Michigan Promise Scholarship might not be kept
By Meredith Skrzypczak (Last updated: 06/23/09 11:28pm)A state scholarship used by almost 11,000 MSU students could be eliminated, and state-funded financial aid could be slashed following a state Senate vote Tuesday.
Some students are dependent on the funds they receive from the Michigan Promise Scholarship and might have to take drastic action to make up for lost money.
“I don’t know where that money is going to come from, but I know that I can’t afford to pay for it out of pocket, so I might be looking for somewhere else to go to school,” finance sophomore Artina Tyus said.
The scholarship provides up to $4,000 for high school graduates who complete at least two years of post-secondary education in Michigan. Qualified through the Michigan Merit Exam, students who graduated in or after 2007 would be affected by the cut. Cutting the scholarship would save the state $140 million. Officials made the move shortly after a hearing where people testified about their impact.
Tyus’ parents qualify for loans but will not cosign, so taking out loans to make up for the money she will be losing is not an option.
“It’s all on me,” she said.
The Senate-passed bill likely will go to a conference committee to iron out differences between the House and Senate versions, which could happen as soon as July, state Sen. Ron Jelinek, R-Three Oaks, said. The state House’s bill, passed April 2, did not cut the scholarship and called for limited cuts to state funded financial aid.
Even though the bill passed in the Senate, state Rep. Joan Bauer, D-Lansing, said there are more steps before the fate of the scholarship is decided.
“When we have this conference committee, the head of the Senate, the head of the House and the governor’s budget director, they sit down,” she said. “They are really the ones who will then say to this conference committee, ‘Here’s how much you have to spend on higher education.’”
State senators said the cuts are tough, but something that has to be done to balance the state’s budget deficit.
“As a state and as a state budget, we are still putting a lot of money into universities,” Jelinek said. “We still support students, but they are not getting the personal support of $4,000.”
Other senators voted against the bill and supported amendments to restore funding for the Michigan Promise Scholarship and tuition grants.
“Those young men and women still deserve an opportunity to go to college,” state Sen. Tupac Hunter, D-Detroit, said. “They shouldn’t be shut out because their state won’t support them.”
Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s administration continues to support the scholarship and opposes efforts to eliminate it, said Tiffany Brown, a spokeswoman for Granholm.
“Clearly we have some difficult decisions to make,” Brown said. “We’re working with lawmakers.”
Every area of the state is experiencing cuts, state Sen. Alan Cropsey, R-DeWitt, said. Cuts might be even deeper in the future, he said.
“There very likely could be further cuts depending on the state’s income,” he said.
The cuts came only hours after a hearing in which testimonials were given from students and officials affected by the cuts. The hearing was held before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education on Tuesday at the Capitol.
“We’re gathering more information so that we have a clearer understanding of what the cuts would do to higher education,” Bauer said.
Originally Published: 06/23/09 11:28pm
MSU Mom
06/24/09 11:04amIn the real world, they’d call this breach of contract. You don’t promise this aid to thousands of students and then pull it away once it’s been promised and awarded. These students EARNED their Michigan Promise awards through hard work. The awards were part of their financial aid planning. Now more than ever, our kids need all the help they can get to actually reach their educational goals. This is not the time to reneg on our commitments to our young people! Find something else to cut!
College Freshman
06/24/09 2:17pmHow can these poeple take away the $4,000 that they ‘promised’ to give me for going to school?! This is a complete outrage and I have no clue haw i will be able to make up the difference! The State economy is terrible and MANY. OF. US. CANNOT. FIND. JOBS. to even begin to make up for this lose award! That said I may not even be able to continue my education if i don’t get this money.
College Sophomore
06/24/09 8:46pmI received the scholarship last fall. I cannot believe this! We are the so-called, FUTURE OF AMERICA as the state says. Why cut the well-needed money to us?!? They Promised us this scholarship and are going to be going back on it. Find something else to cut, vs. cutting us the money that we need to get out into the work force. It’s hard enough for me to go to college as it is. Michigan’s job situation is in such shambles. The rest of my college education relies on this money.
Hmmm
06/24/09 8:49pmThis article seems to be whistling a different tune than the editorial published yesterday….
JR
06/25/09 11:01amWell, with the economy and cuts like this going on, I won’t be surprised if people look at other states that will provide better help to students looking at higher education where the cost of living could mitigate the lack of funding.
Juniorgirl
06/25/09 1:19pmI dont understand where they think that they can go back on a “Promise” they made to us, the students. With out this money, I will have to take out larger student loans. I find it unfair that they changed the program my year of 2007 from MEAP money to this and now they wont even give me the money that they signed a contract for. This must be against the law, or atleast the contract they signed with all of us for this money. I would not be suprised if they lose more money from people sueing them for this, then they would if they just keep it.
student'sdad
06/25/09 1:48pmI keep hearing business complain they can’t get properly educated workers in this state/nation. This is why.
Arlene Garfield
06/25/09 2:40pmShows how putting the word promise to something meant nothing to our state Senate. And again they have a job so why worry about our children future employment chances. I’m so angry with them right now. I’m not one for state hand out but you don’t take back what your already promised people. Financial aid has already been summit and figured out, other grants and scholarships awarded to student.
...View full comment »
upper mom
06/25/09 2:59pmYes. PROMISE means NOTHING in this state. My husband and I are lucky to have jobs, but my daughter now has an extra 1,000 to come up with for this year. She cant make that up in a part time summer job. I really think this is sad. The state government wants people to stay in this state, but then they give us so many reasons to leave.
students mom
06/25/09 6:30pmMy son has worked hard in school the last 2 yrs. in order to Qualify for the $4000.00 that was promised to him to continue his education,Shame on the state government, If they take this away from all the students. WHAT IS A PROMISE?
newcollegemom
06/26/09 12:46pmWe just received our notification that our daughter qualifies to receive this scholarship, which will help so much. It would be a shame for the government to deny her this, when she has worked so hard to maintain her grades throughout HS. If the state was considering cutting this funding, why bother to send out the ‘good news’ when there really isn’t any!!
Peggy Landon
06/27/09 4:31pmMy son who will be a sophmore this fall was completely outraged when he found out that the “Promise” that his teachers, the school system and the government of Michigan made to him and his classmates might be broken. Find ways to cut the budget that do not involve prior COMMITTMENTS to the young people of the state.
John Connor
06/29/09 6:27pmThis is very frightening. I can not see how our government will allow these scholarships to be eliminated. It is not fair to the student, in which it was promised. I would hate to see this happen and to prevent students from obtaining the college education that they have worked so hard to obtain
Agreed ^^^^^^
07/01/09 12:08pmI agree with Peggy Landon’s post! Couldn’t say it any better! This is so unfair to the students and their families, I call it a cheap shot.
Lisa Watts
07/04/09 4:20pmI find this unimaginable. My son graduated this year from HS. I have contact several family members and friend who know nothing about the merit scholarship funding being taken away. Who do we contact so that this funding for the scholarship not be removed? How do we spread the word about the broken promise to today youth. When we can’t even read about in The Detroit News and Free Press because that only is distrubed 3 days out of the week and I sorry not everyone has a computer so that they can read about it online.SHAME, SHAME on our law makers.
Mom of College Sophomore
07/06/09 12:16amTaking away what was promised to these students who have worked so hard is just awful! My daughter and her friends all worked hard to earn the $4,000 and were relying on it to complete at least the first 2 years at community college before transferring to a university. My daughter is terribly upset at this turn of events and is becoming very disillusioned about government and life in general even at her young age.
...View full comment »
HLLWSLB
07/06/09 12:57pmI have a daughter who rec’d this scholarship last year, and needs it this fall for her sophomore year.
Is it fair that these students earned this and it will likely be cut? No. But this is an example of what they will face out in the real world. Nothing is guaranteed, ever. Except taxes and death.
Unfortunately, promises and contracts are broken every day. Look at what has happened to union contracts, employment contracts, retiree benefits, etc. You must have a plan of your own. Nothing has been decided that cannot be undecided on someone else’s whim.
That said, I hope the legislature in MI does the right thing and leaves this scholarship fund alone.