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Posted on Mon, Sep 28, 2009 : 5:37 p.m.

University of Michigan College Democrats to rally for Michigan Promise scholarships

By Juliana Keeping

For the second time in two weeks, college students will rally at the state Capitol in an attempt to save Michigan Promise scholarships.

Dozens of students from across the state gathered in Lansing last week to rally for the merit-based scholarship program, which was scheduled to dole out $140 million to 96,000 Michigan college students this school year.

But the next day, a joint House-Senate committee voted 4-2 to slash the program out of the higher education budget. That committee also voted to scratch $60 million in other financial aid and scholarship programs, including those for student nurses, part-time students and students at private colleges, the Lansing State Journal reported. The full Legislature has not yet approved the higher education budget.

On Tuesday, two car loads of University of Michigan students, organized the the U-M College Democrats, are driving to Lansing for a last-ditch effort to save the Promise money. The group placed 255 calls to legislators last week to protest the program's end, according to a press release issued by the group today.

At U-M, 6,096 students receive Promise money. Only 1,717 of those students demonstrate financial need to qualify them for additional aid.

The state has until the end of Wednesday to pass a balanced budget that would wipe out a $2.8 billion shortfall. Alternatives are the passage of an interim budget to extend the current fiscal year, or a partial governmental shut down, the Associated Press reports.

Federal stimulus money takes care of more than half the deficit.


Juliana Keeping covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter

Comments

Nina

Mon, Sep 28, 2009 : 11:30 p.m.

Good luck, College Democrats! We appreciate all your hard work in representing the students' voice. (Saving the Michigan Promise would be a great birthday present.)

Mark Chou

Mon, Sep 28, 2009 : 9:51 p.m.

This story makes me proud to be a Democrat! The College Democrats at the University of Michigan are doing great work. From hosting diag days to calling legislators, they have done an excellent job voicing the concerns of students on issues that are most important to that population. Go Blue, Vote Blue!

Dana Cronyn

Mon, Sep 28, 2009 : 9:37 p.m.

I'm so glad students are standing up for themselves in this fight!

Brendan Campbell

Mon, Sep 28, 2009 : 9:21 p.m.

Best of luck to the U-M College Democrats! Keep up the good work!