PEORIA ― Congresswoman Cheri Busto headed a roundtable press-conference, which involved financial aid advisors, admissions administrators and students, at Illinois Central College on Tuesday to showcase her efforts to increase financial support available to college students.
Students often rely on financial assistance from programs, such as the Pell Grant, to finance their college educations. Representative Bustos is currently working to increase the flexibility of the Pell Grant, aiding in student access to these funds.
Through several community college visits, Bustos gained better understanding of the issues many students and community colleges face with this grant.
“Through our tour, what we learned is that Pell Grants have actually taken a step back. It used to be that you could receive grants for the spring, summer and fall semesters,” said Bustos.
Currently, Pell grants are not offering support to students during their summer semesters of college, forcing students to find other means of financing any summer classes. Enrollment decreases in the summer due to students’ inability to pay.
“If a student doesn’t use all of their award during the fall and spring, then they can use that during the summer,” Dana Leman, interim manager of financial assistance at ICC, said.
Unfortunately, not all students are able to retain the awards they receive through the fall and spring semesters, and without such support they suffer.
MARK NYCZ | THE HARBINGER
“If they (students) don’t have the extra support, whether it’s for the textbooks or childcare or transportation, all the issues that are around life circumstances, you’re going to suffer that consequence. It might actually extend your program, and, you know, if you get an extended program, you can run out of Pell [funds before you finish],” ICC President John Erwin said.
“I receive Pell Grant; it’s helped me get through school,” ICC sophomore Dari Thompson said. “Because I’m only eligible for fall and spring, I have just one summer class. I’m lucky my parents can help me, and I’m taking out a loan. It’s a lot of money I just don’t have right now.”
ICC student Billi Casey, 50, shared similar concerns with the Pell Grant.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do that (get my degree) without the grants,’ Casey said. “Last summer I was able to take a class because I had money left, but for me, having kids and working part time, I can’t go full time during the semester. So, having the option of going during the summer is huge.”
Another issue with the Pell Grant is the annual cap that congress sets. In a student’s first year in college, they have a grant cap of $3,500, which increases as the students continues their education. However, this cap is not dependent on inflation, therefore, while the cost of tuition and textbooks increases, the annual cap does not.
MARK NYCZ | THE HARBINGER
“I was in college 16 years ago, and the caps were still the same,” Leman said.
Annual caps are also a problem faced by students paying with loans, according to Leman. “While year-round Pell will help Pell students, year-loan-only students will still feel the hurt.”
Pell grants also do not allow support to students who are attending four-year colleges, but taking classes at a community college for cheaper rates. Legally, aid can only be awarded to students by the school from which they are receiving their degree.
Flexibility of the Pell Grant could mean more support for students during their college career, especially during the summer semester. This could result in increased enrollment during the summer, faster completion of courses for many students, better scheduling options for students and an overall better success rate for students who rely on financial assistance.
“It is something that we believe in and that we will work on to gain sponsorship and see what we can do to make progress,” Bustos said on her efforts towards keeping education affordable.