"Silent Corridors: Iowa's Missing Voice in Higher Ed Advocacy"
Where university silence meets Iowa responsibility in the fight for educational access
As a University of Illinois alumnus, while a 50 year+ resident of Iowa, today's email on threats to college affordability resonated deeply. Thinking of Iowa, I recognize, but disagree with, the silence from Iowa's Board of Regents and our public institutions of higher learning when their mission, vision and viability are threatened. While official university channels might face constraints, where are the comparable advocacy pieces from private nonprofit alumni groups? Also, Iowa's public universities don't risk their tax-exempt status from lobbying and regularly engage with legislators on budget and policy. Many, or most, alumni, faculty, staff, and supporters of our public institutions would back a revised email, adjusted for Iowa-specific data. I encourage a reader to do so. Private schools routinely send out such lobbying-type letters.
Financial aid cuts compound the same federal and state threats to academic freedom and abandonment of support for non-white faculty, staff or students.
From the Ilinois Connection Advocacy Network Urgent: Proposed Congressional Changes Threaten College Affordability –The University of Illinois System drives $19 billion in economic impact annually, supports 164,200 jobs, and educates over half of Illinois' public university students. However, current Congressional "reconciliation" proposals would:Penalize universities serving lower-income students
Eliminate subsidized loans
Cut Grad PLUS ($111.2M annually) and restrict Parent PLUS loans ($85.1M annually)
Reduce Pell Grant access by changing need analysis formulas
Please contact your Congressional representatives immediately to:Oppose provisions reducing college affordability
Protect federal student aid programs
Reject new taxes and penalties on students and universities
Your advocacy helps preserve affordable, accessible education for Illinois students
Action step. In closing, I do disagree with the federal only focus of this Illinois letter. All public officials, not just federally elected, but also state elected leaders, including legislators have a role. Some in Iowa have spoken out. I would expand this letter to Iowa parents to have them ask their state legislators to sponsor amendments to replace federal cuts to loans, including Plus loans and Pell Grants. Asking state legislators to fill the gaps created by the federal attacks on student financial aid should be a issue for all Iowans and all Iowa candidates for legislative and gubernatorial offices.