Author: Arielle Darr
On March 12, 2009 Occidental College participated in Cal Grant Student Lobby Day in Sacramento to promote the importance of this aid program. As the global economic crisis continues and California faces a severe budget deficit, the Cal Grant program may be potentially cut in the future. “We dogged a bullet this year with the Governor taking out all cuts to the program in the final budget, but that does not mean we are out of the woods,” Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Occidental College Elizabeth Powell said.
According to the California Student Aid Commission, “Cal Grants awards are state funded monetary grants given to students to help pay for college expenses.” With a relatively simple application process and guaranteed money for gradating or recently graduated California high school students who are academically and financially eligible, Cal Grants serve as a way for California students to receive aid.
According to Powell, 260 students attending Oxy received Cal Grants in the 2008-2009 school year.
Cal Grants boost the California college-going rate and allow students who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to receive a secondary education. “Now more than ever, Cal Grants are the ticket many students need to pursue an education beyond high school, whatever their goals,” Commission Executive Director Diana Fuentes-Michel said. “Cal Grants not only open doors to higher education, but they also keep those doors open for students who otherwise could not afford college or who would have to work more – and take longer – to complete their educational goals.” During the 2007-08 school year, the Commission offered approximately $800 million in Cal Grants and other financial aid to more than 299,000 eligible students throughout California.
A Feb. 12, LA Times article reports on the education crises in California. “We’re facing some really serious challenges and it has to do with not getting our younger generation educated at the same rate as other generations,” coauthor of the report and executive director of Cal State Sacramento’s Institute for Higher Education Leadership & Policy Nancy Shulock said. “We don’t think the budget crisis can be an excuse not to act.”
President of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (AICCU) Jonathan Brown discussed reasons for the survival of Cal Grants this year.
“First, the entitlement feature that was adopted in 2000 – encouraged several members of the legislature to take the idea of the promise they had offered seriously. Second, several members were impressed that even with declines in endowment income and other challenges facing the sector – the independent colleges and universities were committed to not reduce enrollment,” Brown said.
This does not however mean that Cal Grants are all in the clear. “The program is still in peril as the budget will be revised in April after all tax revenue and other economic indicators are reported,” said Powell. “As you may know, the projections for tax revenue are already creating an $8 billion dollar deficit in the current budget, so we may be back to square one in a month or two.”
Before the lobby, Elizabeth Powell, Assistant Director of Financial Aid, sent out an email informing students of the matter and how they can help. “We will be meeting with state legislators in an effort to highlight the tremendous benefit the Cal Grant program is to students across California.” She wrote that this would be done through direct interaction between legislators and the people who are affected by Cal Grants the most, students. “When students come to the Capitol building and convey their personal stories of how the Cal Grant funding helps them, the legislators and staffers listen. Putting a face with an issue is very important in getting an issue heard up here,” VP of Public Affairs for the AICCU Lisa Douglas said.
In addition to the lobby, students are being asked to participate in a letter writing campaign to inform state legislators about the importance of this program that gives California students the ability to attend their dream colleges. “To help us get this message across [. . .] write a letter to your California legislator(s) expressing what a benefit the Cal Grant program has been in achieving your higher education goals,” said Powell. “The letter should be personal in nature, highlighted by any anecdotal stories you may have in regards to the Cal Grant program.”
While people like former student, Juan Medina, volunteered to go to the lobby this year, the fact that it fell over spring break made it difficult to find students to attend. More volunteers will be needed for the lobby next year according to Powell.
“This is one of the most generous state programs in the country, and we need to let the legislators know that we appreciate all they do for students in California,” said Powell. “The future is up to each and everyone of us. We need to be willing to invest in education and do everything we can to save programs like the Cal Grant.”
If you would like to volunteer to attend the Cal Grant Student Day lobby in future years, please contact Elizabeth Powell (epowell@oxy.edu).
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