CSSA Joins UC Student Association and student leaders from across the nation in press conference to double the Pell Grant
February 22, 2021
Cal State Student Association Vice President of Legislative Affairs Guan Liu’s statement:
“Good morning. My name is Guan Liu and I serve as Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the California State Student Association, which represents the nearly half a million students in the California State University system.
CSU students know that higher education is a socioeconomic escalator, but access has increasingly become more difficult due to the rise in total cost. The Biden administration and the new 117th Congress has the power and obligation to ensure higher education is a reality for all Americans who seek it because cost should never be a barrier to the American dream.
Pell Grants are usually awarded only to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and unlike a loan, it does not need to be paid back. Research shows that it is an effective way to increase both college access and graduation rates. For the CSU–the nation’s largest four-year public university system–this is especially true. Nearly 230,000 of our students rely on need-based Pell Grants, making up almost half of the CSU student population. Each year, more than 63,000 Pell recipients earn CSU bachelor’s degrees and contribute to the American economy. Many are first-generation students, who were it not for federal financial aid may have been unable to graduate in a timely manner.
At the CSU, 42% of our student population experiences food insecurity, and 11% of our students are homeless. While the cost of higher education has risen over the years, the maximum award for Pell Grants has not. By doubling the Pell Grant, we could help our lowest-income students pay for their total cost of attendance, helping them graduate without high amounts of debt.
Given the economic uncertainty in California, it is likely that costs of higher education will increase in the coming years. Congress and President Biden’s administration must make bold investments in the future of our nation–our students. Now, more than ever, we must Double the Pell.”
