2008 Woodie Awards
Legislators review A+ program
Julie Williams
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: News
Students who qualify for the A+ Program soon might be able to take advantage of added benefits.
State Rep. Vicki Schneider, R-O'Fallon, who is sponsoring the legislation, said House Bill 1577 would allow students to use A+ grant money at four-year colleges, expanding the program from two-year public and technical schools. She said another part of the bill would allow students who qualify for the A+ Program also to receive grant money at a technical school if that school is a member of the North Central Association and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Schneider said the funds currently are not available from the state to expand the A+ program to four-year schools and that colleges and universities throughout the state would be responsible for getting that money set aside for the expansion.
"Once this comes into law, what will happen is the colleges will lobby to try to get the funds available so that way more students are able to go to four-year colleges," she said.
The part of the bill ranking technical schools already has been passed four times in the House of Representatives, but Schneider said the scholarship part of the bill was only added last year. She said the bill has been sent to the Senate and currently is scheduled to be heard on the floor.
Schneider said colleges throughout the state have been pushing for this bill and that she thinks it is important for students.
"It keeps our students here instead of going outside the state," she said.
Regina Morin, associate vice president for enrollment management, said both students and the University could benefit from the bill.
"If students were able to choose us and have two years of tuition paid for by the state of Missouri as the only highly selective institution in the state, it would be a double benefit for us because many of those very strong students are now earning the A+ grant, so they're choosing to take advantage of that for the first two years," Morin said.
State Rep. Vicki Schneider, R-O'Fallon, who is sponsoring the legislation, said House Bill 1577 would allow students to use A+ grant money at four-year colleges, expanding the program from two-year public and technical schools. She said another part of the bill would allow students who qualify for the A+ Program also to receive grant money at a technical school if that school is a member of the North Central Association and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Schneider said the funds currently are not available from the state to expand the A+ program to four-year schools and that colleges and universities throughout the state would be responsible for getting that money set aside for the expansion.
"Once this comes into law, what will happen is the colleges will lobby to try to get the funds available so that way more students are able to go to four-year colleges," she said.
The part of the bill ranking technical schools already has been passed four times in the House of Representatives, but Schneider said the scholarship part of the bill was only added last year. She said the bill has been sent to the Senate and currently is scheduled to be heard on the floor.
Schneider said colleges throughout the state have been pushing for this bill and that she thinks it is important for students.
"It keeps our students here instead of going outside the state," she said.
Regina Morin, associate vice president for enrollment management, said both students and the University could benefit from the bill.
"If students were able to choose us and have two years of tuition paid for by the state of Missouri as the only highly selective institution in the state, it would be a double benefit for us because many of those very strong students are now earning the A+ grant, so they're choosing to take advantage of that for the first two years," Morin said.
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