Senator, students talk issues

Students concerned about changes

in grants, financial aid

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

MANKATO -- Several students, faculty and administrators from area colleges and universities sat down to talk about higher education with U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman Tuesday morning.

While the discussion touched on the economy and the war in Iraq, the spotlight belonged to issues that affect college students and their schools.

Coleman , a Minnesota Republican, made the latest in a series of forum stops at Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he participated in a panel discussion about higher education issues. The panel included students and administrators from MSU and South Central Technical College.

The discussion centered around federal legislation that would affect student aid programs like the Pell Grant. The panel also discussed tuition increases and accessibility to higher education. Four students from the audience later asked questions from an open microphone.

The stop in Mankato was one in the latest series of visits where Coleman has held open meetings centered on a general topic. The senator said he visited with Minnesota military personnel on Monday at places like Duluth's air base, Camp Ripley and Ft. Snelling. Coleman plans to hold forums at St. Thomas University in St. Paul and Normandale Community College in Bloomington soon.

Coleman said he thinks the meetings have been more effective that the 15- to 20-minute visits students sometimes make to his offices. He said the discussion at MSU was "helpful."

"I think all the major issues facing higher education were laid on the table today," Coleman said following the meeting.

Sam Edmunds, president of the MSU Student Association, said many students are very concerned about funding levels for the Pell Grant. He said the current amounts only cover a fraction of the costs and that many students feel funding for the grant should go as high as possible. He also said many students think student loan limits should be increased, despite some difference of opinion on campus.

MSU Financial Aid Director Chris Holling said he sees some concerns about basic access to college. He said current financial aid levels have "eroded" access to higher education by forcing students to borrow more money, which means loan levels would probably need to increase.

Coleman said rising tuition at state colleges and universities is "one major impact of the state budget." Because the federal government only contributes about 7 percent of higher education funding, most of the cost is paid for by the state.

MSU President Richard Davenport added that higher tuition pushes the cost of attending college to students. He said the state's budget situation has left school officials with no choice but to raise tuition, limit the number of students or cut programs.

"I'm seeing a general lack of support for funding that wasn't there years ago," Davenport said.

Keith Stover, president of South Central Technical College, also added that financial aid issues don't impact higher education institutions only. He said those issues can also impact the employers who rely upon higher education to train new workers.