Access Missouri financial aid under fire from public universities
Jeni Fehr
Issue date: 2/3/10 Section: News
A bill that may prove harmful to students' ability to get an education is going before the Missouri Senate. Senate bill 784 will amend a program called the Access Missouri, which assists in providing students with grants.
Currently, the maximum amount given to students attending public school is $2,150 and the maximum given to students attending private institutions is $4,600.
The new bill will reduce the amount by $1,750 that students attending private schools can receive.
The original program was put into effect in 2007. The ones now trying to change it are the public universities.
"When Access Missouri monies were first allocated it was decided by college presidents, from both public and private financial aid directors, and they equalized it," said Sharina Smith, Marketing and Communications director.
It was decided that students attending private institutions should receive more than those going to public schools, who generally have less tuition to pay and already receive tax subsidies.
Last year a similar bill was proposed and rejected after a group of SBU students visited Jefferson City to speak to their senators and lobby for the bill to remain as is.
According to Smith, 457 students on SBU's Bolivar campus currently receive the Access Missouri grant, and would be affected, as well as 183 students attending SBU on other campuses.
Smith helped organize the group of students that went to Jefferson City last year. For the recurrence of the movement to change the grant, she hopes that students will again step up.
"We would love students, especially the students that receive Access Missouri money to help us by giving us their stories. We took a group of students last year to Jefferson City and we had them speak right with their representatives and senators," said Smith.
"Last year we were able to defeat it, and it's all due to the students," said Smith.
Senior Lydia Nebel was one who spoke to senator Delbert Scott of district 28, where Bolivar is located.
Currently, the maximum amount given to students attending public school is $2,150 and the maximum given to students attending private institutions is $4,600.
The new bill will reduce the amount by $1,750 that students attending private schools can receive.
The original program was put into effect in 2007. The ones now trying to change it are the public universities.
"When Access Missouri monies were first allocated it was decided by college presidents, from both public and private financial aid directors, and they equalized it," said Sharina Smith, Marketing and Communications director.
It was decided that students attending private institutions should receive more than those going to public schools, who generally have less tuition to pay and already receive tax subsidies.
Last year a similar bill was proposed and rejected after a group of SBU students visited Jefferson City to speak to their senators and lobby for the bill to remain as is.
According to Smith, 457 students on SBU's Bolivar campus currently receive the Access Missouri grant, and would be affected, as well as 183 students attending SBU on other campuses.
Smith helped organize the group of students that went to Jefferson City last year. For the recurrence of the movement to change the grant, she hopes that students will again step up.
"We would love students, especially the students that receive Access Missouri money to help us by giving us their stories. We took a group of students last year to Jefferson City and we had them speak right with their representatives and senators," said Smith.
"Last year we were able to defeat it, and it's all due to the students," said Smith.
Senior Lydia Nebel was one who spoke to senator Delbert Scott of district 28, where Bolivar is located.
Be the first to comment on this story