News from NAICU

A new national survey by the Marist Poll shows overwhelming public support for doubling the maximum Pell Grant award and found that more than six-in-ten Americans say college leads to a better job and an improved position in life.
 
The national survey of 1,257 adults (including 1,135 registered voters) was conducted by the Marist Poll as part of a presentation to the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities during its 2023 Annual Meeting and Advocacy Day in Washington, DC.
 
Nationally, 74% of Americans support doubling the Pell Grant and less than one quarter (24%) oppose such an increase.  These data are consistent with findings from a national poll NAICU conducted in November 2021, which showed that 75% of Americans support doubling the Pell Grant.
 
“The Pell Grant program has helped over 80 million students during its first 50 years,” said NAICU President Barbara K. Mistick.  “This is a program whose support from policymakers has historically transcended political ideology.  Today, we see that Democrats, Republicans, Independents and Americans from all backgrounds across the country want to see this critical student aid funding program significantly expanded.”
 
The proposal enjoys widespread support across party lines, income and regional demographics, and races.

Strongly Support/Support Doubling Pell
 

National Adults	74%		Household Income
Republican	57		<$50,000	77%
Democrat	89		$50,000-$99,000	73
Independent	71		$100,000 or >	73
Region			Race/Ethnicity
Northeast	71%		Black	89%
Midwest	71		Latino	74
South	75		White	72
West	77

National Adults	65%
Republican	57
Democrat	78
Independent	62

“Americans understand the value and life-long impact of a higher education,” said Mistick.  “The key is to ensure that any student who wishes to attend a college or university – two-year or four-year – can access and afford it.  Doubling the Pell Grant would expand eligibility and increase affordability for low-income students across the country.  The time has come to double the Pell Grant maximum.”
 
The findings are from a survey of 1,257 adults conducted January 23rd through January 26th, 2023, by the Marist Poll as part of a presentation for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) 2023 Annual Meeting & Advocacy Day. Adults 18 years of age and older residing in the United States were contacted through a multi-mode design: respondents were contacted by live interviewers, by text, or online. Survey questions were available in English or Spanish. Results are statistically significant within ±3.6 percentage points.  The error margin was adjusted for sample weights and increases for cross-tabulations.
 

Suzanne Stokes Vieth has been appointed Director of State Relations and Outreach at the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). 

The state relations and outreach director is responsible for cultivating and managing the Association’s network of state executives, tracking emerging higher education issues at the state level, and organizing and coordinating coalitions within the NAICU membership.
 
“Suzanne brings to NAICU a vast array of experience in direct and grassroots advocacy at both the state level and on Capitol Hill,” said NAICU President Barbara K. Mistick, D.M. “Our members will benefit greatly from her experience, energy and enthusiasm for our work on behalf of private, nonprofit colleges and universities and the students we serve.
 
Vieth joins NAICU from the Population Association of America/Association of Population Centers where she served as deputy director for government affairs.  Among her many accomplishments in that position, she planned and led congressional fly-ins and organized scientific briefings for congressional audiences.
 
Previously, she served as the manager of congressional relations for the Association of Public Television Stations, where she worked extensively with the 158 public television licensees distributed across the country and helped establish the Congressional Public Broadcasting Caucus, to which she served as liaison.
 
In addition, Vieth operated a consulting business serving a number of community-based organizations with grassroots development, grant writing, strategic planning, editorial writing and editing, and meeting facilitation. She began her career as a legislative specialist in the office of former U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT). Vieth is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science.
 

Today, President Biden announced an executive action to forgive federal student loan debt of $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for other students who make up to $125,000. According to The White House, the loan forgiveness includes the vast majority of the 43 million people with student debt and could render up to 20 million borrowers whose balances are under $10,000 entirely free of student debt. The action taken today also  extended the pandemic pause on student loan payments, through the end of the year. Loan payments were set to resume for millions of borrowers after Aug. 31.

NAICU President Barbara K. Mistick, D.M. issued the following statement: 

“College affordability is a critical issue and will take a multi-pronged approach to address effectively. The single most important step Congress can take to make college more affordable is to double the maximum Pell Grant award to $13,000. This program is the cornerstone of federal financial aid and has helped 80 million students since its inception. We must also work together on reforms that will improve the student loan programs and provide resources to help students make more informed financial decisions concerning their education. We look forward to working with the Administration on the three-step approach announced today by President Biden.
 
“But we must all do our own part to address these issues as well.  Private, nonprofit colleges and universities continue to implement strategies and initiatives to increase access and success for students and families from all backgrounds. I am proud to say that 79 percent of all grant aid provided at four-year private, nonprofit institutions comes directly from institutional resources.  Additionally, what often goes overlooked is that net tuition at private, nonprofits is lower now than it was ten years ago.
 
“Private, nonprofit colleges and universities have the best on-time, four-year graduation rates. Completing on-time is a critical component of reducing the debt loads for students and families and allowing students to quickly enter the job market.
 
“But our sector can and must do even more. We must work harder to ensure more students complete college and complete on time. We need to ensure that students and their families understand what it means to borrow, and we need to do more to help those who must borrow to access jobs that will make repayment easier.
 
“Congress needs to do more as well. Now is the time to Double Pell so that we don’t fall back into this same loan pattern. Among the many things that should be addressed are the cost of student loans, the ease of repayment, and the targeting of subsidies to those who need the help the most.
 
“A degree is a ticket to an American dream, and we will continue to work with Congress to ensure that every student has access to that dream.”

Barbara K. Mistick, D.M.
President
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities

On June 23, 1972, the Education Amendments Act of 1972 was signed by President Richard M. Nixon. These amendments created the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant, later named the Pell Grant in honor of its sponsor, Senator Claiborne Pell of Rhode Island.
 
NAICU President Barbara K. Mistick, D.M. issued the following statement on the eve of this golden anniversary:
 
“Today we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Pell Grant, a critical federal student aid program that has provided a pathway to higher education for 80 million students nationwide.  In advocating for his legislation 50 years ago, Sen. Claiborne Pell (D-RI) said: ‘This is very important legislation, for it’s through this Act that the dream of access, and opportunity for college education becomes a reality.’
 
“Currently, the Pell Grant helps nearly 7 million students access a higher education and is a proven program that enjoys strong bipartisan support among Americans and policy makers alike. The pandemic, however, has pulled the rug out from under low-income students. Since the pandemic began, college enrollment is down 13% across higher education, and financial aid applications are down 6% for low-income students. We are on the cusp of losing a generation of students.
 
“The Pell Grant program remains the fairest and most efficient way to help low-income and first-generation students access and complete college and enter the workforce. However, additional grant aid is needed. That is why we support doubling the Pell Grant maximum award to $13,000, which President Joe Biden also supports.  If the Pell Grant is doubled, not only will current students receive increased grants, but the pool of eligible students will grow, providing more working-class students access to aid.
 
“Doubling Pell will put more money in the hands of students first and allow them to use it at the college or training program that best fits their educational needs. However, the president’s proposal would not double the current Pell Grant amount until 2029.
 
“So, on this day marking 50 years of the Pell Grant, we celebrate the impact it has had on so many students and families but also highlight the continued work that must be undertaken to ensure that the maximum award is increased as quickly as possible, putting these expanded resources in the hands of students sooner rather than later.”
 
Barbara K. Mistick, D.M.
President
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities

Today, President Biden released his budget for the 2023 fiscal year, which included increasing the Pell Grant maximum, along with a commitment to doubling the maximum.  The president’s budget includes a $1,775 increase in the maximum award, which would bring the total from $6,895 to $8,670.
 
The budget also includes significant increases for critically important federal student aid programs, and recognized the importance and contributions of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally-Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).
 
NAICU President Barbara K. Mistick, D.M. issued the following statement:
 
“Doubling the maximum Pell Grant award is a top policy priority for NAICU.  Today, President Biden made yet another commitment to make that priority a reality.  The president’s budget calls for a nearly $2,000 increase in the Pell Grant maximum award and a commitment to double the award by 2029."
 
“This is an important and historic commitment to the Pell Grant and the students and families who rely on these resources to access a higher education. NAICU applauds the Administration for taking this next step and renewing its commitment to doubling the Pell Grant. While we would like to see this happen more quickly, the president’s proposals are steps in the right direction and we hope that Congress will move quickly to consider the budget."
 
"In addition to Pell, NAICU continues to support increased funding for Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants and Federal Work-Study, which must remain major parts of a low-income student’s aid package to ensure access, choice, and flexibility for the best fit institution."
 
“National polling shows that nearly 90% of Americans support the Pell Grant and 75% support doubling the maximum award. The polling also shows that the Pell Grant, which historically has enjoyed bipartisan support on Capitol Hill, continues to be a program that both Democrats and Republicans back (66% of Republicans and 88% of Democrats support doubling Pell)."
 
“In addition to the Pell Grant increase, the president’s budget also shows the Administration’s support for the federal institutional aid programs, providing significant increases to help more students and families and has rightfully recognized the value of HBCU’s, MSIs, and TCCUs by providing resources to enhance institutional capacity at those colleges and universities."
 
“It is our hope that Congress will take this up soon and ensure these critical resources are allocated to these and other higher education programs.”