2008 Woodie Awards
President Helm voices opinion on government regulations
Eirinn Disbrow
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: News
These past few weeks, President Helm has been lobbying to increase federal funded financial aid for economically challenged students. Last week, President Helm met with the presidents of Bucknell University and Albright University and the Pennsylvania Senators, Arlen Spector and Bob Casey, to convey that the Pell Grant, a federal grant whose maximum award is limited to $4,050 per year for each individual student, needs to be increased.
President Helm explains, "The Pell Grant is still inadequate to help students from economically challenged families afford higher education. We are advocating for an increase up to $5,100 per year, and while we may not achieve that level, we are hoping that the government can do more than it is."
President Helm has continued to support this message by corresponding with the Pennsylvania Representative, Charles Dent, and also by attending a board meeting in Washington for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, where almost 1000 private colleges and universities give their input on legislative issues.
All of this lobbying corresponds with Congress' attempts to pass a reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. The Higher Education Act was established in 1965 to create scholarships and low-interest loans for students. It incorporates all federally funded student aid programs.
One of the main concerns for many colleges is that the government will try and establish new and intrusive regulatory and reporting requirements during reauthorization. President Helm explains that "government over-regulation drives up operating costs and can be especially onerous for small colleges like Muhlenberg." Some of these unnecessary regulations have been eliminated from the bill thanks to the lobbying of many college presidents. For instance, they have eliminated mandatory endowment spending policies and a ban on individuals employed in financial services from serving on the college board of trustees.
President Helm explains, "The Pell Grant is still inadequate to help students from economically challenged families afford higher education. We are advocating for an increase up to $5,100 per year, and while we may not achieve that level, we are hoping that the government can do more than it is."
President Helm has continued to support this message by corresponding with the Pennsylvania Representative, Charles Dent, and also by attending a board meeting in Washington for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, where almost 1000 private colleges and universities give their input on legislative issues.
All of this lobbying corresponds with Congress' attempts to pass a reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. The Higher Education Act was established in 1965 to create scholarships and low-interest loans for students. It incorporates all federally funded student aid programs.
One of the main concerns for many colleges is that the government will try and establish new and intrusive regulatory and reporting requirements during reauthorization. President Helm explains that "government over-regulation drives up operating costs and can be especially onerous for small colleges like Muhlenberg." Some of these unnecessary regulations have been eliminated from the bill thanks to the lobbying of many college presidents. For instance, they have eliminated mandatory endowment spending policies and a ban on individuals employed in financial services from serving on the college board of trustees.