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An essential piece in success is education, DeLauro said, adding, "I believe it is a core value of what society is all about. A college degree is the cornerstone of professional fulfillment."
A college education "opens the door" and is "the great equalizer," the congresswoman said. "One of my greatest frustrations is we are unable to make universities accessible to all Americans."
"Last fall a quarter million students were shut out of higher education because of higher tuition, a cutback on administration and courses," DeLauro said. The representative said 75 percent of full-time students now work to cover college expenses, while 20 percent of those work 35 hours per week.
Within the past year, tuition nationwide has increased an average more than 14 percent at four-year public institutions and 13.8 percent at two-year public institutions, she said. Tuition costs at private institutions, such as Wesleyan, have also gone up at a rate of 6 percent.
"Connecticut cut higher education budgets to help close the budget shortfall," DeLauro said, adding she believed a variety of budget areas were shortchanged because of the bad economy. "We’ve passed the prices onto the college student. The rising cost affects everyone’s ability to go."
Enrollment at public institutions is at 63 percent, while at independent schools enrollment is at 37 percent, she said.
"I see a golden opportunity for the federal government to expand accessibility to higher education," DeLauro said. "The key issues that have yet to be addressed are grant and loans, student aid and higher tuition."
Among the proposals before Congress under the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, DeLauro said there is the possibility of making student loans able to be borrowed at variable interest rates. The amount of Pell grants should also be raised to the maximum of $7,000, she said adding the grants are currently frozen at $4,050.
Pell grants are offered to four million undergraduate students with family income limit of $17,300, DeLauro said. The Pell grant is down 39 percent and has been frozen or cut for three consecutive years, she said. There is a $3.7 billion shortfall in the Pell grant program.
"Wesleyan University students receive a total $1 million from this grant alone," said Judith Brown, Wesleyan University provost and vice president of academic affairs. Within the difficult budgetary times, university officials are concerned with possible shortfalls as well as from other loan programs and federal work study programs.
"I was helped by such a program in my youth," she added.
Wesleyan University Vice President and Secretary Peter Patton said the second largest part of the university’s budget is financial aid, which is at $35 million.
"It’s very easy to target tuition here," he said. "A lot of the public is hit hard on the public (institution) level. We also in the private sector are singled out. The largest expense is salaries. A lot of the budget with year-to-year increases is inflation driven."
"There are ways we can work to alleviate the burden," dealer said.
Wesleyan University spokesman Justin Harmon said the university has proposed to front end load Peel grants.
"The president announced a proposal to take some Peel funding to encourage students to take science and math courses," he said.
Dealer also visited with Middletown High School students within the Wesleyan University Upward Bound program to tell them about the proposed legislation that would allow students to be able to refinance student loans at lower rates, similar to refinancing mortgages, as well as restoring the maximum purchase power of Peel grants.
To contact Amy L. Zitka, call (860)347-3331 ext. 211 or email azitka@middletownpress.com.
