UA would accept stimulus money to fund campus projects
Jordain Carney
Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: News
Students in Arkansas and across the country have to cope with rising tuition costs while facing a limited supply of money, but the American Recovery and Restoration Act promises to bring quick relief.
"The new funding announced today represents a significant expansion of our federal student aid programs," said Arne Duncan, U.S. secretary of education, in a press release last Thursday. For education, the act will give an extra $17 billion for Pell Grants alone in 2009 and 2010.
Overall, the ARRA is giving Duncan and the U.S. Department of Education $100 billion to allocate to states and various parts of the education system. Arkansas is looking to receive nearly an estimated $693 million.
The $693 million can be broken down into various areas including $7 million for technology grants, $1.5 million for federal work study and $284 million in Pell grants - an increase of $82 million from the 2008 year, according to the Department of Education allocation spreadsheet.
"This additional money will allow us not only to improve on [educational data and technology] but also to better use data to shape instructional practices and enhance student learning," said Ken James, Arkansas commissioner of education, in a Feb. 9 press release.
Although Gov. Mike Beebe has been skeptical these past weeks on whether to accept the funding from the federal government, he announced in his weekly column and radio address that "the needs in our communities are urgent, and the impact of this investment can benefit our state for generations to come."
Beebe added that money from this funding will be used to help enhance the state's educational bottom line and reach future educational goals.
UA officials also are looking to get a piece of the stimulus, and they hope to know soon the university's prospects of receiving money, said Richard Hudson, vice chancellor for Government and Community Relations.
"It would be my recommendation that, should we receive such money, we use it for one-time purposes," he said.
"The new funding announced today represents a significant expansion of our federal student aid programs," said Arne Duncan, U.S. secretary of education, in a press release last Thursday. For education, the act will give an extra $17 billion for Pell Grants alone in 2009 and 2010.
Overall, the ARRA is giving Duncan and the U.S. Department of Education $100 billion to allocate to states and various parts of the education system. Arkansas is looking to receive nearly an estimated $693 million.
The $693 million can be broken down into various areas including $7 million for technology grants, $1.5 million for federal work study and $284 million in Pell grants - an increase of $82 million from the 2008 year, according to the Department of Education allocation spreadsheet.
"This additional money will allow us not only to improve on [educational data and technology] but also to better use data to shape instructional practices and enhance student learning," said Ken James, Arkansas commissioner of education, in a Feb. 9 press release.
Although Gov. Mike Beebe has been skeptical these past weeks on whether to accept the funding from the federal government, he announced in his weekly column and radio address that "the needs in our communities are urgent, and the impact of this investment can benefit our state for generations to come."
Beebe added that money from this funding will be used to help enhance the state's educational bottom line and reach future educational goals.
UA officials also are looking to get a piece of the stimulus, and they hope to know soon the university's prospects of receiving money, said Richard Hudson, vice chancellor for Government and Community Relations.
"It would be my recommendation that, should we receive such money, we use it for one-time purposes," he said.
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