SEO Headline (Max 60 characters)
House Members Urge Inclusion of For-Profits in Pell Increase
A group of 13 Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to leaders in the House of Representatives last Friday asking them to revise a part of the Build Back Better Act that extends a boost in the Pell Grant award only to students who attend nonprofit public and private institutions.
The latest version of President Biden’s social spending plan includes a $550 increase to the maximum annual Pell Grant, federal aid available to low- and moderate-income students that doesn’t have to be repaid. But lawmakers drew a line between for-profit and nonprofit institutions in drafting the language, an unusual move for federal financial aid policy.
The group of Democrats wrote in their letter that passing the provision as is would "hurt students, not institutions" and wouldn't accomplish the objective of holding institutions accountable.
"Congress has never passed legislation creating this type of distinction in the Pell Grant program," the lawmakers wrote. "We urge you not to break from that bipartisan tradition and hope you will ensure that all low-income students are eligible for the expanded Pell Grant."
The letter referenced comments made by Justin Draeger, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, who is not supportive of excluding for-profit students from the Pell Grant increase. Draeger said parceling funds out by institutional sector would add complexities to a financial aid system in need of simplification.
Trending Stories
- Fired Linfield Professor Wins Over $1M Settlement
- Should conferences stay put or relocate? It's complicated.
- CUNY Program for High School Seniors Boosts College Enrollment
- Advisors for Returning Adult Students | Confessions of a Community College Dean
- Florida's public universities are under assault (opinion)
THE Campus
Resources for faculty and staff from our partners at Times Higher Education.
- How to tell if your university is making a genuine effort to increase diversity
- Strengthening academic integrity requires action from students and teachers alike
- Asynchronous pedagogy to improve student engagement
- How to raise the bar on the teaching section of your CV
- Challenges and opportunities of the 60-year curriculum
Most Shared Stories
- Academic experts offer advice on ChatGPT
- ChatGPT sparks debate on how to design student assignments now
- Women chairs face mushrooming demands with inadequate support (opinion) | Inside Higher Ed
- When disgraced presidents return (or never go away)
- The role of the liberal arts in an era of skills-based hiring
But What About Outcomes?
It’s Complicated