Meredith Stafford, staff writer
During the Oct. 11 Student Government Association (SGA), SGA President Asa Owens discussed a new movement that would work to double the Pell Grant. The Pell Grant currently helps approximately 7 million students attend college, according to the movement’s website. Doubling the amount of money would help fix previous inadequacies in the grant, help heal racial economic inequities and help students afford college.
Joanna Clark, SGA Vice President of Administration stated that the Double the Pell campaign wants support from students to help raise the national amount that the government is able to give. In doing so, this change would increase the number of students able to receive the Pell Grant as well as increase the amount each student would receive.
Dean of Students Lindsey Taylor likened the movement to a national push to urge the government to finance the grant more by doubling the funding in order to benefit students.
Clark believes that the doubling of the grant will better encourage students to go to college.
“The benefit of this is reducing student debt for students who are at Berry specifically, but also students who are around the country, and it’ll hopefully entice more students to come to college, because they’ll have that less amount of debt,” Clark said.
According to Clark, it is important that the SGA supports this movement.
“I think the SGA is supposed to be supporting all students and what benefits all students, and this is a movement that would encourage students at Berry to finish out their four years and would encourage new students to come to Berry, because we’re wanting them to financially be able to meet the requirements to come to Berry,” Clark said.
Both students in scholarship programs and students not in programs are eligible for this grant if they meet the required expected family contribution (EFC). Clark said that doubling the grant would help students pay for Berry as an outside source instead of through Berry.
“Anyone who is looking to support the Double the Pell campaign can go to doublepell.org and click the button that says ‘Take Action,’ and that’ll send a letter to your local Congress member to help them vote in supporting Double the Pell,” Clark said.
According to Director of Financial Aid Noemi Sarrion, the movement is an important cause to advocate for as the Pell Grant is the cornerstone of federal student aid programs.
“The movement comes after decades of the Pell Grant failing to keep pace with increased college costs and inflation,” Sarrion said. “So, doubling the Pell Grant would recalibrate the grant and restore its purchasing power. It would help in closing the gap between the cost of college and what a student can pay.”
Currently, the Pell Grant has a maximum award of $6,495 per student per academic year, which covers almost 12% of the cost to attend Berry. These costs include tuition, room and board, transportation, books, supplies and other expenses. Sarrion said that a doubled amount of $13,000 would help make college more attainable for students entering Berry because it would increase the coverage percentage to 23%, helping close the gap for many students.
Because the majority of Pell recipients come from low-income households, Sarrion said that the new range would help address racial economic inequities and provide aid to those who need it. While underrepresented communities will benefit the most, the range expansion will also help moderate-income students facing financial struggles.
“Potentially, that student that right now is relying on the Pell Grant and loans may have the possibility to not depend so much on loans, on federal student loans thanks to the Pell being expanded,” Sarrion said.
While Sarrion is optimistic on the impacts that doubling the Pell Grant would have, she is unsure on its likelihood to pass.
“Although there was bipartisan support for a while on this initiative, getting things done by Congress is not as easy, so there’s really no telling,” Sarrion said.