Some Mostly Good News for UA Students

Enrollment at the University of Arkansas has grown to a record 18,647 students this fall, and that includes increased numbers of African American, Native American, Asian American and Hispanic students. Out-of-state students also constitute 34% of the incoming freshmen. That should make for a richer educational experience for all students at the University.

The bad news for students is that increased enrollment for the past five years has not been matched by any increase in teaching faculty, and all of the new building construction has not been matched by any increase in maintenance staff. There are many more administrators, so maybe they will pitch in on the teaching and janitorial duties.

The other good news is that Congress yesterday passed legislation that increases the maximum Pell grant, which goes to the poorest college students, from $4,310 a year to $5,400 a year; cut interest rates on student loans to poor and middle-class students in half from 6.8% to 3.4%; capped repayment schedules at a certain percentage of future income; and established a loan forgiveness program for graduates who work for 10 years in public service professions, such as teaching or nursing. They funded these improvements by cutting $20 billion in excessive government subsidies to banks and other lenders.

Students also will get an education in politics from this new legislation. The House voted 292-97 for the student aid bill; Democrats supported it 215-0, and all 97 votes against it were from Republicans. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 79-12; Democrats and independents supported the bill 45-0, and all 12 votes against it were by Republicans.

Senator Pryor and all four Arkansas Representatives supported the bill. Senator Blanche Lincoln did not vote. She must have been too busy trying to get the poultry industry exempted from pollution rules.