In case you missed the press conference yesterday, Minnesota student leaders announced they were handing over a petition — with 4,000-plus signiatures — to the Minnesota Congressional delegation asking them to save the Pell Grant program, which faces potential cuts. I didn’t get a chance to mention two students who talked about what the Pell Read more →
This morning Minnesota student leaders showed reporters a 4,000-plus-signature petition opposing $4.2 billion in proposed cuts to the federal Pell Grant program. Officers from the Minnesota State College Student Association (MSCSA) and Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA) said state Office of Higher Education figures show that proposed changes in eligibility will eliminate more than Read more →
Just got this from the state’s two largest student organizations: Minnesota Students to Deliver 3,500 Signature Petition Opposing Pell Grant Cuts Students from the Minnesota State College Student Association (MSCSA) and the Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA) collected more than 3,500 signatures in opposition to the U.S. House of Representatives’ proposal to cut the Read more →
The Crookston Daily Times laments the state of student debt nationally and in Minnesota: Three decades ago, a Federal Pell Grant for the full amount easily covered a year’s worth of tuition, books and maybe left you a little extra spending money. Now, it doesn’t even pay a semester’s tuition at most four-year universities. State-provided Read more →
Beginning in July, Minnesota students should receive full Minnesota State Grant awards — the first time in two years, according to a report announced today by the state Office of Higher Education. The state’s scholarship program is projected to be $6.6 million in the black over the next biennium, the office reports. But that could Read more →
Here’s a Fox and Friends interview yesterday of U.S. Rep. John Kline (R-MN) on President Obama’s plan last week to reform the student loan program. He said he’s concerned that Obama is using executive orders to bypasses Congress on this, that a number of people find the reform confusing, and adds that the program is “going Read more →
“Cutting Pell Grants is a double whammy for Minnesotans. Fewer Pell Grant dollars for students means Minnesota’s State Grant Program, which helps students afford college, has to spend more to meet student need, which in turn limits the number of students who receive state grants or the amount that many may receive.” – State Rep. Read more →
Raj Date of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau told an audience at the University of Minnesota yesterday why colleges need a comprehensive, standardized format for financial-aid-package letters: Once challenge that students face is comparing financial aid information from different schools. … It’s important to be able make side-by-side comparisons. But when prospective students open their Read more →
If you’re following the recent student loan news coming out of Washington this week, I suggest you check out MPR’s The Big Story Blog, which concentrates on gathering all kinds of articles and topics on one timely topic a day. Today it’s student debt and college costs. It’s full of story links, articles and graphics, Read more →
I’ve worked on some radio spots for MPR on the new financial reporting tool being touted by the federal by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, so I’ll be putting out some coverage tomorrow morning. (My original understanding was about right, though.) Here’s the write-up by the Associated Press: The true cost of college may soon Read more →
Alex Friedrich