"~-\ James Madison University Thursday, October 9,1986 Vol.64 No. 12 Federal budget cuts hurt financial aid By Kevin Ropp $40,000 not available to JMU students this year, amount. This year, the maximum income for linear staff writer Sellers said. , reductions was decreased, leaving many students "When you take $300 to $400 per student that adds ineligible. JMU students received about $240,000 less in up, although I don't think we had too many students "The parents and students will have to make up that financial aid this year because of federal budget cuts, who didn't come back because of a lack of financial money," he said. the financial aid director said. aid," he said. "Those students that were the neediest Guidelines for a Guaranteed Student Loan also John Sellers said, "The students that are really didn't see much of a reduction." changed this year. The loans now will be distributed needy haven't been affected, it's the middle of the road The remaining $200,000 in aid that is not available in two increments, one at the start of the fall people that have been hit the most." to students this year is a result of changes in "linear semester and the other a^ the start of the spring As a result of the Gramm-Rudman budget cuts for reduction" guidelines, Sellers said. semester. Before, the full amount was given out at 1986-87, about 100 JMU students will lose all their With a linear reduction, students can receive aid financial aid money. Those cuts account fdr about only if their parents' income is less than a designated , See AID page 2 >• State education council decision not seen as threat for JMU plans By Mike Wilson The council recommended all students assistant news editor at state institutions be required to complete at least two years of a foreign A State Council for Higher Education language and JMU currently is decision to cut programs at state considering such a requirement, he said. colleges and universities that have not Another council recommendation was complied with its recommendations that students who have a strong docs not pose a threat to JMU, the acting vice president for academic affairs background in a foreign language should not be allowed to enroll in said. "We won't be affected," Dr. Robert beginning level courses in that Shapiro said. "We're 100 percent in language. Shapiro said JMU already compliance so there was never any complies with that recommendation. threat to us." The council's decision could have a Since 1982, the council has published great effect on some state institutions, six quality review studies dealing with according to the article. Over the next topics such as graduate education six years, Virginia Commonwealth programs, remedial education, foreign University plans to add 13 new languages, computer science and programs while Old Dominion business programs, Shapiro said. University hopes to create 11. According to an article published in The council has been asked to the Sept. 4 issue of the Richmond approve 88 new programs across the Times-Dispatch, the council has decided state in the next six years. Every senior that when state colleges and universities college in the state, except one, has want to add new programs, they must asked to institute at least one new show they have complied with the program, the article said. council's recommendations before Shapiro said JMU has only one programs will be approved. program pending before the council, and "It is important to develop a process it is not scheduled to go into effect to enforce our edicts," council member until the end of the six-year curriculum William Battle of Charlottesville said review period. in the article. "The only program sitting is a An example of how the masters of science in communication, recommendations have affected JMU is which will noicven be considered this High flying Staff photo by ELIZABETH MYERS the changes that have been made in the biennium," he said. foreign language department, Shapiro Sophomore Dave Mauroff takes advantage of a warm day said. See DECISION page 2 > to show off his talents on the quad. The Student fovernment Association mjght Soccer The JMU soccer team dropped SGA have violated the Freedom oi Information Its second game of the season goof Act in electing Hs' chairman pro-tempore. shutout in a 4-0 Joss to fifth-ranked UVa. T Page 2, The Breeze, Thursday, October 9, 1986 Aid > (Continued from page 1) but next year there will be a substantial decrease," he "Virginia really is looking at ways to provide the beginning of the school year. said. additional financial aid, a more coherent aid program Commuter students who expected to get the full "It's the calm before the storm." and encourage families to save." amount at the beginning of the year will suffer when Currently, more than 50 percent of Virginia Two of the largest state-funded programs arc the they run out of money for food, rent and other living students are receiving a Guaranteed Student Loan College Scholarship Assistance Program and General expenses. Sellers said. from the federal government However, if Congress Undergraduate Scholarships. CSAP currently offers About 35 percent of all JMU students receive some continues to follow Gramm-Rudman budget $151,000 and GUS offers $460,000 to Virginia form of federal financial aid in the form of Guaranteed revisions, that number will decrease significantly, resident students. Student Loans and Pell Grants. Dorsey said. ,/ Sellers said, "We are finding more money coming That is a relatively low percentage compared to President Reagan's proposed changes in the GSL from the state, but what they are making up docs not other Virginia institutions. Parents of JMU students program "threaten to collapse the entire program, equal what has been cut" have higher than average incomes. Sellers said. which accounts for 62 percent of the total federal "If the cuts continue, it's not going to affect a financial assistance," according to the Overview of school like JMU as much as private schools. Fiscal Year 1987 Education Department Budget for Decision Students who were going to private schools will be Higher Education. (Continued from page 1) forced to go to public schools," he said. The overview also states that further proposed "Middle income students are going to be forced to restrictions of Pell Grant eligibility would cut The six-year review cycles are divided into two-year go to a public school or community college or not funding by $800 million below the amount needed to sections, Shapiro said. The council deals directly with go at all," Sellers said. fund a $2,100 maximum for any student. If the issues that are planned for the current biennium, but Sellers said he is under the impression that the restrictions arc imposed, about 816,000 students who programs must be planned six years in advance so the federal government wants students and their families now are eligible for a Pell Grant would not be council knows what will be happening in the future, to bear the burden of tuition costs, instead of eligible. he said. taxpayers. Virginia students now get $65 million through Pell The only programs JMU has added in the last two Dr. Barry Dorsey, associate director for Grants and other forms of campus aid. They also years have been graduate programs, Shapiro said. administration, federal affairs and student aid for the receive $60 million through the Guaranteed Student Those programs are a masters of science in vocational State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, said Loans. ^ education and a masters of science in computer the state is trying to raise money for educational The state, in an attempt to compensate for federal science. programs. cutbacks, has increased the amount of aid available to Shapiro is not bothered by the council's decision "Congress is attempting to increase the budget for Virginia residents. because "se are so much in compliance that there is educational programs by selling such things as "Virginia is very concerned with the decrease in no threat," he said. government-owned land and Conrail to meet the federal aid being made available. State programs have The council is beneficial, Shapiro said. "We budget specified in Gramm-Rudman," he said. grown considerably but still arc not enough ao applaud the efforts that they're making. They are very But selling government property will not provide compensate," Dorsey said. similar to the goals JMU has," he said. long-term funding for education, Dorsey said. "Many students are having, out of necessity, to "We're trying to really improve the overall quality "This year there may be an increase in financial aid, take a mortgage on their future," he said. of our education programs." EARN TOP PAY Immediate temporary assignments matched to your skills. Position • Otlice Clerical • Light Industrial • Marketing • Personal Computer • Word Processing • Technical Support • Data Entry • Accounting ' • Records Management Ask about our FREE word processing training. vacancy Learn new skills and earn more money. 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