Students offer testimony on MO scholarship changes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (AP) -- Dozens of Missouri college students packed a Senate hearing room and lined the corridor outside Wednesday to testify about a bill that would change how the state divides scholarship money.

The Senate Education Committee heard the bill, which would alter how the state's $95 million in Access Missouri scholarship money is allocated to students at public and private four-year universities.

About 47,000 students have received financial aid this year under the Access Missouri scholarship, which covers people from lower- and middle-class families.

The 2007 law that created the program allows maximum scholarships of $1,000 annually for students at community colleges, $2,150 for those at public universities and $4,600 for students at private universities.

The bill would give up to $2,850 to students at both public and private universities. If passed, this measure wouldn't go into effect until 2013, after most current college students have graduated.

The state Coordinating Board for Higher Education voted 5-1 on Feb. 11 to support the current scholarship amounts. Supporters of the current model say it covers about one-quarter of the tuition and fees for students at either public or private universities.

The program was set up as part of an agreement in 2007 to pass a college capital improvement package.

But Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, the bill's sponsor, has said it is unfair for students attending private schools to receive more in state assistance because such institutions often have larger endowments and are able to provide more financial aid. He and some public university leaders also have said economic circumstances have changed since the 2007 agreement.

"The deal didn't materialize," Missouri State University President Mike Nietzel said Wednesday.

Many of the intended capital improvement plans have been put on hold and the higher education budget has been cut repeatedly due to economic problems. Universities have agreed not to raise tuition for the second straight year and they anticipate at least a 5.2 percent funding cut.

Only a handful of students had a chance to testify before the committee, at times getting emotional.

Public university students said it's unfair to give them less just because they didn't choose to attend a private school.

University of Missouri student Joanna Malone told the committee that the current system is inefficient because private schools have more resources to provide their students. She said the same amount of money covers a larger portion of tuition at public schools.

Private university officials said the numbers are relative. They said their students don't receive as much state funding because the state doesn't financially support their private institutions.

"Our students are taxpayers just like University of Missouri students are taxpayers," said Lindenwood University President Jim Evans.