The Governor of Pennsylvania has proposed an increase
of 13% to the PHEAA direct grant program for the 2019-2020 state budget, and
there appears to be broad support in the State Senate and Legislature.
This is a prudent increase because the breadth
of educational opportunities for which these funds can be applied has expanded in
recent years. This increase will help to keep traditional college students in
the Commonwealth at financial parity from this year to the next. Last month, legislative
members of the PHEAA Board voted unanimously to maintain the maximum grant
award at the same level as last year, $4,123. Let’s keep our fingers
crossed that this momentum persists.
This is also one of the best investments we can
make in our future workforce and future leaders. I am confident
that much of the credit for this legislative progress is attributable to students
from across Pennsylvania’s private colleges and universities who advocated in
Harrisburg on behalf of their classmates.
Below
is a photo of Susquehanna’s own Natasia Martin ’19 speaking at the Pennsylvania
Capitol in support of PHEAA support for the students who succeed her. Thank you
Natasia, thank you student advocates, thank you Pennsylvania.
