What does the Connecticut Governor’s Budget Proposal mean to you? What do the proposed budget cuts to the Connecticut Independent College Student Grant Program (CICS) mean? What is going to change with the possible cuts to the Federal Pell Program? What is happening to the Federal Academic Competitiveness and SMART Grants? How am I going to be affected? This article will try and help you make sense of it all.
Like many states, Connecticut is struggling with some of the most difficult economic times in its history. The Governor claims that his proposed budget is intended to create jobs and help grow the state’s economy. However by cutting the funding to the CICS grant program, he will directly impact the ability of Connecticut residents to receive a quality education and to be prepared to fill the jobs of tomorrow.
The CICS program provides need-based aid to Connecticut undergraduates that are attending Connecticut private colleges. In the last year alone, 6,121 Connecticut students received CICS awards, and even then, the money provided by the program met only 78% of the statewide need. Could you imagine this program being cut by 25%? Do you know how many Connecticut students attending private schools would be affected by this reduction? If the program were to be cut by 25% in fiscal year 2012, then that means that 1,530 students would no longer receive a grant in the first year of the biennium budget. If it were to be cut by 50% in fiscal year 2013, then a total of 3,060 students would no longer receive an award in the second year.
What does this mean for all University of New Haven students? If you are a UNH student your financial aid award may be greatly affected by these budget cuts. If the CICS program is no longer helping to meet the needs of Connecticut residents, then UNH will have to spread its limited funding further. This is not just an issue for Connecticut residents but it could affect the entire student body.
However, the CICS grant program is not the only funding that may cause changes to financial aid awards next year. If you are a student receiving a Pell Grant, then it is important that you know about the scheduled cuts that are being proposed to the federal funding of this grant for the fall of 2011. The House proposed a bill to cut the Pell funding by 15%, which equates to a difference of about $845 a student. In a letter written to Congress by the president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) it was stated that, “Any changes to Pell funding at this point could disrupt, delay, or halt low-income students and families’ higher education aspirations.”
In addition to the Federal Pell Grant proposed cuts, there are two other Federal grants programs that are being ELIMINATED this year. The Academic Competitiveness Grant (which was typically $750 for qualifying Freshmen and $1300 for qualifying Sophomores) and the National SMART grant (which was typically $4,000 to qualifying juniors and seniors) are no longer being funded. If you had these awards currently, you will no longer be eligible for them.
It is important for all UNH students to understand the significant impact these budget cuts will have on the university community. It’s our job as the student body to stop these dramatic cuts. Providing financial aid to all eligible students will help them to achieve their dreams. Connecticut resident or not, all of these proposed cuts are going to affect your financial aid. Show the legislature and Governor that this funding is important to all University of New Haven students. Write a letter or e-mail and voice your opinion. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
If we don’t fight for our educational funding, who will?
The suggested text is as follows:
Dear (Governor/Senator/Representative):
I am writing you today on behalf of the University of New Haven to voice my deep concern for Governor Malloy’s proposed cut to the Connecticut Independent College Student (CICS) grant program in his biennium budget. The CICS grant program provides critical financial aid to Connecticut residents attending Connecticut independent colleges.
The governor has proposed cutting this program by 25% in fiscal year 2012 and 50% in fiscal year 2013. At an average grant award of $3,828, the proposed cuts mean that 1,523 students will no longer receive a grant in the first year of the biennium and that 3,058 students will not receive one in the second year.
As you are well aware, Connecticut is dealing with some of the most difficult economic times in its history. While the Governor says he is committed to passing a budget that creates jobs and helps to grow the state’s economy, this cut will directly impact the ability of Connecticut residents to receive a quality education and to be prepared to fill the jobs of tomorrow that will help pull our state out of the economic doldrums. Connecticut’s independent colleges award more than half of the degrees earned in key economic development areas such as engineering and related technology (70%), computer and information science (82%), and biological sciences (58%). Cutting off access to these programs will only hurt Connecticut’s chances at a quick economic recovery.
Further, the state’s investment in financial aid to help Connecticut students attend independent colleges has a dramatic return on investment for the state. Connecticut independent colleges award nearly half of the degrees awarded in the state and more than half of the degrees received by minority students. At a cost to the state of only $1,615 per degree earned compared to approximately $45,238 per degree awarded by the public institutions of higher education, CICS grants represent a tremendous bang for the taxpayer buck! Cutting this program will force students to attend public institutions of higher education at a further cost to the state or to leave the state to earn their degree, which only perpetuates the damaging “brain drain” that Connecticut has been dealing with for years.
Support students and higher education. Please don’t shortchange student financial aid in the biennium budget. Higher education is critically important to our economy and our future.
Sincerely,
The relevant contact information is as follows:
Governor Dannel Malloy
Office of the Governor
State Capitol
Hartford, CT 06106
Send emails to Governor Malloy through the online form at
http://www.governor.ct.gov/malloy/cwp/view.asp?a=3998&q=471348 or to his
education staff person at [email protected] .
Chairs of Appropriations Committee:
Rep. Toni Walker
Appropriations Committee
Legislative Office Building
Hartford, CT 06106
Sen. Toni Harp
Appropriations Committee
Legislative Office Building
Hartford, CT 06106
Chairs of Higher Education Subcommittee of Appropriations Committee:
Rep. Roberta Willis
Higher Education & Employment
Advancement Committee
Legislative Office Building
Hartford, CT 06106
[email protected]
Senator Andrew Maynard
Legislative Office Building, Room 2300
Hartford, CT 06106
To email, use online form at: http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/Maynard-mailform.html
To find the contact information for your respective state legislators:
Go to http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/CGAFindLeg.asp. You will be able to enter your address and get a contact for your individual senator and representative.
