Washington State University (WSU) students are proposing support to Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and representatives of congress in reintroducing the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act through the Washington Students Association (WSA).
If passed, this legislation would bring several changes to the federal funding of higher education through the Federal Pell Grant. These changes include setting a maximum Federal Pell Grant award of $13,000, double the current maximum. Additionally, this act will set the minimum award level at 5% of the maximum award, which would allow part-time students to access these funds. Furthermore, the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act would expand its grant program to undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children who live and attended school here – DREAMers.
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The maximum Pell Grant award in 2021-2022 is $6,495. The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act will have a target award set at $9,000 for 2023-2024. Then, it will increase by $1,000 per year until it reaches $13,000 in 2027-2029 – the maximum payout.
According to #DoublePell, 50 years ago the maximum grant award covered more than three-quarters of four-year public college tuition. Today, the Federal Pell Grant covers less than one-third. Approximately 7 million college students in the United States rely on the Federal Pell Grant. By increasing the Pell Grant, more of the nation’s students can afford higher education tuition.
Currently, the WSU Vancouver legislative committee is drafting a proposal to WSA in support of doubling the Pell Grant. “The entire idea of the Washington Students Association is to advocate for the needs of our students,” said Evan Kaame, the Vice President of the Associated Students of Washington State University Vancouver and interim President of WSA. “We decided to join the movement that began in 2015 about doubling the Pell Grant,” said Kaame. “The movement had one objective, to increase the purchasing power of the Pell Grant.”
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Tuition increases about 8% per year on average – an estimated doubling of tuition every nine years. In the 2011 aid year, the Pell Grant maximum was $5,500. Tuition is increasing at an alarming rate, while the Pell Grant funding is not. “We should definitely try to ask congress to double the Pell Grant so that students can have more funding in their academics,” said Kaame.
During the 2021 aid year, 75% of students at WSU received some form of financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Additionally, 30.07% of students were awarded directly through the Federal Pell Grant funds.
“The Pell Grant has made things possible that otherwise would not have been,” said Patrick Freilinger, WSU software engineering student and Federal Pell Grant recipient. “It pays for all of the tuition,” said Freilinger, allowing him to focus on his education without having to find work. Many students have to work through their academic careers. Additionally, this funding enables Freilinger to thrive at college and receive a higher quality education.
For more information about the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act, visit congress.gov.
Jessica Kupcake 