Officials from the U.S. Department of Education applauded the President's proposal, claiming that the addition of almost $2 billion would enable 4.9 million students to receive Pell Grants, one million more than were in the program at the beginning of Bush's term.
Pell Grants are the government's primary source of financial aid for low-income students, according to The Chronicle. "The substantial funding increase we are seeking will help millions of needy families pay for higher education and give millions of students the opportunity to pursue their educational goals," U.S. Secretary of Education Roderick R. Paige told The Chronicle.
However, the reaction from education lobbyists and college campuses across the country has not carried the Bush administration's hopeful tone. Their disappointment has stemmed from the fact that none of the additional money would go towards raising the maximum grant amount, which would still remain at its current level of $4,000.
Instead, the extra money would only go towards closing the budget shortfall that has developed in the Pell Grant program over the last several years. This fact alone has outraged many financial aid groups who claim that the $4,000 maximum will continue to lose purchasing power as tuition amounts continue their upward trend.
These groups feel that the money is merely going to be used to pay off grants that have already been awarded and spent, rather than to extend the reach of the program.
"The administration would like to portray this as a boon for needy students when in reality these additional funds would cover only those grants that have already been provided," said Kate L. Rube, higher-education adviser for the State Public Interest Research Groups, according to The Chronicle.
At the College, financial aid grants like Pell are an important neccessity for many students. "This is not just a college for rich kids," said Nikolina Ionova '05, a member of Financial Aid and Class Equity (FACE), a campus orginization that seeks to raise awareness of class issues. "These grants are very important for students who need financial assistance, and our dependence on them can't be overlooked," said Ionova.
Many who support Bush's proposal feel that opponents of the budget increase are not realistic. "In a time of war, economic turmoil and limited resources, this is an achievement education lobbyists ought to be applauding," Rep. John A. Boehner, Chairman of the House Education Committee, told The Chronicle.