http://www.statenews.com 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. en-us Gryphon 2.2.3b-tsn (woodward)/Foundry5 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:57:35 -0400 webmaster@statenews.com http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41202 In 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! Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:04:52 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41202 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41233 How 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. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:17:16 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41233 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41260 I 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. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:46:18 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41260 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41263 This article seems to be whistling a different tune than the editorial published yesterday…. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:49:05 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41263 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41302 Well, 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. Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:01:34 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41302 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41328 I 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. Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:19:04 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41328 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41334 I keep hearing business complain they can’t get properly educated workers in this state/nation. This is why. Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:48:45 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41334 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41343 Shows 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. Even student loan have been calculated and it will require student to go back and try and get more. The traditional slave wage, part time jobs are being taken up by the older, higher educated unemployed now, like 50 year old guy at Burger King, so even just running out and working harder isn’t an option in this state. Oh, Michigan if I could sell my house, I’d so be out of here. (I’m a professional engineer that lost her job 1 month ago, husband is Tech Writer with a 4 year degree who lost his job 12 months ago. So much for keep what educated work force you have. And you not planning to support a new one.) Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:40:47 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41343 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41346 Yes. 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. Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:59:31 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41346 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41362 My 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? Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:30:25 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41362 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41404 We 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!! Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:46:56 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41404 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41446 My 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. Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:31:23 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41446 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41495 This 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 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:27:20 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41495 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41542 I 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. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:08:59 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41542 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41669 I 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. Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:20:28 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41669 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41691 Taking 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. And, my next daughter who is a junior in high school now feels that she should not bother to work so hard at earning good grades if it really matters little in the end. She is currently an all A student and it is very sad to see her and others like her just overwhelmed with disbelief. What a dismal outlook for the future of higher education! Please save the scholarships. Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:16:59 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41691 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41714 I 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. Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:57:35 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41714