Bush proposes limiting Pell Grants

President George W. Bush has proposed limiting student access to financial aid in order to fund a new program for low-income students called the Presidential Math and Science Scholars Fund.

The proposed program would award an additional $5,000 to 20,000 students who already receive federal financial aid through Pell Grant funding -- to be used toward the study of mathematics or science only.

University officials said that the new proposal would not impact financial aid for Penn students.

The Pell Grant Program provides federal grants to undergraduate students who demonstrate a certain level of need, as determined by evaluation of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The awards do not need to be repaid, and there is no limit on when they can be used, as long as qualifying students maintain good academic standing.

Some of the funding for the new math and science scholars program would come from imposing time limits on Pell Grant access. Four-year degree candidates would have at most eight years of funding. Two-year degree candidates would have four years of funding.

The rest of the money would come from private donations.

"This reform would encourage students to finish [college] sooner and eliminate abuse of the [Pell Grant] program, where students extend their studies excessively," according to a press release from the White House.

The program's focus on math and science reflects a larger set of initiatives to "strengthen math and science education" at all levels, the press release said.

Bill Schilling, director of student financial aid at Penn, expressed some doubts about Bush's proposal.

"I think it could hurt students who are going to [two-year community colleges] on a part-time basis," he said, adding that the time limits would be "particularly harmful to nontraditional students."

Many students in two-year degree programs work while attending school, Schilling said.

"As long as they're making [academic] progress, to put an arbitrary limit on [funding] doesn't seem particularly helpful."

Schilling was also skeptical about the viability of Pell Grant time limits as a funding source for other programs.

"I just can't imagine that it's going to free up that much money," he said.

According to Schilling, financial aid at Penn would not be affected by the Pell Grant changes.

"We never see a student who's getting more than eight years worth of Pell," Schilling said, adding that Bush's proposal would have "no impact at all" on campus.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.