A little work could get you more aid

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski visited the Portland State campus Wednesday to introduce a program that doubles the funds the state gives to college students in the form of financial aid grants.

Oregon Opportunity Grant recipients will share $72 million for the 2008-09 school year, up from $35 million from this year. Most of the 27,000 students who already receive the grant will notice a significantly larger grant, the governor said, and about 6,000 new middle-income students will be eligible.

The governor acknowledged that students are facing tuition increases and often have to choose jobs over classes to support their families.

“For too long, we have asked our students to assume more responsibility for paying for college, by paying more and working more,” he said, “but we have failed to match those efforts.”

The grant’s expansion is based on the Shared Responsibility Model, an idea that was germinated over two years ago by members of the Board of Higher Education and a work group of advisors from the state’s educational sectors. The model now distributes grant funds based on multiple factors for each student, such as how much a student works and their parent’s financial eligibility, thus eliminating the previous all-or-nothing approach.

All students, the governor said, will be expected to contribute a realistic portion of their college costs by working a part-time job during the year and a full-time job during summer.

“In return,” he said, “we will help bridge the affordability gap that now seems so daunting.”

The governor said that the legislation was one of the most important that he has introduced, and that its impact will be felt throughout the state’s future.

All students, the governor said, will be expected to contribute a realistic portion of their college costs by working a part-time job during the year and a full-time job during summer.

“In return,” he said, “we will help bridge the affordability gap that now seems so daunting.”

George Pernsteiner, Oregon University System chancellor, said that this change signals a U-turn in the message Oregon’s political leaders give to students.

“For so long, they’ve been sent a negative message, and now these students can believe in themselves because we are saying, ‘We believe in you,'” Pernsteiner said.

The program’s expansion is based on the Shared Responsibility Model, an idea that was germinated over two years ago by members of the Board of Higher Education and a work group of advisors from the state’s educational sectors. The model now distributes grant funds based on multiple factors for each student, eliminating the previous all-or-nothing approach.

One Oregon state senator and two representatives were present at PSU Wednesday, among them representative Larry Galizio (D-Tigard), who said that he hoped more can be done to improve college affordability in the future.

“This is just the beginning,” Galizio said. “This needs to be the first step to continued investment in higher education.”

Many students were in the audience, and after the governor spoke, he spent time visiting with Mayra Gomez, a 19-year-old sophomore studying nursing and Christina Le, a 19-year-old studying business. The two PSU students work part-time jobs and are first generation college students. Le contributes a portion of her income to support her family.

“With this grant,” Le said, “I’ll be able to put priority on my schoolwork–where it should be.”

Gomez estimated that she will be getting a $1,500 annual increase in her Oregon Opportunity Grant next year. She said those funds will go toward, “books, rent–you name it.”

“This increase will allow me to be able to take classes and not worry about all the other obstacles,” Gomez said.

Students can log on to www.getcollegefunds.orgto determine how much aid the state will give them next year.