Obama proposes billions in funding for community colleges By:ANDREW LAUFER Issue date: 9/22/09 Section: Campus News

Bucks President James Linksz says he is hopeful that Bucks will receive additional state funding in the near future.
During this period of economic crisis there has been big talk regarding additional state funding for community colleges including Bucks.
Since becoming President, Barack Obama has made a huge effort towards gaining more state funding for community colleges. Obama’s ultimate goal is to have more people graduating from college with the skills they need to obtain lasting employment.
Dr. James Linksz, President of Bucks had this to say regarding Obama’s efforts: “I’m very enthusiastic to have Obama’s support. This is the first time that a President has shown an effort to help community colleges in this country.”
Obama proposed the H.R. 3221 also known as The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009. Entailed in the fine print, the bill allows $7 billion towards the funding for community colleges.

This bill would also make available $2.5 billion towards the upgrading of community colleges around the United States. Because the number of applicants to community colleges is growing at alarming rates, it is important to keep up with their growing sizes.

For instance since last year Bucks alone had about 800 residents from the county sign up for enrollment through the free tuition program offered by Bucks. In this plan, $40 billion would be contributed to the Pell Grant which is a need-based grant for low income citizens. The added contribution would mean more availability of the loan.
To get an inside look of this proposed bill and how it would affect Bucks students, Bucks President James Linksz explains his overall thoughts concerning the possible economic boost for the school. Linksz spoke with avid enthusiasm about the bill, but he also expressed some doubt as to whether or not the bill would actually be put into action.

He said that it was thus far “NO done deal”. He explains that the process is all but complete.
“The details haven’t been worked out yet. There are many steps that go into this whole process. First of all it must be passed by legislators. We just have to hope Legislators will show national intent in this area.” Hope rings high in the Bucks President’s voice as he foresees the possible future of the bill.
This bill has proven very hard to propose because the final model has yet to be created. Obama must go back and detail the plans before Bucks can even hope to receive any type of money.
There are stringent regulations our government must abide by when it comes to giving out money. Rules, even small ones, can make a big difference in what the final product will allocate community colleges. The regulations may be enough to shut down the very proposal itself. “Money may not be coming our way” speculates Linksz.
Even if the bill is passed, Bucks might or might not qualify for the stimulus depending on the credentials it involves and requires for the funding. Some schools may be more likely to see the money over others.

There is the possibility that city schools like the Community College of Philadelphia are more likely to get the money. They might fit the standards more so than Bucks because more city students show the financial need to pay for secondary schooling. Community College of Philadelphia has a higher average of lower income kids enrolled in their school compared to Bucks.

Also the fact that they educate a more diverse group of people could also play a key role in the stimulus availability.
Once the official bill has been outlined, further deliberation will show whether Bucks will qualify for the package.
With such a struggling economy, legislation making a decision that benefits Bucks students would be a great boost to the college campus overall. President Linksz thinks that if the bill is passed, Bucks will eventually see money for student support services.
Student involvement can also play a significant role in changing and quickening the legislation process. President Linksz encourages Bucks students to help out. “If there is one thing students at Bucks can do to help this bill get passed and possibly have an effect on Bucks, they can write letters to Congressman Patrick Murphy telling him how much Bucks could use the bill.”
Students interested in playing an active role in their schools funding fate can contact Congressman Patrick Murphy at the following mailing address:
The Honorable Patrick J. Murphy
U.S. House of Representatives
1609 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-3808