a student newspaper of the university of tulsa
march 11, 2013 issue 20 ~ volume 98
Sequester may harm Oklahoma education Oklahoma:
587
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
Job Losses: 703
Cuts $347,000
Federal Work Study Cuts $511,000 Affected 5,990
Affected 12,380
TRIO
Cuts $1,240,000
days since Congress passed sequestration
Affected 1,295
Nationally:
$49 million cut from work study
33,000 students lose work study grants
1,000 fewer National Science Foundation grants
= 100
= 1,000
= 100,000
= 1,000
Graphic by Jill Graves
The sequestration, to take effect on Oct. 1, will result in cuts in work study grants, National Science Foundation grants and TRIO disadvantaged student services, among others, locally and nationally. Oklahoma information comes from the National Education Association. National information comes from the Department of Education and the National Science Foundation. All figures are estimates.
Work-study grants, financial aid supplements and research grants are among the sources of funding that could suffer from acrossthe-board cuts to the federal budget. Kalen Petersen Editor-in-Chief
Will Bramlett Student Writer
T
he sequester, a series of automatic across-the-board cuts in U.S. government spending, took effect on March 1. Congress created the sequester in the Budget Control Act of 2011 as a “worstcase scenario” to force Congress to address the rising U.S. debt. The 8.2-percent cuts were origi-
nally set to be triggered at the end of 2012, but a last-minute deal between Democrats and Republicans pushed back the deadline until March and reduced the cuts to 5.1 percent of non-exempt, nondefense spending. After President Barack Obama signed the sequester into law, government agencies were given until Oct. 1 to cut $85 billion from their collective budgets. Sequestration will result in reduced funding for a wide range of domestic priorities, from the sciences to early child care—and education is no exception. While Pell grants are exempt from the cuts this year, the sequester will nonetheless impact higher education. Federal work-study grants will be cut by $49 million, while supplemental grants for students with exceptional financial
need will be reduced by $37 million, according to U.S. News and World Report. Additionally, the Department of Education will be reducing TEACH grants, which go to future educators who plan to work in underprivileged communities, prompting some colleges to with-
promised because of the sequestration,” she said. The National Association of Financial Aid Administrators, an advocacy group, has released a list of the estimated impact on work-study and opportunity grants for universities nationwide. The effect on Oklahoma schools var-
“I could lose all or part of a grant I had been promised because of the sequestration” hold the grants until Congress clarifies its budget. Elisabeth*, a prospective student at the private Oklahoma Baptist University, said that the sequester has made her college plans more difficult. “I received an email stating that I could lose all (or) part of a grant I had been
ies: the private Oklahoma Baptist University will see no reduction in work-study aid, according to the report, while students at the public University of Oklahoma will face a $31,000 cut. TU was not listed on the NAFSFAA list, however, several of its “peer and aspirant schools” face
cuts, including Tulane at $19,400 less work-study money and Rice at $15,700. The administration said that less federal money could go to financial aid via unsubsidized student loans, but Pell Grants are safe. In an e-mail Friday, President Steadman Upham said, “TU remains fiscally sound. The university is on track to balance its 2012-13 operating budget.” The year’s budget “addresses many of the requests of deans and vice presidents for additional positions and program enhancements while providing a 3 percent raise pool for employees,” the e-mail said. In addition to impacting individual students, the sequester may affect TU as a whole. Although
See Sequester page 5
Junior Achievement Junior Achievement is a non-profit organization partnering with volunteers from the community to teach elementary students about their roles as individuals, workers and consumers. 12 volunteers are needed who can commit 1 hour a week for 5 weeks and the initial 90 minute training. Campus Wide-Baby Shower This is the first ever True Blue and Pink Campus Wide Baby Shower. Collection tubs will be placed across campus to collect items for infants and children, birth to 5-years-old. Clothing and items such as car seats, strollers, or high-chairs may be gently used, clean items. Other needs will be sent out in an email and also on Campus Connection, Facebook, and Twitter updates.
For more information on any of these opportunities, contact Kathy Shelton in the True Blue Neighbor Volunteer Center at kathy-shelton@utulsa.edu, call 918-631-3535 or come by Holmes Student Center room 25.