Last week, we marked Spirit Week at Brenau, and it was a great opportunity to celebrate our university. It was wonderful to see faculty, staff and students showing their Golden Tiger pride.
One of the most important – and personally satisfying – aspects of my role as president of Brenau is advocating for students. Events like Spirit Week and the annual Grrrl PowHer Hour event that we also held last week always energize me to continue this important work on behalf of Brenau and our student body.
An important need is an increase in public funding for students who attend private colleges and universities. A student’s financial situation should not be a barrier for those students who chose to pursue the unique type of educational atmosphere offered by private, independent schools. Public funding, especially grants that do not have to be repaid, opens the door for more students and helps them persist to graduation.
This is an important issue that I frequently advocate for on an individual level and as a board member of statewide and national organizations.
On the state level, the Georgia General Assembly in its 2022 session increased aid amounts awarded to students at private colleges and universities through Zell Miller, HOPE and tuition equalization grants. I encourage students or parents of students who receive this state aid to join the Georgia Independent College Association, which I serve as a board member, in writing thank-you letters to legislators via this link.
On the federal level, it is important that we urge lawmakers to double the maximum award for Pell Grants, which are awarded to undergraduate students who demonstrate high financial need, to $13,000. As this program celebrates its 50th anniversary, more than 7 million students annually receive Pell Grants nationwide, and 48% percent of Brenau undergraduates.
I was pleased in September to represent Brenau at the Women’s College Coalition annual meeting as a member of that group’s board of directors. This month, I became a member of the board of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and am pleased to serve on the student aid committee.
While I was in the nation’s capital for both organizations, I also took part in meetings and advocacy opportunities with elected officials to encourage our lawmakers to increase Pell Grants for private colleges and universities.
Until the next post, please follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn for more of what’s happening at Brenau.
