Higher ed funds for low-income lagging
by Korene Gallegos
The Metropolitan
The Bell Policy Center released its annual report last Wednesday, finding
Colorado to be lagging in education opportunity for its lower-income residents.
The Bell Policy Center is a non-profit organization that researches higher
education and other societal issues for the Colorado legislature. In its
most recent study, "Hard Work Isn't Enough for Colorado's Families,"
it found a paradox in Colorado's higher education system.
The state is third in the nation in adults graduating with college degrees,
but the majority of the graduates are from out-of-state.
The reason for the paradox could be blamed on lack of funding and admission
services for Colorado residents. According to Metro Financial Aid Director
Cindy Hejl, Metro always tries to give all available opportunities in
terms of funding to Colorado residents.
"Metro has the largest (amount) of Pell Grants for eligible students
in the state, and in many cases, the Pell Grant is the only type of grant
we can offer," Hejl said.
Ninety-seven percent of Metro's students are Colorado residents, which
has increased by over 200 students since last year.
"My opinion on the availability of financial aid to our need-based
students is that we currently don't receive enough funding to help all
of our students," Hejl said. "While we can't control our funding
levels, we are constantly looking for ways to increase the chances students
have for receiving as much need-based aid as we can offer them."
During the current fiscal year, Metro has disbursed over $68 million
to eligible students with 59 percent of that being need-based. The average
financial aid award last year to each student was $6,296.
Metro student Marisa Serrano, a Colorado native, is one of the 10,856
students who received financial aid this year.
She comes from a Hispanic family with seven siblings.
"If I didn't have financial aid, I (would not be able to) afford
it," she said.
Serrano was recruited by Metro's Excel program, which sends student ambassadors
to work at local Denver public high schools.
The schools' guidance counselors work with them to recruit and help potential
students.
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