<p>
[quote]
Today, President Bush signed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, which will make college more affordable for low-income students by increasing funding for Federal Pell Grants by more than $11 billion. The Pell Grant program helps ensure low-income students have access to higher education by providing need-based grants to help students meet education costs. The bill the President signed today will expand this program by increasing funding for Pell Grants by $11.4 billion over the next five years and allowing the maximum Pell award to increase from $4,310 in 2007 to $5,400 by 2012.
<p>Bush made the following comment at the signing, “The bill makes some spending commitments that aren't paid for yet, and I look forward to working with the Congress to ensure Pell Grant increases that are not fully funded in this bill are paid for with offsets in other areas.” Say goodby to the SEOG!</p>
<p>I am confused about the status of the SEOG (not that my daughter got it anyway but i like to understand how this all works). In the original budget proposal the SEOG was slated to be done away with. I have not seen it mentioned in the bill that just passed or it's several versions leading up to the final bill. Does the lack of mention mean it is gone because it was not mentioned so there are no funds budgetted for it? Or it is still there because it was not specifically done away with? If it is gone it will be a blow for those who did have it before as the increased Pell will probably not compensate for it. On the other hand I have never quite understood who gets it anyway or why it is seperate from the Pell - seems like it would be better to just include that money with Pell and increase Pell more rather than having a 2nd need based grant that is administered differently (and from what I have heard is more expensive to administer).</p>
<p>Meanwhile in Virginia the governor is looking to cut back on college funding.
[quote]
"Some of the larger universities, who are at or near full state funding, were asked to present options [to reduce spending] totaling 7 percent."</p>
<p>The tax-supported schools told by [Gov.] Kaine to ante up even more include the College of William and Mary, the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.