TEXAS Grants reduced and not funded

With the next legislation right around the corner, the TexasHigher Education Board will be reviewing the TEXAS Grant program analyzing grant money given to eligible students. Lazaro Hernandez published this article focusing on the coordinating board; which oversees all higher public education in Texas who feels that grant money should only be given to eligible students so it covers academic costs, which is only tuition and fees but not the total cost of attendance which includes room and board, and other expenses.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating board predicts the average will drop from $5,000 to $3,000.

Director of UT Austin Student Financial Services, TomMelecki feels that lowering the amount of grant money will not only hurt local UT students, but international and out of state students predominately. Majority of UT students aren’t from Austin, which adds to the cost of other expenses and living. With the cost of living in Austin increasing students, will have a more difficult time trying to figure other methods to receive financial aid, or just be lost completely. UT as well as any other top institution is not cheap, therefore students with low-income families can’t help their children receive higher education because the total cost of school is outrageously increasing, while demanding stricter reductions and requirements.

The proposals for the new requirements make it requirements for grants more stringent.  Students are now required at least 12 hours per semester rather than the current 9. The grants lifespan will also change from the current 10 semesters at 15 hours each to eight regular semesters which is a full year a student can lose financial aid if requirements are not met in the grants lifespan. More and more now you see it taking 5 years to finish school and not the normal four because this thing called “LIFE” occurs and forces you to make decision or do things you never really plan on doing interfering with academics and forcing you to take some time off or not as many hours. The system will more than likely hurt students than benefit because without aid, I have not met a student yet who has been able to pay their full tuition without some method of financial support.

With the way cost of education and funding has been going Raymond Paredes, Texas Commissioner of Higher Education does not expect a lot of money for TEXAS Grants because the budget is so tight. Paredes feels that if lawmakers adopt these changes, TEXAS Grants will be smaller and fewer students would be eligible and the number of students who receive grants will increase 18 to 95 percent. I disagree because that is too large of a gap to determine the financial census of where students will be and I feel that cutting money in any education is the last thing that needs to happen in the this economy and in this next legislation.

State Rep. Donna Howard said the proposal to decrease financial assistance given to students could and will prevent a large number of Texans affording higher education for which I do agree with.  Rep. Howard then suggests instead of lowering award amount, the legislation should focus on fully funding TEXAS Grants so that this will not be an issue in the future. It make no sense to have state to have created a program and unwilling to fund it. That’s unconstitutional in my eyes.