Browse Ideas with tag 'pell grants':

• Recent Ideas (5)
• Popular Ideas (5)
• Hot Ideas (0)

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  30 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Affordability/Financial Aid »

  Financial aid for low-income working adults

  State and federal financial aid for low-income adults and disadvantaged youth is paltry compared to their need. Even with recent increases in the Pell grant, its inflation-adjusted value has eroded significantly over time and now covers only a small portion of college costs. Even with student loans, financial aid packages often leave low-income students without enough funds to pay for all the costs of college which include ...more »

  State and federal financial aid for low-income adults and disadvantaged youth is paltry compared to their need. Even with recent increases in the Pell grant, its inflation-adjusted value has eroded significantly over time and now covers only a small portion of college costs. Even with student loans, financial aid packages often leave low-income students without enough funds to pay for all the costs of college which include not just tuition and fees but also housing, child care, transportation, and other living expenses. But most importantly, federal and state student aid programs are typically designed for traditional students and often provide little assistance to adult, part-time, and working students.

  We need more and better student financial aid that helps low-income students, who often attend college while they are working, access education and persist long enough to attain a postsecondary credential. This includes developing new types of student financial aid in higher education and Work Study opportunities designed specifically to support low-income adults and disadvantaged youth.

  Many states have designed new aid programs or adapted existing aid programs to better serve adult students, including Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Washington, and West Virginia. With current federal and state budget pressures, it is essential to adopt policies that encourage leveraging and coordinating student financing from many sources – such as federal and state student financial aid, the Workforce Investment Act, Trade Adjustment Assistance, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and employers. Examples of states effectively doing this include, but are not limited to, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Oregon.

  For more information on this idea and others, visit www.clasp.org/postsecondary.

  « less full details »

  1 comment for Idea: Financial aid for low-income working adults

  Submitted by CLASP 2 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  7 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Affordability/Financial Aid »

  pell grants

  I suggest that you consider a person's full finances such as total debt when a student is being considered for a Pell Grant . I am a 27 year old student who returned to school after 10 years. I own my own house. I have been employed since I was 16 years old but due to medical conditions could not go back to school to this past Fall. I make $22k which is not even enough for me to live off of with my current obligations ...more »

  I suggest that you consider a person's full finances such as total debt when a student is being considered for a Pell Grant . I am a 27 year old student who returned to school after 10 years. I own my own house. I have been employed since I was 16 years old but due to medical conditions could not go back to school to this past Fall. I make $22k which is not even enough for me to live off of with my current obligations and debts. I am not even eligible to receive any federal grant money because I make to much money say some paper I guess. I cannot receive any state grant money because I can only go to college part time since I work full time plus overtime when possible to try and maintain my obligations. I know if I was jobless or had a child I would have my schooling paid for. It's not that I am saying there are some jobless parents out there that deserve help but I feel I should be of equal consideration. I am a hard worker and I am trying to better my education so that I can afford my current bills, maybe be able to afford health insurance, and not lose my house. It is almost like if I slummed off the government or helped populate Earth even though I couldnt afford kids I would be rewarded to go to school. But since I work hard for little pay and have no kids I am punished by the government to go to school. I have to create even more debt by acquiring student loans to try and better myself. Just doesn't seem quite fair if you were walking in my shoes. Regardless I am going to finish school because that is just my mentality. I hope that one day though people in my position will have more assistance in attaining a better education within their means. Not sure if this was the right informtaion to put in this discussion but any opportunity I can I want to share my story because I am sure there are other hardworking adult that do not have kids that can not afford college and are faced with the same dilemmas. Thank you for your time and even if you can apply this to the summit maybe you will know the right direction for my message to go.

  « less full details »

  6 comments for Idea: pell grants

  Submitted by mercedes83550 2 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  31 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Pathway to a Baccalaureate »

  Grant Money for Single Persons

  Dear Dr. Biden, Education Secretary, Arne Duncan and White House Officials Hope this reaches you in high spirits. My ultimate objective: Creating a non-profit organization that offers grants and aid to promising individuals like me who earn an income that is above poverty level but not enough to finance a college education. I am asking Dr. Biden who is the spearhead of this summit for guidance and assistance with ...more »

  Dear Dr. Biden, Education Secretary, Arne Duncan and White House Officials

  Hope this reaches you in high spirits.

  My ultimate objective: Creating a non-profit organization that offers grants and aid to promising individuals like me who earn an income that is above poverty level but not enough to finance a college education. I am asking Dr. Biden who is the spearhead of this summit for guidance and assistance with continuing my college education as well as that of others who fit this profile.

  I am a single, financially independent woman. My short-term goal is to graduate with highest honors receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communications with a focus on French. I am having a difficult time finding financial resources to fund my college education. Although I am ineligible for the PELL Grant because of my income, I am being unduly challenged because I do not have any children or make below the poverty level income requirements. Currently, I only qualify for student loans. How can one factor in a college education making $25,000 yearly? This has not kept me from pursuing my goals. I am tremendously grateful for two scholarships provided by Oakland Community College which have helped defray costs significantly.

  At Oakland Community College, I have maintained a 3.96 GPA while working full-time, attending school part-time and tutoring part-time. Tuition at the school is now $66.70 per credit hour. This is an 11% increase in tuition rates. I am managing about 6-8 credit hours a semester; however, I wish I could maintain a full academic load, but I must also earn an income.

  I constantly see online advertisements touting, "Single Mom's Go To School for Free." I wish our government would announce, "Single persons, with no children--Free Education!" It is very difficult to do well in school when I have to worry each semester how tuition, books and transportation are going to be covered. As you can see, repaying loans, limited income potential, lack of grants and my single-person status are keeping me from realizing my academic goals.

  Please send me some information on how I can participate at the Summit on Community Colleges on October 5th at The White House. Dr. Biden, I very much look forward to your response, and I thank you for your attention to this issue that affects so many people like me.

  Respectfully,

  Diamond L. Johnson

  French Tutor/Student Ambassador

  Oakland Community College

  Orchard Ridge Campus

  Academic Support Center

  27055 Orchard Lake Road

  Farmington Hills, MI 48334

  248-522-3435

  « less full details »

  5 comments for Idea: Grant Money for Single Persons

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  81 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Increasing Graduation Rates »

  Support Services for Students are Crucial

  We can increase Pell grants all we want, but if we don't provide students with support services (such as counseling and tutoring) to help them succeed, then that money is significantly less effective. TRIO programs (federally funded grants), such as Student Support Services, are vital to helping first-generation, low-income and disabled students succeed in college, and, thus, boosting our national graduation rate and ...more »

  We can increase Pell grants all we want, but if we don't provide students with support services (such as counseling and tutoring) to help them succeed, then that money is significantly less effective. TRIO programs (federally funded grants), such as Student Support Services, are vital to helping first-generation, low-income and disabled students succeed in college, and, thus, boosting our national graduation rate and competitiveness. President Johnson understood this, which is why the TRIO/Student Support Services program was created at the same time as Pell grants -so that they could work hand-in-hand to help our least advantaged students excel. TRIO programs work! They have a proven track record. Our first-generation, low-income and disabled students deserve the right to be part of meeting this challenge. We need to increase funding for TRIO programs.

  « less full details »

  7 comments for Idea: Support Services for Students are Crucial

  Submitted by rburns 2 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  4 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Affordability/Financial Aid »

  Going bach to College

  In 2001 I returned from Florida with no job and very little resources. I applied at Ivy Tech and based on my income FAFSA determined that was eligible for a Pell grant. For 2 years I received assistance and was on my way to an IT degree. The money I made at my now part time job got me by however it would not have afforded me college. I began to earn more, still under the poverty line but I became ineligible for Pell ...more »

  In 2001 I returned from Florida with no job and very little resources. I applied at Ivy Tech and based on my income FAFSA determined that was eligible for a Pell grant. For 2 years I received assistance and was on my way to an IT degree. The money I made at my now part time job got me by however it would not have afforded me college. I began to earn more, still under the poverty line but I became ineligible for Pell grants. I can afford to live, make rent, car payments, utility payments, health insurance and staying in college was not an option. I am surprised that there was no other option. I was not counseled as what could be the next step once FAFSA decides you earn too much. All I received was a notice that there was nothing available. Our Governor, Mitch Daniels, is touting a online college he recommends, WGU. They want $6,000.00. I don't have six thousand dollars. I am 55 years old. What would you do?

  « less full details »

  5 comments for Idea: Going bach to College

  Submitted by jlenken 2 years ago

Displaying all 5 Ideas