The quality of education makes quality of life in this day and age. But the federal government seems to have different expectations for the future of this generation and the nation.
Future doctors, lawyers, teachers and even economists of our nation could be forced to forfeit their college degree because their goals are undermined by reductions in state funding and grants for higher education.
A legislative decision to reduce the number of Pell grants is in direct correlation with the government's goals for higher education - passing the buck onto the state, which, in turn, passes the same buck down to the students and their families.
Students' past eligibility for Pell grants had been based on tax information nearly 20 years old.
It's good to see the Internal Revenue Service is updating its information to 2000 standards, but it's hard to believe the switch means more students will be ineligible for aid.
It doesn't seem right that the demand for financial assistance has dropped since the 1980s, such that 84,000 students and $270 million need to be eliminated from the Pell Grant Program.
Pell grants, which can provide $400 to $4,050 in financial aid for college students, are unlike student loans, because they do not have to be paid off at a later date.
It is expected that 700 MSU students will completely lose their Pell grant and another 3,000 will lose some money.
The neediest students are not likely to be affected by the changes. Students are selected to receive Pell grants on grounds of economic need and academic achievement, in contrast to many grants and students loans that are targeted at students of a specific major, race, gender, etc.
More than 6,000 MSU students, 150,000 students in Michigan and 4.8 million, or one-third, of college students nationwide received aid from Pell grants during the 2002-03 school year, which resulted in about $11 billion in financial aid.
Michigan, Florida and California are some of the states likely to be affected by the new eligibility rules that were implemented in the state on May 30 because they make substantial changes in the economic base.
Both the federal and state government need to reconsider the impact these budget cuts have on the public.
Taking away from higher education cuts costs, but it also cuts the potential of future students, which has a greater impact on our society.
A bill has been introduced by U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine, D-NJ, that would block the new eligibility rules from being applied.
The bill awaits approval by the U.S. Congress.
Representatives of the people should be in full support of this bill because of its lasting effect on students from every state in the nation.
Hopefully, those in the White House will feel the same way.
Taking money away from students is not the answer to cutting corners.
Right now, all we can do is wait and hope for the best.
