Wisconsin Higher Education Leaders Condemn Proposed Cuts to Federal Student Aid
Leaders of colleges and universities in Wisconsin are speaking out against pending cuts to federal financial aid after a massive budget reconciliation bill cleared a major legislative hurdle in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill, which aims to finance tax cut extensions, would slash education-related spending by over $300 billion and overhaul federal student loan and grant programs.
According to a report from Wisconsin Public Radio, almost all Republicans in the House voted in favour of the bill on Thursday, with the legislation now awaiting approval from the GOP-controlled U.S. Senate. During a news conference on Thursday, leaders from the Universities of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Technical College System, and the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities urged lawmakers to reconsider the proposed changes.
The bill would set new caps on federally backed student loans and repeal several student loan repayment programs, including the President Joe Biden-era program known as SAVE. Borrowers would be moved into a new Repayment Assistance Plan, which could result in higher payments for many, according to the Student Borrower Protection Center. As Wisconsin Public Radio reported, U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, a Republican from Michigan who chairs the House Education and Workforce Committee, defended the vote, stating that it was a step towards cutting waste in the student loan system.
However, Universities of Wisconsin system President Jay Rothman argued that the changes would make it harder for Wisconsinites to obtain the degrees needed to fill in-demand roles. "It simply makes no sense, no sense for the United States right now to narrow educational opportunities if our country is going to have an opportunity to win the global war for talent," Rothman said at a news conference, as quoted by Wisconsin Public Radio. "I am dumbfounded that cutting educational opportunities would even be considered when our economic vibrancy as a nation is at stake."
The proposed changes would also increase requirements for low-income students who receive Pell Grants, requiring students to have at least "half-time" enrollment to receive the grants. Additionally, the threshold for people who receive a maximum Pell Grant available to "full-time" students would increase from 12 to 15 credit hours a semester. Mark Thomas, chief strategy officer at Madison College, a public technical college, warned that these new restrictions would likely hurt students from working-class backgrounds. "I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that many community college students, including the ones here at Madison College, are already working one or two low-wage jobs," Thomas said, as reported by Wisconsin Public Radio.
The concerns were echoed by Jose Villarreal, a Madison College student and Pell Grant recipient, who stated that the proposed changes could stop thousands of Wisconsinites like him from being able to afford higher education. "It’s not as simple as signing up for one more class," Villarreal said during the news conference. "I’m already taking as many credits as I can while working, being present [as a] father to my young daughter and managing responsibilities outside of the classroom." Villarreal added that raising the credit requirements needed to receive Pell Grants would not speed up his education, but rather slow it down, forcing him to choose between work and school.
The proposed cuts to federal student aid have sparked widespread concern among higher education leaders in Wisconsin, who fear that the changes would have a disproportionate impact on low-income students and those from working-class backgrounds. As the bill awaits approval from the U.S. Senate, leaders from across the state are urging lawmakers to reconsider the proposed changes and protect access to affordable higher education. According to Wisconsin Public Radio, the outcome of the bill remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the future of federal student aid hangs in the balance.
This article is based on reporting from Wisconsin Public Radio. The original article can be found here: https://www.wpr.org/news/wisconsin-higher-education-leaders-house-cuts-federal-student-aid.
