Happy Fiftieth Anniversary: Pell Grant and Title IX

Happy Fiftieth Anniversary: Pell Grant and Title IX

Fifty years ago today Title IX and the Pell Grant came into being. These programs are two of the most important and effective efforts to expand access and equity in higher education. 

Title IX laid the groundwork for gender equity in education. We need to continue our progress on these important efforts, but these 37 changed American education for the better, forever.

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” — Title IX Education Amendment of 1972 

During the past 50 years, over 80 million American students have been able to attend college because of the Pell Grant. Today, doubling Pell would make a college degree affordable for every American.

Below, I have pasted a message from Barbara Mistick, President of NAICU (National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities) about the Pell Grant anniversary, and a copy of our campus announcement celebrating the anniversary of the adoption of Title IX.

Dear Colleague:   Today is the day! Today, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Pell Grant program.  Throughout its history, the Pell Grant has provided a pathway to higher education for more than 80 million students nationwide.  It is truly a federal student aid program that has had a multi-generational impact on American families.

There have been events and celebrations throughout the week here in Washington, DC and around the country highlighting the impact the Pell Grant has had on so many. Yesterday, the House proposed a $500 increase in the Pell maximum award.  In a bipartisan and bicameral move today, there are resolutions in both the House and Senate recognizing June 23 as National Federal Pell Grant Day. The White House also released a proclamation declaring today the 50th Anniversary of the Federal Pell Grant program.  Throughout the day, Members of Congress will also be making floor speeches celebrating the Pell Grant.     Finally, later today, NAICU is co-hosting a Pell Grant 50th Anniversary reception on Capitol Hill with the Pell Anniversary Committee that will include Members of Congress, representatives from the Biden Administration, and other higher education leaders and policy makers.

The Pell Grant program remains the fairest and most efficient way to help low-income and first-generation students access and complete college and enter the workforce. However, additional grant aid is needed. That is why we support doubling the Pell Grant maximum award to $13,000. So, on this day marking 50 years of the Pell Grant, we celebrate the impact it has had on so many students and families but also highlight the continued work that must be undertaken to ensure that the maximum award is increased as quickly as possible, putting these expanded resources in the hands of students sooner rather than later.  Thank you for all you have done to engage with these efforts to raise awareness of the importance of the Pell Grant. Happy National Federal Pell Grant Day!

Regards,    Barbara    Barbara K. Mistick, D.M.  President  National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities

National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities 1025 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036 202-785-8866   www.naicu.edu

June 23, 2022
“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” — Title IX Education Amendment of 1972  Today, June 23, marks the 50th anniversary that those 37 words forever changed the landscape of the education system across the United States.   Building upon the language and momentum of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Representatives Edith Green, Shirley Chisholm, the first Black U.S. congresswoman, and Patsy T. Mink, the first woman of color elected to Congress, collaborated on the authorship of Title IX, one of several education amendments passed in 1972.    Shortly after its passing, Susquehanna University moved quickly to comply when President Gustave Weber appointed a seven-member task force, the Committee to Review Compliance with Title IX, and charged it to audit four areas: athletics, instructional affairs, employment/personnel policies and student affairs.   Below are several of SU’s notable gender-equity achievements to date:   Athletics: 1960–1961 marked the first intercollegiate schedule for two women’s sports teams: field hockey and basketball. Today, SU hosts 12 women’s/co-ed sports teams. Admission: Susquehanna became coeducational in 1873, sooner than many of its peers. Today, 56% of students enrolled at SU are women. Academic Programs: Prior to Title IX, many institutions barred women from majoring in the sciences. The curriculum was constructed around men’s experiences — even at SU, which in 1970 implemented a Core Program geared toward the “man’s total experience.” Fast-forward to 2022, where 60% of students enrolled in our sciences are women and our women’s and gender studies minor, which launched in 1990, is one of the largest academic minors at the institution. Support for Survivors of Violence: Dating back to the 1970s, the Association of Women Students offered information pamphlets for survivors of violence to seek local support and resources. Today, we have a robust partnership with Transitions of PA. It provides a 24/7 hotline available to our students as well as a full-time on-campus victim advocate housed in our Violence Intervention and Prevention Center, which opened in 2018. Parenting Support: Launched in 1969, the Association of Women Students began offering babysitting services for women faculty and staff. This fall, we will open two campus lactation rooms and help employees temporarily retrofit their offices for breastfeeding. Title IX Staffing: SU recently added a full-time, standalone Title IX coordinator to its staff. While many similarly sized institutions attach this role’s responsibilities to other positions and have even defunded some of their Title IX offices, SU remains dedicated to the work with a full-time director of Title IX compliance and a robust team, which includes seven university employees and three external partners.    Employee Demographics: Like much of academia, early roles for women at Susquehanna were often relegated to administrative support and there were few to no women faculty or administrators. Now, 50% of faculty and 64% of full-time staff are women. Additionally, five of the seven (71%) executive board of trustee members and six out of 14 (43%) senior leadership team members are women. We uphold the legacy of Title IX on this anniversary and every day because we truly believe that no one should be excluded from opportunities to fully participate in educational experiences based on their gender.
			COMING THIS FALL    We look forward to celebrating and affirming our commitment with you during Susquehanna University’s Title IX 50th Anniversary Celebration Week taking place Sept. 5–9.
Looking back 50 years ...  Susquehanna students rallied on campus in support of Title IX in the early 1970s.     Yearbook caption: Sue Eastburn, front, and Margy DuVal join athletes and coaches around the nation fighting for equality in intercollegiate sports. Title IX forced colleges and universities to provide equal opportunities for women and men.