Iowa Tuition Grant cut

It might have been in October when John Baas, Vice President for College Advancement, contacted Troy and myself to gather Dordt's Iowa students. State legislators were deliberating budget-relieving options and the Iowa Tuition Grant, which provides private college and university students with need-based financial aid, was on the table. A handful of students gathered, called, texted, facebooked and tracked down their other friends until a couple dozen Iowa residents came to write their senators and representatives.

Today I received a letter in my mailbox, as I imagine every Iowa student had.

"The serious shortfall in state revenue caused by the recent economic downturn has resulted in a 10% mid-year cut to the Iowa Tuition Grant appropriation, a loss of over $4.7 million. To address this shortfall, the Iowa College Student Aid Commission has determined that all Iowa Tuition Grants must be reduced by up to $435 for the remainder of the year. While the maximum award has been lowered to $3,565, Iowa Tuition Grants continue to cover a significant portion of tuition charged by Iowa's independent colleges and universities."

The Des Moines Register has an article titled, Culver's cuts targeted us, private colleges complain. It might be a condescending title, it might be a tersely written article, pitting private college presidents against Governor Culver and his office, but it's a quick read.

Erryn Warnke, a student Wartburg College, said. "If support does continue to decrease, students will simply not be able to afford schools like Wartburg. The education will not be worth the cost.” (Source)

Gary Steinke, President of the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, said cuts to the Iowa Tuition Grant could strip some students of the opportunity to go to college. (Simpson College article)

That's what the situation seems to be. Higher education is often seen as the expected post-high school experience, an avenue to a financial stability. Yet it is the private institutions - schools like Wartburg and Dordt College - that (brochure-speak coming) equips its students to actively lead, doing more than acquiring a comfortable lifestyle. At the risk of sounding haughty to students at public colleges and universities, we wonder how much the state government, and the state itself, values its private institutions. Private higher education used to be affordable. Higher education used to be affordable. Affordability often supports necessity, especially for Iowa families living in small towns who are doing their best to send their students to a small school that instills their values, where professors learn their students' names.

What should we do? Student Symposium Officer of the News Joel Veldkamp is in conversation with Dordt's partner schools in their response, possibly organizing a united response. We will continue to speak with Dordt administrators. We're asking you to talk to your parents, consider your current situation and let us know what you think.

---ADDITIONAL INFORMATION---

Thank you for writing about the benefits provided for you by the Iowa Tuition Grant program. I am pleased to hear that you are able to attend Dordt College because of the Iowa Tuition Grant. I am also concerned with the cuts that are being directed to this program by the governor and the current major party in the legislature. I think it is a real travesty that Governor Culver has back filled his own All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship program but not the Iowa Tuition Grant.

I will continue to strongly support this important program during the economic downturn with an eye on the future for our graduates, like yourself, who could become the future leaders of Iowa.

From the office of Iowa Representative Dwayne Alons. November 30, 2009.