Put scholarship money to use
The Traveler Editorial Board
Issue date: 12/5/08 Section: Opinion
For the thousands of state students who chose not to apply to attend school at the UA in recent years because of financial worries, it would have been nice to know that millions of dollars were waiting in reserve in the Department of Higher Education.
Instead, however, most hadn't heard about the $53 million in unused financial aid until just recently.
Dale Ellis, communications director of the state Department of Higher Education, told a Traveler reporter that the amount of surplus money has been increasing over a long period of time and that the department "can't give money to those who apply and don't qualify and [to] those who qualify but don't apply."
True, but what about those who qualified for scholarships but chose not to apply because of financial concerns? There's no need to change scholarship requirements; instead, how about the UA simply better publicize the fact that it has this $53 million waiting in the wings?
Arkansas students who are relying on loans and small scholarships to get through school will graduate with an average debt of more than $19,000, according to the Project on Student Debt.
The more than $50 million that's not being used could be funding thousands of scholarships and fellowships, and it's a shame that officials in the Department of Higher Education haven't felt the need to let potential students know.
Having extra money in higher education isn't necessarily a problem, but if the Department of Higher Education truly wants more students to attend the UA and receive scholarships, it should be doing a much better job publicizing - and putting to good use - the money that is available.
Instead, however, most hadn't heard about the $53 million in unused financial aid until just recently.
Dale Ellis, communications director of the state Department of Higher Education, told a Traveler reporter that the amount of surplus money has been increasing over a long period of time and that the department "can't give money to those who apply and don't qualify and [to] those who qualify but don't apply."
True, but what about those who qualified for scholarships but chose not to apply because of financial concerns? There's no need to change scholarship requirements; instead, how about the UA simply better publicize the fact that it has this $53 million waiting in the wings?
Arkansas students who are relying on loans and small scholarships to get through school will graduate with an average debt of more than $19,000, according to the Project on Student Debt.
The more than $50 million that's not being used could be funding thousands of scholarships and fellowships, and it's a shame that officials in the Department of Higher Education haven't felt the need to let potential students know.
Having extra money in higher education isn't necessarily a problem, but if the Department of Higher Education truly wants more students to attend the UA and receive scholarships, it should be doing a much better job publicizing - and putting to good use - the money that is available.
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angelina
posted 12/25/08 @ 10:15 AM CST
I got a grant from the federal government for $12,000 in financial aid, see how you can get one also at
http://couponredeemer.com/federalgrants/
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