Economic crunch may hit students’ wallets: South Carolina Tuition Grant decrease
Posted by The Skyliner on February 25th, 2009Jon Harris
Staff Writer
North Greenville may soon feel the results of a possible legislative budget cut that may reduce South Carolina Tuition Grants from $3,200 to $2,850 per year for the 2009-2010 school year.
Governor Mark Sanford seeks to keep the scholarship level; whereas the House Ways and Means Committee is pushing for a 15 percent decrease. The first round of budget recommendations were made on Thursday, Feb. 19, and reviewed by the Ways and Means Committee that evening. The final decision will be made by the state legislature.
“The House has historically looked favorably upon maintaining or increasing tuition grants,” Speaker Pro-Tempore Harry F. Cato said. “I expect that to continue as much as possible in these difficult economic times.”
“We’re anticipating the worst,” Dr. Jimmy Epting, North Greenville University president and chairman of the South Carolina Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission, said. “We hope it is no more than 15 percent.”
The S.C. Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission has made a conservative decision to go ahead and decrease the tuition grant 15 percent to $2850 for next school year.
1,007 NGU students received the South Carolina Tuition Grant this year, totaling over $3 million.
“It’s a double-whammy. My dad works for the state and there are talks about him not working two days out of every month without pay. With the grants going down and a potential drop in my dad’s income, it could create a financial strain. My dad will have to find other means of income and it means less family time,” Spenser Miner, junior marketing, said.
“I am currently communicating my belief of the importance of the South Carolina Tuition Grants Program to the House Ways and Means Committee and my fellow colleagues in the House,” Cato said. “I have also delivered the many letters of thanks from students at North Greenville University to the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. “
The school’s financial aid and student services departments are asking students to write their state legislators to show appreciation for their work. Private institutions are required to write each year.
Michelle Moses, financial aid counselor, said they are urging more students to write because “money is tighter this year.”
Andrew Maulding, junior interdisciplinary studies, participated for the first time, even though he has received the tuition grant every year.
“I thanked them for their support, in hopes they will provide me with more money next year,” said Maulding. “I think it is very important for other students to write.”
Financial Aid will continue collecting note cards until March.
“Tuition grants have helped many students have access to higher education that, without them, would otherwise not have been able,” Senator Phillip Shoopman, Greenville Senate District 5, said.
The grant is provided to independent, non-profit, in-state colleges. It is need-based and focused on income; not all students are eligible. The eligibility factors include: family income, family assets, cost of college selected, number of family members in the household and the number of household members attending college.
Residents of S.C. who are in the top 75 percent of their graduating class may apply. A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed and submitted prior to June 30, 2009.
“I will work to stave off any future cuts to the tuition program,” Shoopman said. “However, it will take a conscious effort by all elected officials to minimize the future impacts of the budget cuts in all areas of government.”
“I’m hopeful that we will see it through this rough time no matter what and the American dream will still prosper,” Miner said.