Collegian
May 1, 1986
Gramm-Rudman cuts hit 80,000 Pell Grant Students
AKRON, OH (CPS)--
Undergrad Laura McCafferty
made it through this year at the
University of Akron because she
had a $950 Peli Grant.
Now, if a letter she got last
week proves true, she probably
won't receive a dime of Pell Grant
money next fall.
McCafferty isn't the only one
getting bad news this month as,
for the first time in the Gramm-
Rudman era, colleges deliver let
ters outlining how much federal
aid students can expect for the
next school year.
As many as 80,000 students na
tionwide stand to get smaller Pell
Grants or lose their grants
altogether next fall, the American
Council on Education (ACE)
estimates.
Officials blame the Gramm-
Rudman budget-balancing law—
which forced a cut of $154 million
from the Pell Grant program
already this year--and
underestimated the number of
students who would qualify for
the program.
If Congress does not approve a
bill to give the program the need
ed $215 million, about 500,000
students will receive reduced
awards for next fall.
No one, of course, knows yet
just how bad the situation will be.
In March and April, campus
financial aid officers normally
make tentative awards to_students
who apply for aid for the next
fall.
The aid officers usually base the
tentative awards on what each stu
dent received during the current
year. The U.S. Department of
Education then makes the actual
awards in May and June.
But the Gramm-Rudman law,
the budget shortfall and the
Education Department's often
erratic effort to calculate actual
awards have deepened the uncer
tainty - this year.
"The whole timing of what the
Education Department does is
pitiful," sighs Paul Orehovec, aid
director at the College of Wooster
in Ohio.
"We are asking if we can meet
the needs of all our students,"
adds Jennifer Hantho, director of
financial aid at Drake University
in lowa. "We are not sure that we
can."
Kansas State plans to "help the
neediest (students) first," explains
aid chief Jim Upham, "But we
have not identified those who will
be cut off."
Such uncertainty can
havoc with students' plans.
"I'll probably try to work
more" to get through school, says
Akron's McCafferty, who already
holds a job in the campus work
study program and delivers
newspapers.
She also has hopes that her
fiance will be able to help her pay
for school, and that Akron might
find some other money to grant a
loan to her.
"I am trying to understand why
such a drastic cut," McCafferty
says. "That's a lot of money to
make up."
Although her financial aid
package has not been finalized
yet, McCafferty is planning on the
worst case corning true.
University Associate Director
of Financial Aid John Pitts does
not know if the school will be able
to find money to replace lost Pell
Grants for all its students.
Pitts does estimate, however,
that 776 students out of a total of
4,130 Pa recipients at Akron will
lose their grants next fall.
The Education Department
plans to mail its official Pell
Grant allocation letters in late
Deferred grade policy
REGISTRAR'S OFFICE--
Senate Policy 48-40 permits
students to use deferred grades
under certain circumstances. A
revision to the policy for 1986 re
quires students using this option
to take specific action prior to ap
proval of a deferred grade.
The student must pick up a
APPROVAL OF DEFERRED GRADE
I REQUEST PERMISSION FOR A DEFERRED GRADE
EMZ=EI
FOR FALL
1".. SPRING : . SUMMER 19
INSTRUCTIONS
I PERMISSION FOR A DEFERRED GRADE SHOULD BE
REQUESTED PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF THE FINAL
EXAMINATION PERIOD
2. STUDENT COMPLETES AND SIGNS THE TOP PORTION OF THIS
FORM, OR A COLLEGE PETITION FORM
3 STUDENT OBTAINS CONCURRENCE AND SIGNATURE OF
INSTRUCTOR
4 STUDENT OBTAINS SIGNATURE OF HIS/HER COLLEGE DEAN.
DIRECTOR DIVISION OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES. OR
CAMPUS EXECUTIVE OFFICER
5 DEAN, DIRECTOR DIVISION UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
OR CAMPUS EXECUTIVE OFFICER DISTRIBUTES COPIES
Behrend mascot
Some members of the Behrend communi
ty have expressed an interest in changing
the Penn State-Behrend mascot.
What do you think?
A group of faculty, staff and students got
together and now we need to know what you,
the Behrend population, want. For example,
should we keep the Cub, or key on Behrend's
geographical location or something relating
r ...... MO all MEP IND
Answer this question and return form
The issue has arisen that a new Behrend mascot
should be developed:
❑ I strongly agree there should be a new Behrend mascot
❑ I agree that a new mascot would be a good thing
❑ The issue does not matter to me
❑ I disagree. We should keep the same mascot
❑ I strongly disagree. The Behrend mascot should never be changed
May or early June, says
spokesman Bob Jamroz.
Colleges will be notified of how
Deferred Grade Approval form in
the college Registrar's Office 113
Otto Behrend Science Building.
Permission for a deferred grade
should be requested from the
course instructor prior the the
beginning of the final examina
tion period.
to the RUB desk by May 9
❑ a student
❑ a faculty/staff member
❑ an interested reader
Thank You!
lam
news 3
SENATE POLICY 4E40 APPLIES
IMUIMEI
MMIEMI;I
MEUMETZMI
DO NOT
CONCUR
E 3
CONCUR
L=M[JMWMII
SK.NATUTIE IDEAMOIRECTOPI DUSTCATAPUS EXECUTIVE OFFICER
in consideration
to Erie's history for a new mascot?
Should we change the mascot or not?
You can let us know by answering this one
simple question and returning your
response to the RUB Desk by Friday, May 9.
Should results indicate you desire to rename
the mascot, your Behrend Collegian will give
you the opportunity to do just that.
Thanks for your help.
much they will receive for other
aid programs by early May, he
adds.
in effect
The course instructor must sign
the form and indicate his or her
agreement.
Finally, the student must return
the completed form to the college
registrar's office for final ap
proval and processing before the
final exam period begins.
MiMMI
=IZMEI