President Barack Obama has a plan that may make college students a little less strapped for cash.
Obama is calling for education reform, which would affect students of all ages – from kindergarten to graduate school to returning adult students.
Among the proposals on the President's agenda are lengthening the school year and expanding Pell Grants.
In order to raise the level and quality of education in the U.S., Obama has proposed lengthening the school year to increase student achievement in an attempt to put American schools on par with their European counterparts.
Suzanne Miller, chair of the Department of Learning and Instruction at UB and a national expert in learning and instruction, believes that Obama's plan is good in theory but may not work out as well as he hopes.
She feels that an extended school year could only be helpful if the time was used wisely.
'If the extra time were used to add back the arts or to engage students in purposeful discussion, then additional time would be a great asset in 21st century schools,' Miller said.
Obama hopes that by lengthening the school year, students will be able to master tricky subjects that could cause them trouble. The president also aims to reform the No Child Left Behind Act so that schools in need are offered assistance and not punishment.
To help college students, Obama's Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act was passed by the House of Representatives in September and is currently awaiting a vote in the Senate.
According to a White House press release, the act will 'make higher education more affordable by expanding Pell Grants and initiating new tax credits to make sure any young person who works hard and desires a college education can access it.'
The act will become the largest federal contribution to college affordability in American history.
'This marks a new era for students across Western New York, and reaffirms our commitment to higher education. It also guarantees that our future workforce is well educated,' said Louise Slaughter (D-NY). 'The plan works twofold. It will give more aid to the students as well as [saving] the government money and cutting the federal deficit by $10 billion.'
The bill calls for pouring more money into Pell Grants and other federally subsidized loans covered by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which will cut out the private lender middlemen and give more students the opportunity to receive government funds.
Another important aspect of this act is that it will streamline the FAFSA application, making it easier for students to apply for federal aid. This should assuage some doubts for students, as UB's financial aid policy has been controversial on campus.
'The FAFSA will have an easier application process, which should help more students apply for aid,' Slaughter said.
Slaughter believes that if the bill is passed, the results will be visible to thousands of college students across Western New York, especially since it includes greater funding for community colleges and vocational schools for returning students and those who may not be ready to jump into a four-year university.
E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
