Beyond High School is our free monthly newsletter covering higher education policy and practices in Colorado. Sign up to get it delivered to your inbox early.
Earlier this month, we published a story focused on the Trump budget bill’s proposed changes to Pell Grants. The bill proposal would require students to take more classes to be considered for full free federal financial aid. The budget would also eliminate eligibility for many part-time students.
But the Senate then drafted revisions to reverse those changes.
The revisions are encouraging for Colorado higher education leaders, but there are still concerns that Pell changes could make it into the final budget.
Pikes Peak State College President Lance Bolton told me in an interview that community college students would especially be hurt by any changes to Pell.
The original Trump budget proposal would have affected more than a quarter of Pikes Peak’s about 17,000-student population. About half of those students would have lost federal aid altogether because so many students are attending part-time.
Bolton said part-time students already face some of the steepest challenges. They’re often struggling to balance work, parenting, and complicated lives, Bolton said. Part-time students are also more likely to come from low-income backgrounds
Bolton said he’s seen those students learn skills that make them more employable. The help from the federal government provides them a path to self-sufficiency and prosperity, he said.
“They would be knocked off that path by the changes in the Pell grant process,” he said. “It certainly would have been really unfortunate for them.”
The school would also likely have to cut programs because students might opt out of pursuing a college education if the changes pass, Bolton said. It’s a situation many community colleges could face.
“We want to protect the supports that help our most vulnerable students and make sure they have a pathway to prosperity, a pathway to economic self-sufficiency,” Bolton said. “And that’s what Pell Grants have always been about.”
Thank you for reading. Let me know if you have any tips or comments at jgonzales@chalkbeat.org.
Higher ed stories from Chalkbeat
Colorado’s residents hold more degrees with value than most other states — The revamped Stronger Nation report looks at states with college-educated individuals who earn a typical wage 15% higher than those who hold just a high school diploma.
‘Why are we making it harder?’ How Trump’s budget would impact grants for low income students — About seven million students nationwide rely on free federal money to go to college. Here’s what students worry about if Congress makes changes to Pell Grants.
What we’re reading
CU Regents vote to continue with potential censure of Wanda James Colorado Public Radio
Colorado’s theatre programs are declining. Will career and technical education be the second act? KUNC
Statue of Bill McCartney, the title-winning coach who called homosexuality an “abomination,” is dividing CU The Colorado Sun
Trump promised to welcome more foreign students. Now, they feel targeted on all fronts The Associated Press
Behind the turmoil of federal attacks on colleges, some states are going after tenure The Hechinger Report
Jason Gonzales is a reporter covering higher education and the Colorado legislature. Chalkbeat Colorado partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Contact Jason at jgonzales@chalkbeat.org.
