Six weeks into fiscal year 1998, Congress has finally completed
action on legislation that will boost funding for historically Black
colleges and universities (HBCUs), TRIO, and many student-aid programs
through next year.
The House and Senate passed the bills by overwhelming margins after
resolving a series of thorny disputes with the White House – primarily
on K-12 issues. Because the government’s new fiscal year began October
1, higher education programs were operating with only temporary funds
during these talks.
Funding for HBCUs would increase by $9.5 million to $118.5 million
next year. HBCU graduate institutions also would receive a $5.3 million
increase, for a total funding of $25 million in fiscal 1998.
Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) would get $12 million from the
spending bill, up from $10.8 million in 1997. Grantees in these
programs could use the funds to help build endowments.
The approved funding follows guidelines in the existing Higher
Education Act, which is due to be reauthorized in 1998 (see Black
Issues, November 13, for a full discussion of proposed changes.)
TRIO programs to recruit disadvantaged, first-generation college
students would receive $529 million, an increase of nearly $30 million,
thanks to an agreement which also includes $210 million for Howard
University, $14 million more than in fiscal 1997.
As expected, the measure would increase the maximum Pell Grant from
$2,700 to $3,000 next year. House/Senate conferees also allotted $286
million to help address eligibility problems for independent students
and dependent students who work. Advocates have said working students
begin to lose their eligibility for Pell Grants even if they earn small
amounts of money.
Currently, independent students can earn only $3,000 a year and
dependent students $1,750 a year before they begin to lose eligibility
for Pell Grants Student groups have said the government will need about
$700 million, nearly three times the funding in the bill, to raise
these income eligibility standards to a more reasonable level.
