COLUMBUS, Ohio — As the Biden Administration pushes to get federal stimulus dollars into communities, there’s a big focus on leveling out the funding disparities among colleges and universities.
What You Need To Know
- $35 billion proposed to go to colleges and universities
- Some private institutions won’t be able to allocate as much money for aid as they have in the past
- Jones believes not giving some private institutions in Ohio money, could weaken some parts of the state
Many private institutions were taken off guard recently when the Biden Administration proposed handing out an additional $35 billion to colleges and universities. The money is to help with implementing COVID-19 guidelines, addressing remote learning, and student aid.
Todd Jones is president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
“It’s only to public institutions, or nonprofit institutions that are historically black colleges or Hispanic serving institutions,” said Todd Jones, president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
That’s in addition to community colleges and minority serving institutions. Jones said there appears to be some anti-independent college bias with certain administration officials concerning the move. He added only giving money to these institutions is troubling.
“When you exclude institutions that are better at serving Pell Grant students, better at serving first-generation students, and are addressing particular community need ways that many public colleges cannot or will not,” Jones said. “It’s important to have them as part of the mix.”
Jones said there are a number of majority and minority members within the U.S. House and Senate who oppose the move. That’s why he and many others will be looking for them to stand up when the legislation comes down. That’s because those dollars are just as critical for all private institutions. Money received previously took care of pandemic expenses to keep school going.
“In absence of additional federal resources, our institutions are going to continue to provide those safety procedures, but the reality is, they won’t be able to allocate as much money for aid as they have in the past, to make college affordable, or they’ll have to find other ways to cut programs that are serving students right now,” Jones said.
Jones said Ohio has been successful with CARES Act dollars being distributed to all schools.
“Our state has been so successful with the entire read, especially compared to other states where they have seen massive drop-offs in the number of students,” Jones said. “Well if you carry that forward to this latter part of the pandemic and you distributed the stimulus money in a different way, you would see harm to independent institutions.”
Jones said what’s important to remember is that many private institutions are not the wealthy elite, but small-populated schools, that often serve rural communities. He believes not giving them money could weaken some parts of the state.
It’s not clear when Congress will take up this issue, but they will have the last say. Jones hopes those who represent Ohio in Congress will make sure private institutions will be on equal footing when it comes to distribution of dollars.
