WASHINGTON,
July 13, 2021—The American
Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) is proud to be part of a
national campaign to double the maximum Pell Grant to $13,000 and help more
students earn a degree, get
a good-paying job, and achieve a brighter future.
The campaign features a new website, doublepell.org,
that provides students and families with the tools to communicate with
Congress, engage on social media, share personal stories about how the Pell
Grant has helped them, and express their support for doubling Pell.
#DoublePell is a national campaign led by the Double
Pell Alliance, a coalition of higher education associations,
organizations, and advocacy groups committed to doubling the maximum Pell Grant
by the 50th anniversary of the creation of the program in June 2022. The Pell Grant is a proven program and the
foundation of federal student aid for decades. It helps nearly 7 million
low- and moderate-income students attend and complete college annually.
“AASCU
enthusiastically supports efforts to significantly increase the purchasing
power of Pell Grants and calls on Congress and the Biden administration to
simultaneously protect and encourage state investments in public higher
education,” said AASCU President Mildred García. “Doubling the Pell Grant in
this manner would be a historic investment in the new majority of students in
higher education, those who are low-income, first-generation, and/or students
of color. AASCU institutions would be transformed in their efforts to provide
access, retention, and success, as they enroll 43% of all Pell Grant recipients
at public four-year institutions.”
The heart of #DoublePell is the Take Action page, which includes
a customizable letter that students, families, alumni, and other stakeholders
can send to their members of Congress. It also features shareable social media
graphics to amplify the #DoublePell campaign messages.
For millions of students, Pell Grants make the difference
between being able to attend college or not. Pell Grants are well-targeted to
students with clear financial need: Nearly 90% of all Pell dollars go to
students with a family income below $50,000. The grants are especially critical
for students of color. Congress is currently considering proposals to increase
the maximum Pell Grant by a total of $1,875. While that represents an
improvement, it does not go nearly far enough.
Double Pell already has the support of the Biden
administration and widespread, bipartisan support on Capitol Hill. The #DoublePell website will be an important and
accessible way for students and families to tell lawmakers why it is important
to double the maximum Pell Grant now. AASCU and other members of the Double Pell
Alliance hope colleges and universities and an array of organizations will
share the #DoublePell website widely with
students, families, and other stakeholders.
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The American
Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) is a Washington, D.C.-based
higher education association of nearly 400 public colleges, universities, and
systems whose members share a learning- and teaching-centered culture, a
historic commitment to underserved student populations, and a dedication to
research and creativity that advances their regions’ economic progress and
cultural development. These are institutions Delivering America’s Promise.