One in 10 students at Elon University will be impacted by a recent slash to the National Pell Grants. In response to the cuts in student aid, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities launched an online petition.
There are currently 517 Elon undergraduates who receive Pell Grants, which is why Patrick Murphy, director ofFinancial Planning, said this petition could affect Elon.
"A cut in the Pell Grant would affect 10 percent of the undergraduate student body who currently receive Pell," he said. "Possible changes in federal methodology may also tighten the qualifications for who would receive Pell Grants and cause a lower percentage of students to be eligible."
In previous years, Congress has begun to reduce the amount allotted for student aid, especially from the Pell Grant program.
During the 2009-2010 academic year, Pell Grants helped more than 8 million undergraduate students. The average grant amount is $3,646 with the maximum being $5,550.
According to studentaidalliance.org, in 2011 the Pell Grant program had a $5.7 billion shortfall in order to maintain the maximum amount awarded in the grant of $5,550. It has also been projected that for the 2012 year the program could face a shortfall of $20 billion.
NAICU co-chairs the Student Aid Alliance, which is coordinating the Save Student Aid campaign.
The Alliance is composed of 75 supporting organizations that collectively represent students, college presidents, faculty, staff and administrators, alumni and trustees at almost every college and university in the United States.
Tony Pals, director of communications for NAICU, said the organization is urging Congress not to balance the budget on the backs of students.
"Slashing student aid means killing the dreams of millions of students," he said. "Fewer college graduates means a country with a workforce that's not equipped to compete in the global economy. If Congress doesn't protect and invest in the student aid programs, it's gambling with the future of the nation."
He also said the threat to cut funding is serious because student aid has been on the table from the beginning, and there is no reason to think it will be removed.
In this way, Murphy said the potential problem is twofold. Both the dollar amount of the Pell award and the number of eligible students could be reduced.
But until Congress makes any further decisions, Murphy said Financial Planning cannot determine what the exact outcomes may be.
"We do not yet have any indication of how much any possible cuts would be, or how many students would no longer be eligible if the eligibility paramaters are tightened," he said.
Dan Anderson, director of University Relations, was forwarded an email from NAICU about the online petition and made sure an article was placed on E-net about the drive.
So many students receive financial aid through federal programs, whether they are loans or grants, and they need to let their state representatives know that student aid is important to them, he said.
One student, frshman Dan Sheehan, is an Elon Commitment Scholar and also receives the Pell Grant. He is already taking out student loans and said if the Pell Grant were reduced or done away with altogether it would nearly double the amount he would have to pay back after his time at Elon.
But he is still optimistic. "Well, I am definitely going to make it work because that's how I've always been, but it will definitely make it hard," Sheehan said. "I am here on scholarship. I am not wealthy by any means of the word, so it will definitely take some creativity."
NAICU's initial expectations were exceeded more than a week ago in its online petition drive and are now closing in on 100,000 signatures.
But Pals said NAICU need to pass that mark as soon as possible and with as many names a possible.
"The super committee is set to deliver its recommendations by November 23," he said. "Students need to act now."