AASCU Pell Action and Resource Center
The AASCU Pell Action and Resource Center is a new information resource for those who support the Federal Pell Grant program as a critical student aid resource enhancing higher education access and affordability.
The Pell Grant Program is the largest federal education program with an approximate $35 billion ($34.76 billion in AY ’10-’11) annual cost. More than nine million students receive awards under this program. Support from AASCU presidents and chancellors will be essential if changes, cuts, or new Pell eligibility rules are proposed. Debt reduction actions in 2011 have already affected students who benefited from previous year-round Pell provisions. Some Congressional discussions threaten to make significant changes to the program.
We believe the message that Pell makes a difference and works needs to be clearly and continually conveyed. Information that can be retrieved from this Web page assists in that endeavor. This includes the history, eligibility requirements, financial structure, and salient public policy issues related to the Pell Grant program. It will contain links to news, research, talking points, and a variety of advocacy tools to help our members stay engaged in debate and work to protect Pell from cuts as calls for reform continue.
Another AASCU informational effort is available on our Members Only Web page. It consists of a five-year historical data compilation for each AASCU member institution/system showing student enrollment and Pell Grant funding for each institution/system alongside Pell Grant funding comparisons for all public institutions and all higher education institutions in each state.
Armed with the information from the Pell Action and Resource Center and specific information directly related to their institutions/system and state, AASCU members will be able to make informed contacts with their policymakers to show the impact of potential Pell Program reform.
Latest Pell News:
Pell Grants for Poor Students Could Use $170 Billion In Ryan Budget (Read) (Huffington Post, 04/05/2012)
Tough budget for Loans and Pell (Read) (Inside Higher Ed, 3/21/12)
Study: Pell Grant Makes Difference for Students of Color (Read)(Diverse Issues in Higher Education, 2/28/12)
2013 Education Budget: What is Means for You (Read) (U.S. Department of Education, 2/14/12)
Redoing Pell (Read) (Inside Higher Ed, 1/24/12)
The Forgotten Middle Class (Read) (Inside Higher Ed, 1/24/12)
The Future of Pell Grants (Read) (Chronicle of Higher Education, 1/23/12)
Congress reach Pell Grant Funding Agreement for Fiscal Year 2012 (Read) (New America Foundation, 12/13/11)
Pell Grant in Jeopardy for thousands for thousands of South Florida college students." (Read) (Miami Herald, 11/12/11)
Sign the Student Aid Alliance Statement of Support (Read)
"Alliance pushes to Save Pell from Super Committee" (Read) (Inside Higher Ed, 10/25/11)
"Pell Grant Funding: House and Senate Proposals for 2012" (Read) (New America Foundation, 10/4/11)
"Republicans Push Pell Changes" (Read) (Bloomberg News/San Francisco Chronicle, 9/29/11)
"Republican Plan Would Eliminate 31 Education Programs and Tighten Pell Eligibility" (Read) (Chronicle of Higher Education, 9/29/11)
Read more Pell-related news