Bill to provide grants for nontraditional students

By Michelle Hagopian

Published Feb. 15, 2008

A new Missouri Senate bill proposes a grant to aid nontraditional students who attend Missouri schools.

The bill would create the Non-Traditional Student Educational Expense Repayment Program, which the Department of Higher Education would administer.

The bill, which was proposed by Sen. Dan Clemens, R-Marshfield, was first read in the Senate on Feb. 5.

According to the bill, DHE may award up to $500,000 per year in educational expense repayments to eligible individuals, and an individual may qualify for up to $10,000 in repayments per year.

The bill stated repayments may cover tuition, fees, books and laboratory expenses of the eligible student.

Repayment is only provided for courses completed with an A or B grade or equivalent.

Typically, nontraditional students do not receive as many financial aid opportunities as traditional or resident students, MU Extension Marketing Director Dolores Shearon said.

“Depending on the student’s situation, an individual might be eligible for some of the same student aid offered to residents, but it varies,” Shearon said.

The bill requires any eligible student to be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, be a Missouri resident, be at least 25 years old and work at least 35 hours a week. They must also be enrolled in and attending a college, university or vocational school in Missouri.

Shearon said MU does offer scholarships that are solely for nontraditional students.

But, she said, nontraditional students face more than just financial challenges.

“Challenges for these students stem from individual situations,” Shearon said.

Adult students generally balance work, school and family, she said. But while there are many factors to take into account, money often makes the difference, Shearon said.

There are various online programs and nontraditional programs through MU Extension for students. Many older students attend day classes at MU, but they are the minority, Shearon said.

“This new bill seems like a good concept that a lot of students could benefit from,” Shearon said. “At MU Extension, we are all for anything that will help more Missourians complete their college education at any age.”

Shearon said there are some restrictions within the bill, such as the A or B grade equivalent, that will keep costs down for the state of Missouri, but the intention seems very beneficial to nontraditional students.

“The bill looks as if it could represent a nice step forward for nontraditional students not only at MU, but across the state of Missouri,” Shearon said.

The bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee on Feb. 6.