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    The presidents of 12 Illinois public universities wrote a letter to a member of Congress to advocate for increased funding for Pell Grants and campus infrastructure in proposed federal legislation. They note that the maximum Pell Grant now only covers one third of college costs compared to three quarters in the past. They urge doubling the maximum award to $13,000 and indexing it to inflation. They also request $4.6 billion for deferred maintenance on aging campus facilities. While pleased with proposals to invest in higher education, the letter expresses concern that a proposed $500 increase to Pell Grants does not do enough and calls for more robust Pell Grant funding.

    Original Description:

    Combination of letters written in conjunction with NIU towards the Double Pell campaing

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    The presidents of 12 Illinois public universities wrote a letter to a member of Congress to advocate for increased funding for Pell Grants and campus infrastructure in proposed federal legislation. They note that the maximum Pell Grant now only covers one third of college costs compared to three quarters in the past. They urge doubling the maximum award to $13,000 and indexing it to inflation. They also request $4.6 billion for deferred maintenance on aging campus facilities. While pleased with proposals to invest in higher education, the letter expresses concern that a proposed $500 increase to Pell Grants does not do enough and calls for more robust Pell Grant funding.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    39 views4 pages

    Ilovepdf Merged

    Uploaded by

    Northern Star Editor
    The presidents of 12 Illinois public universities wrote a letter to a member of Congress to advocate for increased funding for Pell Grants and campus infrastructure in proposed federal legislation. They note that the maximum Pell Grant now only covers one third of college costs compared to three quarters in the past. They urge doubling the maximum award to $13,000 and indexing it to inflation. They also request $4.6 billion for deferred maintenance on aging campus facilities. While pleased with proposals to invest in higher education, the letter expresses concern that a proposed $500 increase to Pell Grants does not do enough and calls for more robust Pell Grant funding.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 4

    July 27, 2021

    The Honorable (First Name) (Last Name)


    (Address)
    (City, State, Zip)

    Dear (Title) (Last Name),

    As Congress crafts legislation investing in infrastructure and support for


    families, we would like to highlight two areas where federal investments are
    needed: namely, the Pell Grant program, and campus infrastructure.

    University of Illinois As we noted in our May 21 letter to you, “the Pell Grant program is the
    President Timothy L. Killeen cornerstone of the federal student aid system, and provides essential support to
    roughly 50,000 low- and moderate-income students annually across our 12
    Chicago State University
    universities.”
    President Zaldwaynaka Scott

    Unfortunately, federal spending on Pell has not kept up with student need. In the
    Eastern Illinois University
    mid-1970s, the maximum Pell Grant award covered more than three quarters of
    President David M. Glassman
    the cost of attending a four-year public college. Today the maximum grant of
    $6,495 covers less than one third of these costs.1 We urge Congress to double
    Governors State University
    the maximum award to $13,000 and index the grant to inflation.
    President Cheryl F. Green

    Illinois State University


    In addition, we ask Congress to ensure that infrastructure legislation addresses
    President Terri Goss Kinzi the needs of the country’s public universities and our diverse student bodies.
    Reductions in state funding for higher education over the past decade, including
    Northeastern Illinois University capital investment, have resulted in lengthy deferred maintenance backlogs at
    President Gloria J. Gibson many public universities. The problem has worsened during the COVID-19
    pandemic, as construction projects have been delayed or cancelled and
    Northern Illinois University university budgets have suffered. The collective cost of addressing deferred
    President Lisa C. Freeman maintenance across our universities is estimated at over $4.6 billion.

    Southern Illinois University Federal funding is needed to improve or replace facilities and upgrade
    President Daniel F. Mahony technology, which will support not just our universities but also the communities
    in which we sit. We urge Congress to support the proposal from the Association
    Western Illinois University of Public and Land-grant Universities and the American Association of State
    President Guiyou Huang Colleges and Universities for a $48 billion program to support state investments
    in public university infrastructure.

    Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois.

    Sincerely,

    1
    Double Pell - Mini Policy Paper
    University of Illinois Northeastern Illinois University
    President Timothy L. Killeen President Gloria J. Gibson

    Chicago State University Northern Illinois University


    President Zaldwaynaka Scott President Lisa C. Freeman

    Eastern Illinois University Southern Illinois University


    President David M. Glassman President Daniel F. Mahony

    Governors State University


    President Cheryl F. Green Western Illinois University
    President Guiyou Huang

    Illinois State University


    President Terri Goss Kinzy

    1
    Double Pell - Mini Policy Paper
    September 15, 2021

    Dear Member of Congress,

    University of Illinois We write to offer our perspective on the reconciliation legislation


    President Timothy L. Killeen currently being assembled in the House of Representatives. We are
    extremely pleased by proposals to increase investments in higher
    Chicago State University
    education, research and research infrastructure, such as retention and
    President Zaldwaynaka Scott
    completion grants for states. We are concerned, however, that the draft
    Eastern Illinois University legislation does not do enough to boost funding for Pell Grants.
    President David M. Glassman
    We wrote in May and again in July to underscore the crucial role that
    Governors State University Pell Grants play in allowing low- and middle-income students to attend
    President Cheryl F. Green college. At the time, we expressed our support for doubling the
    maximum Pell award to $13,000 and indexing the grant to inflation.
    Illinois State University
    The administration’s American Families Plan proposed increasing the
    President Terri Goss Kinzy
    maximum award – currently $6,495 – by approximately $1,400 as a
    Northeastern Illinois University “down payment on President Biden’s commitment to double the
    President Gloria J. Gibson maximum award.”

    Northern Illinois University Unfortunately, the reconciliation legislation approved on Friday by the
    President Lisa C. Freeman
    House Education and Labor Committee would provide only a $500
    increase to the maximum award. We appreciate that there are many
    Southern Illinois University
    President Daniel F. Mahony
    competing priorities. However, after years of inadequate funding for
    Pell, it is time for Congress to take stronger action to support students
    Western Illinois University and families. Accordingly, we ask that you urge congressional
    President Guiyou Huang leadership to ensure that reconciliation legislation includes more robust
    funding for Pell.

    Thank you for your attention to this important issue.

    Sincerely,
    University of Illinois Northeastern Illinois University
    President Timothy L. Killeen President Gloria J. Gibson

    Chicago State University Northern Illinois University


    President Zaldwaynaka Scott President Lisa C. Freeman

    Eastern Illinois University Southern Illinois University


    President David M. Glassman President Daniel F. Mahony

    Governors State University Western Illinois University


    President Cheryl F. Green President Guiyou Huang

    Illinois State University


    President Terri Goss Kinzy

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