Senate proposes to equalize Access Missouri scholarships

Some public students would profit while private students might get less.

By Eva Dou

Published Feb. 20, 2009

Correction appended

A state Senate bill that would change the distribution of Access Missouri scholarships for Missouri college students was proposed Tuesday.

Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, and Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, are sponsoring a bill to set the same maximum scholarship amount for all students at four-year institutions, both public and private.

Students at public four-year institutions currently receive up to $2,150 in Access Missouri scholarships, while private university students can receive up to $4,600.

The new maximum amount of $2,850 for both groups would take effect in 2010-2011.

"I support this legislation because it levels the playing field by treating students who attend public and private schools the same, unlike the current program," Pearce said in a news release.

The bill would maintain scholarship levels for students at public two-year institutions at $1,000 maximum and $300 minimum.

"We must make sure that the scholarship amount we award keeps pace with the ever-increasing cost of college, so that money does not stand in the way of students getting their degree," Schaefer said.

Rep. Gayle Kingery, R-Poplar Bluff, has proposed a matching bill in the Missouri House.

The creators of the original program had established staggered award amounts because of cost differences between public and private institutions, said Leroy Wade, assistant commissioner for financial aid for the Missouri Department of Higher Education.

Access Missouri replaced the Gallagher and Guarantee programs in 2007, providing what Wade said is a simpler, more predictable program. Its structure was based on the proposals of a committee of financial aid professionals from across the state.

Between 2007 and 2008, Access Missouri provided 20,900 four-year public college students with $30.8 million and 11,400 private college students with $37.5 million, according to the state Department of Higher Education.

The bill was met with strong opposition from Missouri's private university administrators, who expressed their disapproval through written statements and at a meeting of the Coordinating Board of Higher Education.

The Missouri Independent Colleges and Universities Coalition, which includes 25 private institutions, denounced the bill.

"Students who choose an independent college in Missouri are a good taxpayer investment," members of the coalition said in a statement, which was obtained from a report by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "They are more likely to receive their bachelor's degree in four years and enter the workforce than those attending public institutions, thus avoiding a fifth or sixth year of college costs to them and to the state."

Opponents to the bill cite a $700 million cost to Missouri, if the state were to educate all the students enrolled in independent universities.

Gov. Jay Nixon has spoken in support of equalizing public and private Access Missouri scholarship levels and made that recommendation in his proposal for the fiscal year 2010.

The Missouri Department of Higher Education isn't taking sides on the bill.

"We realize there are strong feelings on both sides of this issue," MDHE spokeswoman Kathy Love said. "We have facilitated dialogue in order for all parties to more fully understand all perspectives."